> High Seas of Adventure
>  by Silver Dragon Blade Wing
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue: A Legend's Vengeance (Edited)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

(A/N: Most of this Chapter takes place from a second-person point of view. Only this chapter is second-person. Also this chapter might be a bit dark too.)

*Normal POV*

Night had fallen a few hours ago and all was calm, the water was still and the night was quiet. Up on one of the wall of the fort overlooking the town below two Royal Guards, both Earth Ponies, walked along chatting.

"Been real quiet lately huh?"

"Indeed, though the weather could be better."

"Yes, bleak, very bleak tonight.

The weather had been clear but now a very thick fog was rolling in over the water, no one in the fort was worried as there hadn't been an attack on this town in two decades.

If only they knew...

Down below, hidden by the fog, a gigantic shape slowly moved towards the bay, stopping at the entrance of the port. 

Up in the fort the two guards heard a faint boom.

"What was that?" one asked confused.

A second boom followed, the other looked towards the bay entrance as they heard a steady whistling that slowly got louder, like it was coming towards them!

"CANNON FIRE!!!"

The two guards, along with the few others about dived as an explosion tore a hole in a tower quickly followed by one of the fort's 68-pounder cannons being blown off its carriage and into the courtyard below. The fort's commanding officer rushed out shouting orders to return fire, but was cut off as multiple moaning/screaming-like sounds filled the air. Many projectiles shot out of the fog trail long tails of smoke, most headed for the town while others rained down on the fort.

"INCOMING ROCKETS!!"

The guards dove for cover as the rockets impacted with fort around them in large explosions, but instead of for doing damage, trails of blue and black energy shot from the impact zones into the air around the fort, forming into an energy shield that the guards soon discovered trapped them with in, leaving the town at the mercy of the attackers.

Down below more and more shots rang out through the night air, Ponies on the dock and beach running for their lives as cannonballs, shells and rockets impacted near them. The town was also under barrage, with pieces of buildings blown off as the townsfolk fled for their lives towards the inland. At the beach and docks numerous shapes emerged from the fog, longboats and a type of boxy medium sized vessels moved towards the shore, all carrying many individuals from different species.

Pirates, lots of pirates.

The pirates cried out battlecries and cheers as the jumped of the longboats while the boxy vessels lowered ramps on their fronts like that of a castle's drawbridge, the pirates aboard charging out into the shallow waters and onto the beach.





*Second Person POV*

You had been relaxing on a balcony of you mansion's four floor when the battle had started, you got up and watched the whole thing. You watch as the townsfolk fled as pirates came ashore, looting everything of value, and burning everything else. The pirates didn't kill anyone fleeing however, they were letting the townsfolk go. The fog soon cleared away, reveling the monster of a ship that sat in the bay, along with a small fleet of other ships behind it. Even at the distance your mansion sat and in the darkness of the night you could somehow see the flags flapping in the wind; 

Red flags with a black quadruped Dragon in flight above a maelstrom, clutched in it's claws was a small chest on each.

Your eyes slowly widen in horror.

"No... no no NO!"

They had found you! They were here for your blood.

You saw movement at the heavy iron gates, looking down you see two pirates set up what looks like a red barrel of some sort. One lit a fuse on top and the two ran like heck, a few seconds later, once the two were clear, the barrel exploded obliterating the gate. Once the smoke had cleared a massive horde of pirates charged towards the mansion, you turn and run into the hall, the terrified screams of the servants as they fled before the horde, again the pirates let them go from what you could see.

The main doors were blown wide open, pirates surged in followed by a commanding voice shouting,

"Take everything of value but remember, he is ours!"

You heard the thump of a hardened steel halberd hit the floor as it's owner walked in, even over the the din of the pirates cheers and shouts.

You turn and run to your office, hoping they wouldn't find you. As you knew you would be unable to flee from them this time.

Later, in Your Mansion Office

You were in your dark office curled up in fear behind your desk, praying the pirates wouldn't find you. You could hear the sounds of the pirates looting everything they could, you didn't care if they took everything, for you feared what was to come if they found you.



You laid there for what felt like hours, crying and shaking in fear, the crimes you had committed over the years for your wreath had come back to haunt you.

After  some time passes you ears perked up, no sound, perhaps the pirates had taken what they came for and left, perhaps thinking you had fled again. Slowly you lifted your head over the top of the desk, listening very carefully.

Nothing.

The only sounds were the building creaking, the sound of fires burning, and you own breathing. You let out a sigh of relief.

Thump

You nearly jump out of your skin, breath caught in your throat.

"No..."

Thump

Terror coursed through you, someone, or something was still here!

Thump

And it was coming your way!

As you watch, you see the light at the bottom of the double doors to your office disappear to shadow. The door knob slowly turning.

You dive under your desk again, fear surging anew through every inch of your body, greater then ever before.

From under the desk you watch as the doors slowly opened, light coming through and shining on the wall behind the desk,

and a terrifying silhouette.

You could see what looked like a large head with many spikes atop it like a crown of horns and a large halberd gripped in it's right claws. Like a demon from Tartarus that came for your soul.

Thump

It walked forward, the halberd's bottom spike thumping against the floor. You begin to sweat heavily as the figure slowly approached the desk, stopping in front of it. You watch in terror as the figure lifted the halberd over it's head, about to bring it down on your head!

He knows I'm here!! You think in terror.

Body surging with fear powered adrenaline, you shoot out from behind the desk. The figure swung the halberd at you, it missed and slammed into the desk, breaking it in two. You fire out the door at full speed, you hear the figure chase after you.

"You can't run forever coward! We'll find you and you will Pay for what you have done to us!" The figure shouted.

You duck into a nearby room, closed and locked the door, blew out the lamp, and hid in a locker. A few moments later the door was felled by the hardened steel blade of the halberd. The figure entered the room with a low growl and looked around.

You saw the figure's blood red eyes sweep the room, a tail tip of three silver blades glinted in the faint light like the Reaper's scythe, the halberd's blade hungry for blood, small amounts of fog around him, and the very faint sound of a pipe organ in the background. You knew this figure, a Kirin* (more specifically, a Westren Kirin), one you had wronged so long ago, a Kirin that was now back for revenge.

The Kirin turned his head this way and that, before walking up to the lockers. He open the one next to the your's.

"I know your here somewhere filth, the seas demand you soul for you crimes." The Kirin walked to the door, stopped, and slowly turned his head til one eye was on your locker, a slasher smile slowly appearing.

Your breath stops dead in you throat.

The Kirin looked long and hard at the locker, then said calmly; "Do you fear death, do you fear that dark abyss, all your deeds lay bear, all your sins punished? You have caused much pain to many, and the deepest pits of the abyss await your soul."

With that the Kirin walked out the door and left down the hall, still with that smile on his face.

Breath studding in fear, you exit the locker and slowly looked out door.

The Kirin was gone. No trace what so ever.

You leave the room and went left, away from the Kirin's path. You walk for about five minutes when you hear;

"This him?"

"Yes, he's the one our lord told us about."

You jump and spin around. Behind a door way blocked by wreckage, were a quadruped Dragon** and a Longma***. You couldn't make out their features in the faint light of the fires but you could see their shapes, eyes, and maws of razor sharp teeth.

"He looks frightened." The quadruped said.

"I would like to kill him" The Longma said bearing his teeth.

"As would I."

"But we can't yet, our lord want's him alive."

"Of course, but it's not us he should be worried about right now."

"Indeed he shouldn't."

With that, the two move back, disappearing into the darkness.

You fearfully wonder what they mean by that when...

The sound of a gun firing and a vase a few feet behind you breaking causes you to spin around...

only to freeze mid-step.

There at the end of the hallway in front of a tall window was a figure putting something away. Lightning suddenly flashed revealing a Pegasus mare wearing a large tricorne hat, a coat with many pistol strapped to it, and an eyepatch over her right eye which bore a large scar.

She also had a big, terrifying smile on her face as she run a hoof along the side of the serrated cutlass that she held.

Fear swells in you heart, you knew this mare.

"'Ello poppet."

She said, the smile growing even bigger.

With a scream you turn and run as fast as your legs can carry you away from her.

"You can't escape me this time, my husband's and foal's souls cry for you blood! And you money and connections wouldn't save you this time!"

You enter a room, lock the door, and duck under a bed. Not even a second after the blade of the cutlass sliced through the door and the crazed mare enters.

You try your hardest to control your breathing so she doesn't hear you, she walked through the room for a minute and, she started to sing while looking around.

"I was enslaved, tortured, my family taken from me. When I think of You Did, I get angry. But I dream a dream so great, that I feel calmer. It soothes my rage, and helps me sleep.

The sound of your screams of fear, your blood dripping on rock, your final breath. That's my lullaby!

My husband's cries of pain, my... my foals.

You see tears of rage, pain, and sorrow fall from her remaining eye at this line.

The things they did to me, to us. I will see it avenged! It might be bloody, but that works for me.

She took wing.

The melody of sword clashes, a counterpoint of firestorms, a chorus of cannonfire, oh my. That my lullaby!

She landed, her sword glinting in the little light.

I was a broken mare, but then I meet him. The one who pulled me from the jaws of death, and healed my ravaged body. So i could can my revenge! And finally lay my family to rest.

She walked towards the bed you were under.

The pounding of drums, the thrill of the fall of an empire, and our flag will fly, against a blood-red sky. That my lulla-by!!

As she sang the final verse of the song, she swung her sword in a upward swing, hitting the bed and sending it flying.

You look into her eyes, never in your life would you think that ice-blue eyes could look so horrifying.

With a scream you roll to the side, barely dodging her cutlass as it slammed against the floor. You run over beds with the mare hot on you tail. As you were running, you spot an open dumbwaiter on the far wall. Making a beeline for it, you do a leap into it, the mare's cutlass slicing through your hairy tail.

You enter it and fall a few stories but mange to avoid any injuries other then some bruises. As you pull yourself up as you hear the mare above give an evil and crazy laugh. Looking at your tail you see that all that remains is the hairs around the dock which the mare missed, but only just.

You stand up and step out of the dumbwaiter and into the room with two doors, one double with windows and one single blocked by a large crate. Looking out the windows you see a room full of crates, after thinking for a minute you choose the single door. You push the crate, which turns out to be quite heavy, with you head and front hooves. You get halfway when you hear a shout;

"There he is!"

Snapping your head up you see out the double door windows two Thestrals, one Cave and one Horned, running towards them. You started pushing harder as the two Thestrals slam into the doors, which are ,thankfully, locked. In response they begin body slamming the doors, throwing their weight into the blows.

You finally push the crate enough to open the door when the other doors burst open with a loud crash, you enter the next room shutting and locking the door behind you. As you do that you hear one of the Thestrals shout, "Go around!" with the other responding, "We'll flank that motherbucker!"

Not wanting to know what they would do if they caught you, you turn and run down the hall. Coming up to another door with a window you reach to unlock it, only of the Cave Thestral to slam into the door from the other side. Nearly jumping out of your skin you run down a different way, the Thestrals joining up.

After running for what seemed like an hour you come across a hole, you jump over it as the door way behind you collapses, blocking the Thestrals path.

"You slipply little worm!" The Horned one shouts.

You breath a sign of relief and turn around,

only to come face-to-face a white furred, pink-eyed, Winged Thestral twice the size of the others, who were normal sized, holding a large boarding axe.

And he was swing the axe towards you!

"OH BUCKING...!!!" You shout as you duck the swing and slip past the large Winged who gives chase. You run down the hall the door ahead burst open with the two other Thestrals coming out. You turn down another hall and run like taratrus, You glance behind you and see to your horror that the large Winged is gaining on you!

Oh BUCK he's fast as Taraturs!

You burst through a door leading into the main entrance hall, and put on the breaks as figure suddenly drops in front of you, the figure was a Royal Changeling mare. She held a large claymore sword in one hoof, you duck just missing the blade as it is swing towards you. You take off past her and rush up a flight of stairs, kicking some crates and barrels down to block the Queen before running again. You eventually come up to a wall of wreckage with a gap just big enough for you to fit through standing on your hind legs, just entered the gap when suddenly something strong grabbed your fore leg. 

"Little Pig."

You were yanked out by a massive male Minotaur then thrown over the railing to the floor a story below, as you recover from the pain from the fall the door at one end of the large room was blown open by a Zebra mare with a smoking hand cannon in her forehooves and an evil smile on her face. You jump to you hooves, ignoring the hard flash of pain, and ran out of the room.

You weren't sure how long you ran for, but you stop seeing the outline of a male Griffin in front of you, behind you was the outline of a male Dracony Wyvern****. Looking for an escape you jump out the window next to you and hang on, moving to the one next to you and the next one after, the pain flaring with you hold in will as much will as you could. Above you you hear;

"Dear Odin he vanished."

"Vanished without a trace."

"I detect sarcasm."

"it was my intention."

"He thinks we're flankholes."

"Or stupid."

No, just flankholes.

"Let's pull him up and slit his belly open."

"Remember, our Lord want's him alive."

The voices fall silent then, you look down, wondering if you drop down and flee. That idea went out the door fast as you discover your over a steep drop that even uninjured you wouldn't survive. You slowly look in the window you were hanging from.

No one was there.

You pull your self up, wincing as pain flares again. You walk for a while, moving around burn areas before entering a large room. You look around, no one was around so you move forward, getting halfway,

Before the blade of a familiar halberd came the double doors suddenly in front of you.

Horror surges through you as the blade shoved the remains aside, the red eyes of the Kirin in the darkness. He then slowly enters the room, you back up as he comes forward. You had only taken three steps when a pair of hooves wrap around you from behind, and a snow white feathered wing came over you left shoulder, a needle held in it's grip.

The needle comes down and into you neck before you could do anything, the clear fluid within entering you bloodstream in an instant.

You fall to the floor, your vision fading as sleep overtook you. The Pegasus mare (who you notice has your missing tail, which had been braided, tied behind her left ear like a trophy) steps into your vision and shows you the needle.

The Kirin walked over and leaned his head down til he was more or less eye level with you.

"I told you that you wouldn't escape this time, Father." he said the last word with no small amount of venom in his voice.

Then you fall asleep, the other creatures coming into view just before you completely pass out.





*Normal POV*

The Kirin watched as his "father" was dragged out of the mansion before turning around and walking to an area that was painfully familiar to him. It was a small cupboard deep in a more or less abandoned area only about four feet by four feet in size, leading down he saw the still broken lock on the very heavy door which had many deep claw marks on it, the same as the walls inside. Something was once held in here a long time ago and it had be trying to escape for seven long years as the different sizes of the claws marks showed.

The Kirin's lips pulled back show a maw of razor sharp teeth, the very cupboard had been a prison once, his prison. Seven years, seven long years of half-starvation, of sleeping in his own waste, of spiders crawling and biting all over, and of other things he would even think about.

But now it would no longer haunt him, for it was time to destroy this place for ever, and let it rot and be forgotten. He dropped his growl as he glanced to the side, seeing one of his officer pirates approach.

"Sir, we've cleared this place and the town out of everything of value. All that's left is for you to tell where you want the demo teams to set the explosives."

"Tell them I want the most powerful ones for the mansion placed here, in this cupboard, and that I will set them off."

"Understood me Lord, anything else?"

"Yes, salt the earth. I want to make sure this town never raises again."

"Will do sir." The Officer saluted and walked away, soon followed by the Kirin.





Later

The Kirin watched as the demo teams finished laying the trail of gunpowder and setting up the explosives.

"It's ready sir and we're all clear."

"Thank you."

The Kirin walked over to the end of the trail which was just out of the entryway, breathed a light sign, then drew a large breath into his open mouth. The other pirates around him watched as a sulfur-colored gas formed at the back of his throat and a tiny but very bright sphere of flame form just before that. He then shot his head forward releasing the built-up fire in a stream of purple and blue onto the trail and into the doorway. The lit trail surged down down until it reached the cupboard were the more powerful charges were sitting, they exploded in a massive fireball that surged through every open, setting off explosives as it went. Outside the pirates watched as fire shot out of the windows and the doors as the mansion was rapidly consumed by the fire.

The Kirin stop breathing fire as this happened, looking at the burning building.

"Burn my prison, burn to the ground and never raise again. Be nothing but ash." He turned around and started walking away.

"Come, there is one more thing we need to do before we leave."





The Stallion slowly awakened to find his hooves tied together and his mouthy tied shut with rope and himself being dragged along the ground by a Diamond Dog by the stuff of his neck. All around him were members of different species; Ponies, Changelings, Griffins, Zebras, Donkeys, Mules, Hippogriffs, Deer, Ahuizotls (The species the show Character of the same name is), Diamond Dogs, Minotaurs, Yetis (Storm Creatures), and even Dragons of both kinds among other species.

Behind him were a group of heavily armored Ponies wielding halberds glaring at him through their helmets, their armor was made to invoke the image of a dragon version of an Alicorn so he couldn't tell what races they were.

As they moved to an unknown destination, the pirates stared to sing.

Shiver my timbers, shiver my soul.

Yo ho, heave ho

There are hungers as dark as night

Yo ho, heave ho

Two Changeling drones came up on his right side.

And we sailed our ship 'cross the seas, a vengeful Captain and an outcast crew

A Longma appeared on his left.

It's as dark a tale as ever told, of the search for the one who hurt us all

The pirates pulled him over a few bumps in the path.

Shiver my timbers, shiver my spine

Yo ho, heave ho

There are tales as strong as the storms

Yo ho, heave ho

Two Earth Ponies sang next.

And we drowned our pains in cider and rum

A Griffin added;

Taraurs itself would have to call us victims

Two Pegasus continued.

Every Creature aboard had lost someone close to them, for another's status or blood money

A quadruped Dragon thundered.

Blood Money

A Dracony said.

Blood Money

A group of Changeling soldiers added.

There will be a reckoning

The pirates dragged him over a hill, ahead he saw the Kirin, the Royal Changeling, and the Pegasus mare at the front of the group.

Three Zebras chanted.

Tonight's the night

Three Minotaurs continued the chant.

That our lost ones are laid to rest

The Zebras ended the chant with;

And we can finally move on

Two Cave Thestrals went next.

When there's fire lighting the sky, there's smoke on the winds

Two Unicorns sang,

Smoke on the winds

Sure enough, the town and mansion burned in a great firestorm behind them. The Stallion knew why the pirates had let the townsfolk go, they had only wanted him, for the crimes he had inflicted on them long ago.

The Queen at the front shouted.

One more time now

With greater strength in their voices, the pirates sang on.

Shiver my timbers, shiver my skull

Yo ho, heave ho

There are stories that sleep with old Davy Jones

Yo ho, heave ho

Ahead the Krirn lifted his halberd and sliced through a cluster of vines, leading into a cave. They dragged the Stallion into it center of it and leaned him against a rock.

With the sails set and the course plot there's no turning back.

And when the wronged sail the seas, you can bet your blood that there will be vengeance!

Vennnggeeance!!

Before the pirates could continue the song the Kirin raised his left wing, signaling them to stop.

"Come on sir, we were just about finished." A Zebra stallion wined.

"I know, but right now we have work to do."

He walked forward till he was in front of the Stallion. The Kirin let out a growl and started speaking.

"Father, thirty years ago when I was born, you hated me just for being a Kirin while Mom was very happy. Five years after I was born you sent her to the deeps,"

He stepped forward and pressed the tip of the halberd's scythe-like spear tip against the Stallion's neck, drawing a tiny bit of blood.

"and made the next seven years became a living nightmare for me."

The Kirin growled deeper.

"Your words were "You are not my son." and you kept me locked in a cupboard most of the time, a bucking cupboard, all because you despised having what you saw as an "inferior creature" as a son, when you had something great. You either forgot, or didn't care, I would guess the latter, that Kirins are very, very rare in Equestria. You could have increased you own status by showboating the fact you had such a rare Pony race as a son!"

He pulled his halberd away with a scowl.

"But no... Instead, you locked me away, barely feeding me til I escaped to the seas. I didn't even get my cutie mark til I was I was nineteen years old, much older then other foals. While that was happening you were busy babying my younger brother to be the "perfect son" that he ended up becoming too dependent on you, and then you simply left him to die to a rival gang."

His then rammed the scythe-like spear tip of the halberd in to the rock next to Stallion's head, large cracks forming.

"And that's not even counting what you did to so many young Ponies and families, and not just Ponies either."

He first pointed to the Changeling Royal,

"Atlas Moth, who's hive you destroyed along with most of her subjects and sister."

The Royal held her hat over her chest as anger and pain-filled tears fell down her checks.

He pointed to the three Thestrals,

"White Fang, Night Mist, and Dark Rock, who's family was killed by your loan sharks who also took White's right eye."

White Fang reached up and thumped the back of his head popping out his right eye which was a hunk of pink quartz smoothed in to a sphere with a line of black quartz for a pupil.

He then point to the Pegasus mare,

"And Snowheart, You sold her family to the Caribou! THE! BUCKING! CARIBOU! to pay a dept you owed them, knowing full well what they do to Ponies!"

Snowheart had a scowl on her face as she ran a hoof along the side of her cutlass blade.

"I may not be that familiar with Equestrian laws, but I do know that is High Treason! One of the only crimes to still have the death penalty. That's not even counting you other crimes."

The Kirin then let out a laugh.

"But the Caribou are in quite the pickle right now, for the last ten years we have been raising Taraturs in their waters rescuing prisoners and setting up rebellions. Even as we speak, their many enemies; the Griffin Kingdoms, the Minotaur Republics, all of them are gearing up to finally take them down."

He than looked at his 'father'.

"Your "Noble" line ends tonight, and with it the blood feud you had with the Wolf Packs. As you made sure the world never knew about me, I'm free to start a new line. One without the baggage yours gathered over the years. The funny thing about you being my "father" is two simple facts; one, she wasn't even married to you. And two, you forced yourself on her!" 

The Kirin snarled, then stood tall and proud, giant wings flared.

"I took the name mother gave me all those years ago for the new blood line; I am Archduke Razor Tail, Leader of the Outcasts of the Abyss, the Pirate Lord of the Sea of Legends!"

He leaned his head forward, glaring at the Pony who had been his sire.

"You however wouldn't get to see it. Don't worry, it will be quick. As much as I want you to die slowly after what you did to all of us, we have overstayed our welcome and it won't be long before Celestia comes. Only she wouldn't know about this talk or what happened in this cave, your tomb, because..."

He gave a flick of his tail while Snowheart moved in front of the Stallion, and the rest finished the song from earlier.

Shiver my timbers, shiver my sails

Snowheat pulled out a pistol, which wasn't a flintlock but a cap and ball revolver, She leveled it, pulling the hammer back.

The dead tell no tales

She pulled the trigger. It was over in a heartbeat.




Later

The Kirin gently laid a claw on Snow's shoulder.

"Are you okay Snowheart?"

After finishing the deed, the pirates had returned to their ship. Snow sighed then nodded her head, " Yes, I think so. What about you Razor?"

The kirin nodded back, "Better, now that my "father wouldn't hurt anyone else never again. let's put this Taraturs pit to our rudder, and never return." He turned to the rest of the crew.

"Hard to port, full canvas, let's go, set a course for the Sea of Legends. Let's go home."

The ship with it's fleet behind it turned and sailed into the fog, leaving behind dying fires, blacked wrecks, and ash as the sun rose over the horizon.
> Chapter 1: Two ships set sail (Edited)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Manehatten

The port of Manehatten was busy as usual, creatures boarding and disembarking ships, ships leaving and entering port, cargo being loaded and unloaded, and so forth. On one section was a large group of Ponies entering an anchored cruise ship.

One Pony, a mare, the horn and wings marking her as an Alicorn, was looking over a cruise activity schedule. Her name was Twilight Sparkle, Equestria's newest Alicorn and now Princess of friendship. Next to her on her left were two Unicorns; a mare and a stallion. The mare was her mother Twilight Velvet, writer and editor. The stallion was Twilight's father Night Light, a now retired battlemage and loving husband to Velvet.

On her right were a Unicorn stallion and a Alicorn mare. The Unicorn was Twilight's brother Shining Armor, former Captain of Canterlot Guard and now Prince of the Crystal Empire. The Alicorn was Cadance, Twilight's former foalsitter and now sister-in-law being Shining's wife and Princess of the Crystal Empire.

"What's on the schedule for the cruise Twilight?" The Night Light asked.

"Well dad, there's a bingo game at 5:00, a movie at at 7:30, dinner at 8:00, and a deck party from 9:00 to 12:00 today."

Velvet smiled and let out a happy sigh.

"Well I'm looking forward to a relaxing vacation cruise with family and friends."

"Mom, the last time we had a "relaxing vacation" you went bungee jumping over Luna Bay." The white Unicorn said with a laugh.

"Well they do have a number of activities on this cruise I can't wait to try." The mare said back.

Then Cadance chuckled. "Are you sure you wouldn't get sea sick Shining?"

"Oh please Cadance, I can handle the waves just fine."

Velvet rolled her eyes with a smile. "Think our son can, Night Light?"

"I don't think so Velvet." Night Light whispered to his wife.

A yawn came came from Twilight's back, a young Dragon rubbed his eyes and leaned up.

"Have a good nap Spike?" Cadance asked.

"Yea, I slept great."

Behind them were three Pegasus Ponies; one stallion and two mares. The younger mare as Rainbow Dash, self-proclaimed fastest Pegasus in Equestria and now a member of the Wonderbolts.

"This is going to be awesome!" Rainbow said flying a few feet off the ground. The other two Ponies just smiled and chuckled. "I can't wait to fly the races and show them my stuff. Mom, dad, can you please turn down the cheering a little? I don't want to get embarrassed while on the cruise, okay?"

Her parents, Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles, nodded yes. "Okay Rainbow Dash, we'll tone it down a bit." Her mother said, with a hidden smile.

Next up was two Earth Pony mares, Applejack and Pinkie Pie, two Unicorn mares, Rarity and Starlight Glimmer, and a Pegasus mare, Fluttershy.

"It was very nice of Princess Celestia to offer us, our families, and the rest of Ponyville this all expenses paid cruise after that storm." Starlight said.

A few days ago, Ponyville had been badly damaged by a sudden intense, out-of-control storm for the Everfree that had combined with the local weather that was being gathered and had formed into a powerful supercell. Thankfully nopony had been hurt because everypony had taken cover in Twilight's castle, but the town had suffered heavy damage to the point that some houses had collapsed. Everypony had manged to move everything they owned into the castle before the storm hit so they didn't lose anything they couldn't replace, Sweet Apple Acres had survived the storm unharmed but had been flooded afterwords so the Apples couldn't harvest until the water was drained, members of the Apple family would look after the farm while Applejack and her family were recovering from the storm.  After the storm had ended, Princess Celestia had given the townsfolk an offer for an all expenses paid cruise while the town was repaired under her and Princess Luna's supervision. The ship they were going on was named the Traveler

A Pegasus stallion walked up to them followed by a group of foals. "Think this going to be fun little brother?" He asked a Pegasus stallion foul next to him.

"Definitely big brother."

"This is so exciting!" A Earth Pony filly with a large pink bow exclaimed jumping about.

"Yea!" the other two fillies shouted in excitement.

Rainbow smiled at the three's cheer, She then heard,

"Hey Crash, looks like we're taking the same cruise. Turning around Rainbow saw;

"Soarin!"

And he wasn't alone, with him were two mares and one stallion.

"Angel Wings, Vapor Trail, and Sky Stinger. You guys got tickets to huh."

"We did, all the Wonderbolts did but most had other arrangements. So Spitfire more or less "ordered" me to take the cruise so I decided to bring these three along as they had been working hard at the Academy."

"Good to see you again Rainbow Dash." Vapor Trail said.

"You guys too, great to hear you've been working hard. Cloud Chaser and her twin sister Flitter are coming too."

Near them a Pegasus stallion approached Cadance.

"Princess, are you sure the guards coming along won't need their armor?"

"Yes Flash, this is a relaxing cruise, we wouldn't need to worry about any threats."

"If your sure..."

"Hey Flash!" a voice called out.

He turned around.

"Oh, hello Starry Eyes, Dark Moon." Good to see you two again."

"You too Flash, is your sister, Flare Warden, coming as well?" Starry asked.

"She will be, along with a butch of Nobles from Canterlot." Flash said the last part with a frustrated sigh.

The sound of a horn drew their attention to the ship.

"That means we need to get abroad right away, the Traveler will be underway soon." Shining said.

Twilight turned and addressed their group.

"Alright everypony, ready to go on a cruise and have a great time?"

Many sounds of agreement was her answer.

"Then let's go!"

With that, they all boarded the Traveler. Soon the ship launched with many Ponies waving from the docks as the Traveler sailed out to the open sea.





Meanwhile

Sea of Legends

Imperator's Grave

Imperator's Grave was the main port in the Sea of Legends, named so do to the Island being made from the wrecks of ships and bones of leviathans besides rock and sand and the large number of wrecks and skeletons of leviathans that littered the island, including the truly massive skull and giant ribs of one of the dreaded Imperator Leviathans. The ribs had been set up in two rows of five where the dock boardwalks meet the sandy beach while the skull sat as the entrance to the town.

The port was a haven for pirates, privateers, smugglers, and all manner of sailors that the tides seem to sweep up. Merchant ships would come here to make quite a nice bit of profit as the merchants here offered great prices for certain goods such as Sugar, Spice, and especially Luxuries were worth a lot on Imperator's Grave.

It was also the port used by the largest faction in the Sea of Legends; The Outcasts of the Abyss, or the Outcasts for short. Ruled by the Kirin Archduke Razor Tail, the Outcasts used the port as their main fixed base of operations while Razor's ship; the Dragon of the Depths, was used as their mobile base to roam the Sea of Legends, as long as those who sailed these waters respected the Outcast's authority, they were free to do as they pleased. The only trade that the Outcast's forbade was slavery, for good reason as most of the individuals in the Outcasts were former slaves, and they would attack any slaver ships that entered the Sea of Legends without any mercy to the crew while any slaves found were freed.

Currently in the mapmaker's building a large Griffin dressed in an odd mix of pirate and Nobel attire sat in front of a large table with a map set atop it. Flanking the Griffin was a Pegasus stallion, a male Changeling Drone, a male Diamond Dog, and a Longma wearing various pirate attire along with a skull mask covering their faces leaving only the jaw exposed. Sitting across from the Griffin was the Mapmaker, an old graying Griffin, who was looking at the map and speaking.

"So the Outcasts seek the Lost Tombs? Your faction has made many great tales in these water. The question is, why."

"The Caribou are searching for it, if they want it, it must be something of great power that can not fall into their hooves. And our lord has a personal reason for seeking the tombs" The Griffin said.

"The Lost Tombs are well hidden from those who seek them, to find them one must search for the key."

"And what is this key?"

"A ring with six crystals of the Rainbow, while this map would show the way to the tombs, it will help find the key's crystals."

The Griffin raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

"This map tells of a gem that will detect the key crystals, just attach it to your lord's compass, and it will alert you when one is close."

Looking at the picture of the gem, the Griffin said, "I know that crystal, we've seen the Mysterious Traveler that lounges in the tavern here has it for sale."

He then looked at the Mapmaker. "Think you for your services." He set a bag of gold on the table, picked up the map, and walked out with his company.





Later

The Griffin walked away from the tavern, his group with him, having got what they came for. The crystal had cost a fair bit but it was of no concern, it was easy to get rich in the Sea of Legends if you knew where to look.

They walked over a lesser used path til they reached their destination; a well guarded dock used by the Outcasts. Tied to the docks was their ship, the Dragon of the Depths, being loaded for a long voyage. The ship was quite massive for a pirate ship, actually calling it a mere ship was an insult, it was more of a mobile port.

The Dragon of the Depths was 458.45 meters long not counting the bowsprit, 60.5 meters in width, and it's height not counting the masts was 72 meters tall, the decks (Full, not walkways and castle structures) numbered at 34 total decks, with 7 below the waterline and 28 above, making one of the largest ships to ever sail the seas. The most forward section had nine decks removed to hold a massive cannon, known by the crew and enemies as the Dreadhammer, that retracted into the section when not in use. At the very bow was a huge dragon head with it's gaping maw open.*

One would think that the ship would be an easy target due to it's size and while that might be the case, the ship had a thick layer of armor under the outer wood layer and a number of protection enchantments so hitting it and damaging it were two different things.

The Griffin and his group boarded the ship.




Dragon of the Depths

Captain's Quarters, Level Three

Archduke Razor Tail sat at the table in the center of the third level of his quarters reading and trying to figure out the chats in front of him.

The Captain's Quarters of the Dragon was quite spacious and was a total of five levels. The first level at the top was his sleeping cabin, the second level held the charts, scrolls and other items, the third level was were his office was, the fourth level held the various magic artifacts they'd found, and the fifth and last level was were he keep his share of the treasure he and his crew had gathered over the ten years they had sailed the Sea of Legends.

Razor Tail, just called Razor by his officers, was a silver coated Pegasus-born** Western Kirin with a red, gold-striped mane on his head, neck, and top length of his tail, and red eyes with slit pupil. His back legs had the hooves of his Pony half while his front legs ended in the hand-like claws of his Dragon half with four fingers. His wings showed his Pegasus parentage as his wings were oversized compared to Kirin who were born from either Earth Ponies or Unicorns with a wingspan of fifty feet, at the 'wrist' of the wing arms were small four-fingered hand-like claws similar to the ones on his front legs, the right one holding his halberd. Two fangs stuck out of his upper lips with the tips reaching to his chin, two half-a-meter long black horns jutted out from the back of his head under his very large tricorne hat and on either side of his long mane.

His tail was three times the normal length of most Krirns his age, who's tails were normally eight feet long on average, and was tipped with three scythe shaped blades with the shortest on top and the longest on the bottom.*** His tail was twenty four feet long not counting the blades which was four feet on the longest one.

Currently he was trying to figure out the charts in front of him on the table, the charts weren't normal map charts but a set of many rings that went lined up right showed the location of many places that regular charts, even the most accurate and modern ones, missed. Unfortunately, the charts were not very clear.

Razor had been rotating the rings for five hours with breaks and was no further to finding the Lost Tombs then he was when he started, finally he let out a frustrated snort, with a bit of fire along with it, out of his nose and slammed his claw against the table.

" (swearing in Germane) !!"

A knocking then sounded from the door.

"Yes?"

"It's me Razor, may I come in?"

"Sure Atlas, come in."

The door opened and the Changeling Queen stepped in, she walked next to Razor and sat down.

"Are you okay? I was just about to enter when you started swearing."

Razor let out a sigh.

"Ya, I'm okay. Its these charts, I've been at them for five hours, with breaks, and still can't find the Lost Tombs."

"Maybe you should take a rest of them, dinner's ready anyway."

"Ja, might be a good idea. I'll be with you guys in a minute."

Razor stood up and walked over what was the most noticeable object in the room; a giant pipe organ that took up most of the back wall, leaving only room for a large stained-glass window at the top. Razor played this pipe organ when he needed to vent emotional buildup or to help motive the crew, the crew could also play it when they need to vent as well, giving the organ the name "The Venting Organ".

Razor however wasn't going to the organ but to the stairway next to it's left side, as he went up Atlas took a peek at the charts.

He really is having trouble with these charts, doesn't help their as clears as mud. But... why is he so stressed at the news that Iron Horn is looking for the Lost Tombs? The Caribou always mess themselves up when it comes to hunting artifacts, maybe I should ask the other Head Officers if they too have noticed this.

She turned and walked out the door she came through and into what was known as the Head Officer meeting/dining room. It was a fairly large room with a table big enough to seat twelve comfortably, the seats themselves were large thrones that the Outcasts had looted from the former Royalties that had ruled the Sea of Legends with an iron grip and constantly fought wars with each other. Defeating these Royals had allowed the Outcasts to rule over a good bit of the Sea of Legends but there was still a massive portion of the area left that was uncontrolled an unexplored.

The two side walls had windows with arced tops set in two them running from on end of the room to the other, at the base of the windows were shelves holding candles and other odds and ends collected over their adventures. At the wall with the door leading to the Captain's quarters were barrels of cider, rum, grog, and tea with two barrels on each side of the door. At the wall leading out onto the deck were faction banners with six on each side of the door. Hanging from the ceiling were many lanterns lighting the room up well, above the table were two large two-pronged anchors made of leviathan bones with two smaller prongs above the larger prongs.****

Each throne had been customized to each of the Head Officer's personal preference and profession; the Zebra mare, Zenith, was the Fleet Gunnery Master and her throne had many firearms from pistols to cannons imprinted on it. Zenith had been a former slave to one of the Royals who had met his end at her hooves after she was freed. Unlike most other Zebras, Zenith didn't speck in rhyme as she hadn't been born in their homelands. She loved her job and had made several advances in the faction's weapons tech, including a cap and ball system for the cannons. she had a bit of the attitude of a drill sergeant but could be rather nice when necessary.

Her weapons of choice were a custom Jian sword along with a hand cannon, a lever-action blunderbuss, and four cap and ball revolvers.

The Minotaur, Steel Mass, was the Fleet Beastmaster and his throne had many creatures of the seas from sharks to leviathans imprinted on it. Steel had been a merchant that specialized in hunting, trapping, and taming the sea's creatures. It seemed that the sea itself had grown tired of his work and had marooned him on an island where the Outcasts had found him. After joining the Outcasts he put his talents to good use hunting, trapping, and taming the creatures the Outcasts used in battle. He was a head taller then most Minotaurs and had more muscle mass to boot. He was something of a ham at times and had a very cheerful and friendly demeanor, though he seemed to enjoy combat a bit too much.

His weapons of choice were a massive custom two headed war hammer and five cap and ball revolvers.

The Longma, Gold Fire and his quadruped Dragon twin brother, Shadow Fire, were the two Fleet Engineers and their thrones had many things related to engineering imprinted on them. The two had been in the Sea of Legends the longest out of the Head Officers, having lived there with their colony before joining the Outcasts after the latter had aided the former in defending their colony from an attack by one of the late Royals. The two of them had taken to the engineering jobs like bees to honey, having been responsible for a few upgrades the Dragon had; such as steam donkeys to aid with the sails and rigging, steam engines for increasing the ship's speed when wind and sail weren't enough, exploding cannon balls (Which made Zenith really happy), and their most recent invention, a submersible vessel that allowed the Outcasts to attack from underwater. It did have a problem with air when underwater but the Outcasts had fixed that by employing Sea Ponies and tests had shown great promise.

Gold fire was a bit of a bookworm (not to the extent of Twilight) and was more likely to hang back and fight from afar while Shadow Fire was more of a doer and like to get in the thick of a fight. Both brothers also had the tendency to finish each others sentences, which sometimes annoyed the others.

Gold Fire's weapons of choice were a custom dao and a wide range of firearms while Shadow Fire's were a custom mace and six cap and ball revolvers.

The three Thestrals, White Fang and his two younger brothers Night Mist and Dark Rock, were the Fleet Treasurers and their thrones had gold, gems and other treasures imprinted on them. The three of them had lost their family to loan sharks years ago with White also losing his right eye which was later replaced with one made of quatz. The three had been on the run from the law after White had founded and ended the loan sharks and the guard had been after them ever since. They had fled to Imperator's Grave where they stayed hidden and meet Razor Tail who recruited them. White was the larger one and was an albino while Night Mist was what Thestrals called Lightborn; Thestrals who had colors associated with the day unlike regular one who had colors associated with the night like Dark Rock. Night was a Horned and Dark was a Cave.

White Fang was proud of being an albino and was the most serious of the three but wasn't a stick in the mud, he was also a former Night Guard. Night Mist was somewhat gruff and bickered a lot with Dark but the two brothers loved each other very much and were much stronger fighting together. Dark Rock was a bit meek but could show surprising bravery when needed, he was illiterate but showed unusual amount of skills despise being unable to read. White was protective of his brothers, not to the point of smothering them but if someone messed with them they would have to deal with him as well.

White's weapons of choice were a custom large club with spikes and six cap and ball revolvers while his brother's were custom axes and two cap and ball revolvers each.

The Dracony, Fire Gem, was the Fleet Warrant Admiral and head boatswain, his throne had imagery related to his duties. Fire had come from a very wealthy family but had grown bored with what he called "stagnant life" and had craved adventure. He had been in the tavern on Imperator's Grave looking for a job when a bar fight broke out, after holding himself well Razor had approached and offered his current job which the Dracony had taken. He had at first thought his family would have disowned him for working with the Outcasts but to his surprise they had been very supportive and even supplied the Outcast with various things in the past such as money and goods along with their connections from time to time. They had told Fire Gem that they had been aware the life they had was not for him and were happy and proud to see him find his calling, and that they would love him no matter what. Fire had teared up with joy and happiness when they had told him that.

Fire Gem was down to earth and was firm but fair when on duty but off duty he loved to play games with the crew and was a bit of a carefree individual.

His choice of weapons were a custom basket-hilt sword which was a family heirloom, and five cap and ball revolvers.

The Griffin, Apollo, was the Fleet Sailing Admiral and head navigator, his throne had imagery related to navigation equipment. Apollo had come to the Sea of Legends to escape what he called "The bitter disgrace that the Griffins have become." He hated what the Griffins had become after the lost of their idol and and come to get away. After arriving he had sought out Razor and had joined the Outcasts. Apollo was an master navigator and could chart a course through the worst of storms.

He could be gruff, serious and was a bit of a deadpan snarkier but was actually a nice guy once you got to know him.

His weapons of choice were a custom greatsword and seven cap and ball revolvers.

The Pegasus mare, Snowheart, was the Fleet Enforcement Admiral and her throne was covered in the anthers bones, ans skulls of the Caribou she had slayed. Snowheart undoubtedly had the darkest back story of them all, her family had been sold to the Caribou and she had been separated from her husband and foals soon after with them being placed on a ship that had disappeared at sea. She had gone through seven long years of pain and was a broken and terrified shell of a mare when Razor had found her just barely holding on to a rock. Even though she had somewhat recovered she still even these days had nightmares of that time she was a slave. Snowheart wasn't even sure if her husband and foals were still alive, so she had earned a reputation and became feared by the Caribou.

Snowheart had become know by a few names to the Caribou; the angel of vengeance, the angel of death, an agent of death, and even death itself just to name a few, as most Caribou who crossed path with her, never escaped alive. Only Caribou of the Rednose Clan (who were against the current ways and wanted to change by helping free slaves) were spared her wrath, she would also always leave one alive to spread the tale.

Snowheart was merciless to Caribou, but she did have a softer side. She was very fond of foals or young in general, and could be very nice and friendly. However, she still suffers from her past trauma and would sometimes wake up in the night screaming, along with suffering major emotional breakdowns at times. Out of the entire crew, she was the one who played Razor's pipe organ the most. Thankful she had the crew to help her through her pain and suffering and she was slowly but surely recovering.

Her weapons of choice were a custom cutlass and ten cap and ball revolvers.

Atlas Moth was the Fleet Secretary and second in command of the Outcasts, her throne was covered in Changeling materials to resemble her old hive throne. She had first meet Razor went she and landed on an island after escaping what was her burning hive. Atlas' hive had been destroyed by Ponies who had also killed most of her subjects and her sister. Fleeing with the hive's nymphs and surviving Drones, low on love they had landed on an unknown island to rest and mourn, and this was were they encountered Razor Tail. They had looked into each others eyes and saw the same thing; they were as lost and alone as each other. Razor had then carefully approached and spread his wings, offering warm and some love. The cold, wet, and hungry Changelings moved into his embrace and had cuddled up to him with Atlas hugging him around the neck and crying into his shoulder.

Razor had simply wrapped his wings and forelegs around them and they stayed in the position all night. They hadn't know at the time, but that was the night the Outcasts of the Abyss was born.

Now Razor Tail and Atlas Moth were happily married and had been for six years, as the gold and silver hoof ring studded with diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, and rubies she wore around her left hoof showed. Atlas' hive had taken a few of the ship's cargo holds as hive space and had grown fairly large in the time since, the hive also recognized Razor as their king.

Atlas' weapons of choice were a custom claymore and four cap and ball revolvers.

If only you could see us now sis, I know you would loved Razor and the rest of the crew.

Walking up to her throne she sat down and addressed the other Head Officers.

"Everyone could we talk before Razor gets here and we eat?"

"Sure Atlas, what up?" Gold fire asked.

"Have any of you noticed that lately Razor seems a bit..."

"On edge?" Fire Gem asked.

"Stressed?" Apollo added.

"Ready to smash some Caribou heads?" Snow supplied.

Everyone looked at her with a deadpan look.

"What?" Snow asked.

"That's you Snowy." Steel Mass said.

"Anyway, we have noticed he seems more jumpy lately. Could it have something to do with the Lost Tombs?" Zenith said.

"I admit I have been those things and not as patient as normal lately."

Everyone jumped in surprise and turned to see Razor standing in the doorway to his cabin. Before they could say anything Razor continued.

"I know you guys are just concerned about me since I haven't been myself after hearing that the Caribou are searching for the Lost Tombs." He walked up and sat in his throne, which had imagery related to dragons, ships, and magic imprinted on it along with runes. He pulled out a scroll, opened it and laid it out to show his Head Officers.

"This is what the Caribou want."

On the scroll was what looked like a harpoon and trident mixed together.

"What is that Razor?" Zenith asked.

"It's called the 'Trident of the seas'. The stories say that whoever holds it will have complete control over the Sea of Legends."

The others looked at each other with various expressions of worry before looking at Razor again.

"It's quite understandable then why you've been so stressed lately." Apollo said.

"But the Caribou always bucks themselves over with hunts like this," Night Mist said, "their greed always bites them in the flank."

"I rather not take the risk of them finding it, who knows how much damage they could do. Iron Horn and Blood Fang are already lending their add in the search. That and," Razor paused for a minute. "...my personal reason for seeking out the Lost Tombs."

"You know you can tell us Razor." Atlas said gently as she reached over and rubbed her husband's neck. "It's obviously important to you and we want to help anyway we can." The others voiced their agreement with Steel putting his big arms around Zenith and Gold Fire.

Razor just smiled. "Thanks guys. words fail to express how thank thankful I am to have a family like you."

Snowheart spoke next.

"You did find and helped us, in truth many of us probably wouldn't have survived long if you hadn't found us when you did; The former Royals and false Pirate Lords would still be ruling."

She then waved her forelegs around her.

"Zenith would most likely still be a slave,"

The Zebra lowered her head with a sad nod.

"Steel would have run out of food and water on that island,"

The Minotaur crossed his arms on the table and shuttered at the memories.

"And I would have died after... finally... escaping..."

Snow shut her good eye tight and tears began to flow as the horrible memories began to surface. Immediately, the others were out of their thrones and had wrapped her in a group hug, shielding Snow from the outside world as she let out her pain as the others whispered soothing things to her.

After a short time Snow give the okay, the others slowly let her out of the hug as Snow took a shaky breath as she calmed down.

"Thanks guys." she said softly wiping her tears, after she had finished she continued.

"As I was saying, you have helped us through our troubles Razor, I for one think that its time we help you."

Razor smiled at them.

"Thanks my friends, as for what my reason is," He reached into an inner pocket of the coat he wore and pulled out a small picture in a plastic case. Showing them it they saw what they could only guess was a very young Razor Tail being held by a young adult Pegasus mare that had the same colors as him, though her eyes were emerald green instead of red. The mare had a loving smile as the young Kirin licked her face.

"This is my reason, my mother."

Snow couldn't help but, "Dawww, you look so cute."

Razor blushed, "Thanks Snowy."

"Well I can see where you got your looks from sweetie." Atlas said with a smile.

"What was her name?" Shadow Fire asked.

"Her name was Silver Winds."

"What was she like?" 

"You guys would have loved her, total sweetheart, and she made awesome cookies. Despite the... conditions under which she had me, she loved me with all her heart. Those five years she was with me were some of the best of my life."

"Ah... I'd hate to ruin the moment but... what happened to her and what does it have to do with the Lost Tombs?" Apollo asked.

Razor let out a sad sigh looking at the picture, his thumb gently rubbing it. "That was were my father cast her to the waves, while I very seriously doubt there'll be anything left of her I do want to at least give her a proper burial, even if it is long overdue, and finally get some closure on that chapter after all this time."

He paused, then finished with, "I never even got to say goodbye." as tears started to fall.

The others wrapped him up in a hug, with Razor sighing and melting into it. After they parted they had their dinner, just as they finished a knocking was heard from the door leading to the main meeting area.

"It's open." Atlas called out.

The door opened to reveal a young creature that looked like a Kirin but had the leg holes and back plate of a Changeling with it's wing membrane looking like the wings of a Changeling's own wings. The newcomer hadn't even taken three steps into the room when it was scooped up in Steel's arms and placed on his shoulder.

"Hey there nephew, what's up?"

"Hey Uncle Steel, I came to let you guys know the ship has been loaded and is ready to sail at my father's orders." The hybrid said with a laugh after he was scooped up.

The hybrid, named Silver Moth, was the ten year old son of Razor Tail and Atlas Moth and was so far the only known offspring of a Kirin and Changeling pairing. The little guy had been born two years before his parents had married and was mature for his age. He had a silver coat like his dad, a purple mane like his mother, a red back plate, gold wing membranes, green eyes, and tail blades like those of his father's.

At first his parents had been worried about how the crew would have reacted to having him on board, but to their surprise, and relief, the crew had taken to Silver like moths to a bright light. Silver was well liked by the crew for his cheerful and friendly personally and from the fact he could cheer them up if any of them felt down. His ability to make very good sweets were a bonus as well.

Currently he didn't have a cutie mark but no one was sure if Silver could get one due to his genes, only time would tell. He didn't mind however and did what he could to help out around the ship.

Silver was plucked off Steel's shoulder only to find himself in an embrace from Snow, who fell in love with the "little cutie" as she called him, immediately after meeting him. Snow had taken the most time rising Silver went his parents were busy, having been denied that joy herself long ago, as a result she had bonded with him the most out of the Head Officers.

Silver happily returned the embrace.

The other Head Officers joined in on some play time with the Silver, while his parents watched with pride. After a noogie from Gold and some belly tickling from Apollo, Razor called them off. "Alright everyone let him breath."

He turned to Silver, "Did you have supper son?"

"Yes dad, I had an early supper with the crew."

Razor smiled, "Alright, tell the crew we'll set sail in the morning, can you do that?"

"Yes dad." With that, Silver turned and left to tell the crew Razor's orders.

"Such a sweetheart." Snow happily said.

"Okay everyone, get some rest. Tomorrow we sail for our first stop." Razor said show them their course.

"The Jagged Pillars sir?" Fire Gem asked.

"Aye, the Jagged Pillars."




The next morning

The Pegasus Stallion up in the crows nest lowered his spyglass and turned to his voice pipe.

"We are all clear sir."

Atlas looked about.

"The wind seems to be picking up, and the tide is with us. We're good."

Razor smiled and took the helm.

"Well my friends, shall we launch this beast?"

"Our pleasure Razor." Apollo said as Fire Gem walked to the railing overlooking the deck and shouted.

"All hands to stations!"

Crew rushed about, climbing up into the rigging and so forth, readying the ship. The gangplanks and docking supports detached and pulled back while magic users handled the lines as the anchors raised out of the water. Up on the masts the crew deployed the sails as Fire Gem's orders. Down in the engine room crew picked up shovels and went to work shoveling coal into the boilers, the pressure gauges steadily building.

The Dragon of the Depths caught the wind in her fully deployed sails and moved out of her dock, into the open water. Once they were far enough form the dock Razor spoke.

"Full speed Apollo, if you please."

Said Griffin leaned over to one of the voice pipes, the one marked with a steam engine, and said.

"Take her away."

The Diamond Dog smiled as the pressure reached the right level and the crystals glowed brightly.

"Aye aye boss." He said pulling the lever in his paw. 

The steam turbine engines rumbled as power built up, the three propellers at the back of the ship started to spin, picking up speed as the turbines' power climbed. Within a few minutes the Dragon traveled at a steady pace, moving away from Imperator's Grave.

Once they were a few miles out the crew started to sing.





(A/N: I do want an original song with the crew singing it, but songs aren't a strong point for me so I think these two videos should cover it, at least for now.)

Razor smile as the crew finished and laughed as they went back to work. He looked out over the water, wondering the adventure that awaited them.
> Chapter 2: Chase through the mists
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Four days after leaving Manehatten

The cruise had started off great, three days for enjoyment for the passengers and crew, among the Nobles form Canterlot were Fancy Pants, his wife Fleur de lis and the Princesses nephew Blueblood (Who had, after finding out who Rartiy was, mended things and had became a friend). The CMC and the other foals from Ponyville played games with the student six and the other students from the School of Friendship.

Unfortunately, the peace didn't last; about midday on the fourth day the Traveler was caught in a major storm that blow them way off course , which had caused the ship to cross paths with a small Caribou fleet. The Traveler was unarmed so it had no choice but to flee. Luck did seem to be with the Ponies however as the unexpected appearance of a rogue wave sank most of the Caribou ships.

Shining Armor looked behind their ship seeing the Caribou ships gaining, he turned to the Captain.

"Can't this thing go any faster?!"

"No we can't, even with the Pegasus Ponies and the baby Dragon blowing hot air into the sails, every able Pony using oars and the steam engine going full power we can't outrun them in the open!"

Shining snorted in anger, but not at the Captain.

Cadance came up, "Could we lose them them in those mists?" she said pointing to a wall of fog not to far away. Shining's and the Captain's eyes brighten and mouths opened in huge smiles.

"Looks like our luck hasn't run out yet." The Captain said turning the Traveler towards the fog.

"Cadance that's prefect!"

The Traveler sailed full speed towards the wall of fog, most of the Ponies didn't notice but as they entered the fog the Caribou ships turned back. Twilight was on deck looking around, surprised at how heavy the fog felt.

"This fog doesn't feel right, it feels too heavy." Rainbow landed next to her.

"Yea Twi, this feels odd."

Angel Wings spoke up, "At least we escaped the Caribou. I don't about you but I'd rather not end up as one of their slaves." She stuttered at the though. Pretty much everypony else agreed with her. Flare Warden was wondering something however,

"Why did they turn back? Caribou don't stop for fog." That when Flash spoke up from the bow.

"Ah sis, I think they turned back for... this." He said pointing his hoof forward.

The fog parted, revealing hundreds of rock spires, jagged rock spires. Some rocks were small enough to be no threat to the Traveler, while others were bigger and taller then the skyscrapers in Manehatten, and many of the rocks had ship wrecks impaled on them, some high above the water.

The water and fog was a sickly and ghostly light green which only added to the fear factor.

But in front of them was a wreck of a double-hulled Caribou ironclad, it was an absolute wreck; it had ran aground against a pillar close to the size of a Manehatten skyscraper, and a lot taller. Several branching spikes the length of a train struck through different areas, many pieces of the heavy rusted hull were missing with loose, hanging pieces of moss all over it. The hull looked like it had been bent from the starboard side, like something very large had rammed it.

"Who did this?" Night Night asked no one in particular with amazed horror.

"Better question honey, what did this." Velvet said standing next to him.

The Traveler pulled up to the ironclad, dropping anchor Night Light, Flash Sentry, and Flare Warden took an ear comm crystal each and entered the wreck. Night slowly walked down a rusted out hallway which had a lot of holes, exposing it to the outside.

"What's it look like in there Night?" Velvet's voice came through.

"There's a lot of battle damage, and from my scans I'd say no older then a year at most. This wreck hasn't been here for very long.

"The Caribou that were after us?" Applejack asked.

"I don't think so, the scans of the damage don't match the Caribou's weapons, and it wouldn't make sense to sink one of their own rare Ironclads." A critical thought came into his head just then. "Everypony stay sharp. Whatever did this could very well still be around."

"What does he mean by "Stay sharp"? We sharpen ourselves like pencils?"

Flare: No Pinkie, it means keep your eyes and ears open. I found the engine room and... wow... it looks like the entire unit was blown out, whole. Whatever hit them was hard, fast, and utterly without mercy. Judging from the... (Gulp) blood spots and bodies we found, most of them had no chance to defend themselves.

Flash here, I made it to the bridge, dear Faust it's a mess. Flare might be right, most of the crew are still at their stations... oh my goodness, I found the commander, or what's left of him. Who or whatever ended him made it as slow as possible,

Night: What do you mean by "what's left of him"?

Flash: Tust me, you really don't want to know.

"Don't Caribou rank up by... the more slaves they have?" Vapor asked, scared. Sky put a hoof around her trying to comfort her.

Flash: Yes they do... looks like the medals were removed. I don't see them anywhere around here. Whoever ended the commander likely took the medals, most likely as trophies.

Night: What I want to know is what could damage an ironclad like this. For what I know cannonballs can't harm ships like this.

Flash: From the looks of things, they might have been shells, but... those are very rare. Only elite naval branches use those.

Night: The cannonballs might have been enchanted, I'm getting some very faint traces of magic from some of the damaged areas.

Flare: Looks like whatever attack looted the place clean, the cargo holds are empty.

Flash: I think Flare's right again, I don't see any... WHOA!"

Flare: Flash! You Okay?! Respond!

Flash: Easy Flare I'm okay, I have reason to believe the ironclad was rammed.

Night: What makes you say that?"

Flash: I just came across a big open gash in the ship. If I were to guess, the ironclad was hit from the side and then it was ran aground on this rock pillar.

Flare: I agree, I'm seeing metal twisted around here now.

Night: Flash, Flare, I think we've spend enough time here. Let's go back, I'm getting an uneasy feeling.

Flash: Roger that, I've seen enough.

Flare: Good idea, I'm getting really bad shivers here.

After the three were back aboard the Traveler everypony gathered together.

"Where are we? this place isn't on any of the charts." The Captain said scratching his head.

"We were blow way off course by that storm, wait here I be right back." The navigator walked into the ship and a few minutes later returned with a rolled up scroll. He unrolled it, showing a map of the area they were in.

"We're in the Jagged Pillars, one of the areas of the Sea of Legends." He said.

"The Sea of Legends? That place is just a myth." Twilight said.

"They said the same thing about Nightmare moon, Discord, and quite a few other things we faced in the past your royal studious." Spike deadpanned.

"...Oh..." Was all Twilight said.

"Ah... guys?" Angel spoke up, Everypony turned to her.

"What Angel?" Soarin asked.

"If the Sea of Legends is just a myth, then what's that?" She said pointing off the ship's port side.

They all turned, and saw faint red lights through the fog that were slowly getting brighter.

"Kill the lights now!" The Captain ordered, the crew quickly carrying it out. Just as the last light when out a massive shape emerged, a giant ship. The Ponies on the Traveler were awed by the sheer size of the ship, with Vapor putting it best.

"That is one big ship of the Line."

"That's not a ship Vapor, it's a fortress." Flare said.

From what they could see at a distance the hull was four colors in a pattern of black, red, purple, and cyan in that order from the bottom which repeated as it traveled up the hull and there was bright gold trim all over the hull, such as in between the gun decks and the gun hatches themselves are also the above four colors only set to give two different contrasts to the gun deck they were on, being the black areas have red hatches with purple centers, the red areas had cyan hatches with black centers, the purple areas had gold hatches with cyan centers, and the cyan areas had black hatches with red centers. Spread all over the Hull were glowing orange ember-like spots, appearing like fire was burning brightly on the interior walls of these areas, there was also areas where the same glow effect was red with large Runes mixed in and emerald green. The size of these areas ranged from large to small and long to short with a few spots not having any Glow at all, and none of the three Glowing areas crossed over each other, with each being on a color band that allowed one to easy see the Hull color in bright lights while still leaving the Glow easily visible. The Glow Effect is also visible on the centers of the Gun Hatches.

The sails had a trapezoid-shaped cutout on the top and bottom sides and a rectangle cutout on the sides, the border of the sails had a green line that formed into bumps and rings around four corner holes, several green dots are spread-out on the sails. The bottom row of sails above the decks had a triangle-shaped cutout on the bottom. The sails were colored red with the sides being silver and a black stripe in between the middle and sides, though the colors shifted to gold starting from the bottom half of the symbol going from faint to very bright but the colors had been somewhat darkened after many battles, also the red middle tapered to a point starting under the symbol with the bordering black stripes doing the same. The spots below the tapering point was also silver though the gold made it hard to see, along the top edge of the sail is a swirling gold flourish.

In the center of the sails was a large symbol of a forward-facing four-winged, three-tailed dragon flying above a Maelstrom with a black treasure chest clutched in its front claws, various red lines on the dragon and chest bringing out the details of the two. The same symbol was seen on numerous banners that hung from yards and other areas.

The sails were tattered with several holes of various sizes spread throughout them though the damage isn’t enough to effect their performance. The symbol, sail edges, and tears glow were glowing. The symbol’s colors were green (Dragon), gold (Chest), and blue (Maelstrom). The tears color was Orange and the sail edging color was red. The rails themselves also had a strange glow effect even under the clouded sky that makes them easy to see. They could see numerous masts that reached very high into the air, with multiple shapes hanging or flying among the rigging.

The ship itself was at least 28 decks above the water line, not counting the fore and aft-castles, but towards the front a space was missing six decks, lights of various colors from lanterns could be seen all over the top decks, rigging, shrouds, forecastle and aft-castle.

The thing that really had their attention was the ship's bow; it had been shaped like a massive dragon head with a gaping maw and giant teeth, looking ready to swallow anything unfortunate to fall in and the two large crystal eyes were blood red and glowing and protruding from the chin was a long and very big hardened steel ram that had claw like spikes starting from the back half of the ram to just in front of the hull, the spikes started small and increased in size towards the back. Under the very long bowsprit, which protruded out just above the dragon's head, were several figureheads; the base of the Figureheads on the Bow constantly emitted a shroud of thick fog that trailed several feet behind as the Ship sailed forward. The first Figurehead sat under the others and was a large piece of curved metal resembling a cutlass blade with the cutting edge baring a resemblance to teeth on a saw blade.

The second Figurehead was above this one and the bottom one was attached at the back point to the base of this one, it was a round gold shield-like face boarded by a silver ring with the sail symbol in black on it, trailing behind the shield are four banner-like extensions curved from wood, two on top and two on the bottom, with silver coin-shaped claps towards the ends. The top banners were red and the bottom ones were black. The symbol on the shield had glowing red outlines and eyes that cast the black shape of the symbol on the water in front of the ship like a spotlight.

Fitted over top of the second Figurehead was the large skull of a creature with a beak with the Shield Symbol being seen in the mouth from the front. Attached to the chin of the skull was the first Figurehead on the front point.

Attached to the bowsprit in front of and above the forehead of the skull was a Figurehead consisting of a metal extension with a Pony Mare skull missing its lower jaw with red Gems in the eyes, nose, and protruding out of the mouth. At the base of this Figurehead is a pair of large gold-colored lanterns, one on each side, a red cloth is draped on each side starting just behind the top of the skull and down to behind and a bit past the Lanterns. A black chain started on the part above and forward of the Mare skull which traveled up to a gold chain loop with a large cage hangs from in between this Figurehead and the next one. The cage had a gold top with short chain, base, center ring and rivets and black bars with a red cloth covering the floor and hanging down a bit.

The third Figurehead was a Dragon with its body coiling around a metal beam twice, with the tail splitting in two and traveling above the eye sockets of the skull. The Dragon had two front legs with tree fingers tipped with black claws while the open maw of the Dragon had black, rock-like teeth. The body glowed brightly with yellow in the center that changed to orange than red towards the edges and tips.

In front and above of the Dragon is an Alicorn with a gold coat and purple hooves, wrapped around the horn were two Purple chain rings and another four were wrapped around the cannon of the right foreleg. The mane, tail, eyes, horn and wings were glowing: The mane and tail are red, the eyes are silver, the horn is green, and the wings had two glowing areas: The feathers were blue while the wings themselves were orange. The eyes projected a large silver halo or ring around the bowsprit above the head, this ring was quite visible even in the fog around them and in the left hoof was a large lantern in the shape of a gibbet cage with a large red flame burning within.

In front and above of the Alicorn is a Wyvern colored various shades of red ranging from normal to dark with its tail going into the wood attaching the Alicorn to the bow and the mouth was open with flame shooting out, the eyes were orange and yellow as was the flame. The Wyvern had three metal bands that were black but the areas in front of the body changed to orange then yellow, the center of the bands were broken, bent and twisted. The rivets holding the bands to the bowsprit are also glowing orange.

In front and above the Wyvern was the final figurehead which is another Dragon only shaped like the symbol on the sail with a silver body, red eyes, and black claws and tail blades. The center tail blade had a sapphire on it in the center of the blade, a long harpoon with small chains hanging off from in between the Alicorn and the Wyvern Figureheads towards the back jutted out. The Dragon had both back legs on this harpoon and the front left leg is gripping it while the right front leg had a rounded shield with a symbol of two crossed halberds behind a forward-facing Dragon head on it, the symbol glowed green.

Set to the sides of the Mare Skull Figurehead above the cloth extensions are a were of four Harpoons with three sets of chains holding them up set in a 12-3-6-9 pattern though the top and bottom Harpoons are longer, the ones at the 12, 3 and 9 positions had Red paint on their tips that resembles blood.

"I Think we now know what hit that ironclad." Flash said.

"I've never seen a ship like that, how could anypony build something like that?" Twilight asked.

"I don't know why Twi, but it looks like it could carry enough cannons to sink a fleet." Shining said.

Several spotlights lit up and began sweeping the area. The lights were attached to nine towers that rose at least three levels above the main deck which was protected by walls, on top of the towers were large mortars and flanking them were two ,one on each side, smaller cylinder shaped towers that travel down seven decks. Each tower held five cannon turrets holding two long-barreled cannons each, two levels below the main deck in between the cylinder towers were what looked like draw bridges. The Ponies could see several towers like the cylinder towers but smaller in several spots along the side of the ship and numerous large, long flags flapping in the light wind along with the banners.

The flags were red in color with the Dragon on it but unlike the banners, where the Dragon is facing forward, the Dragon on the Flag was seen from the side with the head facing towards the end of the flag. The flag itself is actually a Pennon with a pointed end and two black triangles starched on one corner on the corners facing the flag pole, chevrons colored gold and silver close to the nose of the Dragon, a blue stripe after the chevrons, and a purple chevron facing inward.

"I don't think those colors belong to any nation we know of." Sandbar said.

"Pirates." Shining whispered.

"How could simple Pirates build a ship like that?" one of the Nobles asked.

"I don't know, but we'd better not let them find us." Flare said.

"Doesn't look like they see us, if we let them past we might be able to escape."

"Are you sure Princess Cadance?" The Captain asked.

"No I'm not but as along as nothing alerts them we should be fine."

At that moment, fate was temped, and played a hand; Spike felt his nose inch.

"Oh no... oh no, Ahhh...Ahhhh...Aahhhh."

The eyes of everypony around Spike, who were the School of Friendship students, went wide and placed their hooves over his nose to stop the sneeze. A few minutes before Spike let out a sigh of relief.

"Thanks, I'm good now."

The students pulled their hooves away.

"Few, that was too close. For a moment I thought we were..." One of the students, a young mare by the name of Patty Peppermint, was saying when...

Without warning, Spike let out a giant sneeze with a large puff of emerald flame, nearly hitting an Earth Pony Stallion named End Zone, instead only lightly singeing the tips of his tail.

"...in trouble." Patty finished quietly.

"Do they see us?" Pinkie asked.

The spotlights swing around and shined on the Traveler, the massive ship then turned faster then a ship it's size should have. The Ponies aboard the Traveler could see two trails of smoke coming from two pipe clusters at the stern.

"THEY SEE US!!!" Was the general response. Quickly the anchor was up and the Traveler speed off with the giant hot on their tail, a sound not unlike a low roar emitting from the dragon's maw.




Dragon of the Depths

A little earlier

Razor Tail stared at the compass in his hand, deep in thought. After a three day trip the Outcast had arrived in the Jagged Pillars an hour ago and had began searching for any new wrecks or "live ones". The compass Razor had once belonged to his grandfather, after Razor had escaped his prison he had found a box his mother Silver Winds had left for him. In the box were a number of items including this compass, instead of pointing in the standard directions like normal compasses it pointed to what the holder wanted most. While Razor preferred to sail the normal way, he had found this compass to be useful in finding locations one could not find with normal compasses.

As he was thinking, Atlas came up next to him.

"Razor?" When he didn't respond, she placed her hoof on his shoulder and gave it a light shake. Blinking his eyes into focus he looked at her.

"Yes Atlas?"

"Are you okay? You were staring at you compass quite heavily."

"Yea I was just lost in some memories."

"Thinking about your mother?"

"Yea,"

"I know you told us what she was like but... something has been bugging me since then."

"(Smirking) Are you sure it's not because your a Changeling."

"(Shoves his shoulder playfully) Oh hush you, it's because...well..."

She drew in a calming breath.

"What would have Silver Winds though of me?" She finally asked rubbing a hoof against her foreleg.

Razor reached over and covered her with a wing.

"Atlas, please relax. Mom would have loved you, she would have been happy to have you as a daughter."

Atlas gave a light smile. "Even after the Canterlot invasion, which left a bad impression of us Changelings?"

"Mom was an understanding Mare, she would at the very least given you the benefit of doubt. Besides, your hive had nothing to do with the invasion, I would know, we were fighting a war at the time." He leaned over and give her neck a loving nuzzle. "You remember how me meet?" Atlas smiled fondly.

"I still remember as if it were yesterday; Me and my surviving subjects had landed on that island after escaping the attack. We were morning the ones we had lost, when you came forward and offered some comfort."

"I admit it was a little strange to feel you and the other Changelings feeding off me, but afterward I felt pretty good."

"Well according to recent research, those who give love willingly to a Changeling do gain health benefits."

Razor just chuckled and laid his head on top of Atlas' head, she removed her hat to make it easier for him. Being mindful of her horn she snuggled into him.

Anymore conversion was cut off when the blue crystal Apollo had given Razor before leaving port, began to glow very brightly and emit a high-pinched noise from it's place on the center the compass disk.

Both snapped to attention as it did, so did the rest of the crew. Looking closely at it he saw the arrow, which was shaped like a key for some reason (Razor had found it like this, the note said his grandfather while friendly, was a bit of an oddball.) was pointing off the starboard side.

"One of the crystals is close, Hard to starboard!" He shouted to the ship's four helmsmen, who were a Unicorn, a Pegasus, a Minotaur, and a Longma, who all worked the ship's three wheels. After a few minutes they emerged from the fog. Razor now stood on the top aft-castle deck, looking out over the creepy waves. 

"Turn the spotlights on!" Gold Fire ordered.

As the lights swept over the water and mists, the crew looked out searching for anything out of the ordinary. Razor watched the compass disk as it glowed a very bright blue and the arrow settled.

Frowning as he closed the lid, he put the compass away and walked to the railing looking over the starboard side.

'Where is it, it's here somewhere, it's close.'

Just when he was about turn around a bright flash of emerald flame flashed, lighting up an area not far off.

'What the..?"

The crewmates manning the starboard spotlights swing them around to were the flash was, revealing a ship. The ship was fairly large, not close to the Dragon, but larger then most merchant ships, a cruise ship. Razor pulled out his compass and flipped the lid open, the arrow was pointing at the cruise ship. He spun around to the helmsmen again and shouted,

"Hard to starboard!!"

The Dragon turned faster then most would think such a large ship could, everyone could feel the rumble of the heavy steam engines came to life with smoke poring out of the twin smokestack clusters that stuck out of the stern.

The reason the Dragon could maneuver like it could was because of the devices Razor had installed into it when it was first built. When the steam engines had been installed a set of twelve propellers had been placed at the bow and roughly mid-back forward of the stern propellers, kind of like the ones seen on the larger, solely steam engine powered cruise ships that had only entered service about six mouths ago.

Really helpful in tighter areas such as the Jagged Pillars.

Razor let a predatory smile show, "Gear up lads, we got a live one!"

One by one, the Head Officers lifted up a trumpet to their mouths and blew into it, sounded the battle cry. The crew rushed to their stations, they all knew that sound; they had live prey.

Immediately cannons came out of the side, front, and back gun ports.

Razor grabbed onto a voice pipe and softly ordered, "Engine room... Full power ahead."

The Dragon rumbled heavier as the steam engines went to max power.




The Traveler

The Ponies were scrambling trying to keep ahead of the giant behind them. A Unicorn Stallion named November Rain ran to the stern, looking out over the water and fog.

"Pirates in here, Caribou out there, we're trapped." He said, panic in his voice.

Cadance spoke up, "Not if they can't find us."

Shining, understanding what Cadance was thinking, said, "Captain, head into the fog."

"We'll be going right into zero visibly, ship wrecks, and Faust knows how many pillars of razor sharp rock."

"We'll have to take that chance, if these pirates can make a ship like that the who knows what else they can do."

"Good point."

The Traveler turned and went into the thicker areas of fog.




Dragon of the Depths

The Dragon turned and followed the cruise ship into the fog, Razor smiled widely as a familiar and welcome feeling came over him.

"They want a chase do they? We'll give them a chase!" He laughed clenching a fist and with a enthusiast smile.

Those who study Kirins would know that among the things one would enjoy, there was one thing that they enjoyed immensely; The thrill of a hunt.

At the front forecastle some crew were setting up special rockets, after they finished they aimed the launchers, lit the fuses, and took cover. The fuses burned at different speeds til they launched one at a time with a high-pitched moaning sound into the fog.




Traveler

The Ponies on the Traveler jumped in surprise the unexpected high-pitched moaning coming from behind them.

"What the hay is that?!" Rainbow cried out.

Several explosions behind them were her answer. The Ponies watched as numerous projectiles sailed through the air and detonated, the fog around the blast zones clearing greatly for a few seconds before the fog filled the spots again.

Twilight spoke, "What are those?" It was Dash who answered.

"Those are fog clearing rockets."

"Fog clearing rockets?" Shining asked.

"They're used by the Equestian Weather Bureau for clearing fog in areas were visibility is vital, the rocket clears the fog but only lasts for a short time."

"How could pirates get their hooves on those?" Twilight asked, Rainbow just shrugged.

"They're not that hard to make, any Pegasus with weather experience can make them and their harmless, so the head weather Ponies in Cloudsdale don't feel that they are a hazard."

Shining and Twilight looked at each other, maybe they should bring this up with Celestia later.




Dragon of the Depths

The Pegasus manning the crows nest had spotted their prey, White Fang ran up to were Razor was standing.

"We got them sir, their just ahead." He said with a smirk. Razor smirked back.

"Say on them," he said raising his halberd, "Let's reel them in."

Suddenly a Winged Thestral flew from the front were the launchers were, she landed next to White and Razor.

"Sirs! We have run out of Fog clearing rockets!"

"What?!" Razor shouted, turning to White "How can we be out of those rockets?!"

The albino Thestral shied back form the angry Kirin.

"Must not have loaded as many as we thought, we did also have to clear fog earlier to avoid the giant pillars." He squeaked, hope to calm the Kirin down. To his relief Razor's wings, which would spread a bit when he was mad, folded back against his sides and his lips covered his sharp teeth again.

"Good point," he admitted. "But you and I are have a chat later about checking inventory."

White just slowly nodded.

Atlas, who was standing next to the helm, spoke up.

"How are going to find them now?"

Razor looked out into the fog, then ordered, "Load the mortars with flare shots. Light up the fog!"

Soon the mortars were firing, a few minutes later the area around them lit up brightly, revealing a silhouette of a cruise ship off their port bow. Razor give a wide, predatory smile.

"I see you."

The Dragon veered portside.




Traveler

"THEY SEE US!!" Angel Wings shouted.

Shining looked around, before spotting that some of the rock pillars looked weak. If the Unicorns hit them enough times with magic bolts, the rock would fall and block the path behind them. Quickly he said his plan and the other Unicorns on board readied themselves, then fired at the rock.

After a few hits the pillars broke in two and fell behind the Traveler, blocking their pursuer.

"Okay, let's hope that brought us some distance." Vapor said looking back at the blockade.




Dragon of the Depths

But even as the Traveler sped away, the Dragon didn't even slow down as it rammed through the rock pile.

This chase was far from over.

Razor was standing next to the voice pipes when the Pegasus lookout in the crows nest voice came through.

"Sir,"

"Yes?"

"I see a flanking route to our starboard bow."

"Understood, helm head for that route."

The Dragon turned and went down the path.




Traveler

The Ponies remained as still as possible, their ears straining to hear anything from their pursuer, after about ten minutes they heard nothing and there was no sign of the pirates.

"Looks like we lost them." Sky said with a cocky smile. 

Shining wasn't so sure, and just when he was about to voice this, he was proven right when a massive shape shot out off their port bow, the pirates had flanked them.

" A BRICK!!!!" The Captain shouted at the top of his lungs as he turned very hard to starboard, bring the Traveler right next to the giant. The student six watch the giant maw of the Dragon head shaped bow come far too close to them, the dragon head emitting a sound like a roar.

"Okay that's horrifying." Gallus said pointing to it, the other nodded in agreement.

At this point the Ponies abroad the Traveler saw the amount of cannons on the side, and there were a lot of them. Just as the cannons fired Shining cast a shield spell, it held up but only just, Twilight and Starlight joined in casting shield spells.

The Traveler finally got ahead of the pirates and sped ahead at full speed. Just as those on board were losing hope that they would escape, Soarin shouted,

"I see sunlight through the fog, to our right!"

The Captain looked over and, seeing the light, turned hard to starboard. Soon the Traveler slipped out of the fog and into the light of day.

But they weren't out of the woods yet, the pirates were right behind them and gaining.
> Chapter 3: Intruders on Board! Part 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Traveler has just escaped the fog covering the Jagged Pillars and out onto the open sea, behind them the Dragon of the Depths emerged and was gaining on them. Though the Traveler had gained a good bit of distance, the Ponies aboard had a feeling that they wouldn't escape the Dragon for very long.

A high-pitched moaning filled the ears as twenty rockets were fired from the Dragon and arced towards the Traveler.

"INCOMIIIING!" One of the crew members shouted. Starlight cast a shield spell which block them but something from the rockets set her to the deck holding her horn.

Twilight rushed to her, "Starlight! Are you alright?"

"Do I LOOK alright!" She shouted, "Those rockets aren't normal ones, they must be fitted with some kind of enchanted warheads." She laid on her back while Cadance tended to her.

The moaning filled their ears again.

"Another barrage incoming!" A Stallion named Vellum Codex shouted, and this time there were more rockets.

"Unicorns! Hit as many as you can!" Shining ordered. The Unicorns fired magic bolts at the oncoming rockets hitting most of them in the air, but they couldn't stop them all. The Ponies dived for any peace of cover they could get to as the first rocket hit the deck with a big explosion, but instead of the normal fire, a ghostly green and black colored energy shot from the impact point, up the masts, and closed the sails encasing them in glowing chains of the same colors. The second one released a purple and black energy that went for the starboard anchor and dropped it, a few seconds later the ship clubhauled swinging it sharply to port, sending anyone and anything not tied down to the deck and rolling all over the place as some lucky ones manged to grab on to something.

As the Ponies recovered they saw the Dragon closing in on them fast, Twilight turned to Vapor Trail and Angel wings.

"Vapor, Angel, take the foals, the young six, and the school students below, find somewhere safe and stay there, we're about to have company!"

"Will do Princess!" Vapor said as she and Angel took the mentioned Ponies and creatures below deck. The Dragon pulled along side the Traveler and fired the cannons on the upper decks, the Ponies on deck dove for cover as the cannons fired but a few of the Traveler's crew members weren't fast enough. Eight Ponies were hit but weren't harmed, instead they found themselves encased in a red magic field that allowed them to breath, talk, see, and hear but they could not move an inch, the flyers were even frozen in midair*. The Dragon's drawbridges, which were two decks down from the Traveler's top deck, lowed and latched on to the sides with pirates of various species charging across. At the same time flyers of various species came from the Dragon's covered top deck and rigging.

The Traveler's crew who weren't frozen grabbed weapons of their own, spears, swords and even harpoons and daggers as they engaged the pirates. Just then a caw was heard and those on the Traveler saw a silver colored male phoenix with black and red highlights fly over before it released a blast of light, the pirates shielded their eyes but the Traveler's crew weren't so lucky. As they recoiled from the light the pirates charged with more of the Traveler's crew frozen when hit by either sword or firearm.

Shining Armor watched as the battle on deck turned against them, the Traveler's Captain ran up to him.

"Armor sir, we have below, their going after the cargo!"

Shining nodded and run down the stairs to the decks below. On deck Rainbow, Soarin, and Sky watched the battle from the bow. Some pirates saw them and charged, this first group were carrying two swords each, some the same while others had two different ones, another group of similar pirates not too far away were wielding polearms such as spears and halberds instead, while another even wielded boarding hooks. Their attire were in some ways uniform; made up from a hat or bandanna, a vest on some while others didn't have a one, a shirt, a scarf under a belt which came in many different designs with various items hanging from them though some didn't have the scarf and/or just wore ropes with metal rings or squares instead of a belt, striped pants with the stripes running length-wise, and boots of various designs, some did have peg legs however. A few even have bits of armor like a shoulder guard or gauntlet.

As the three Pegasi got ready to fight a voice suddenly said, "Hold up boys, these ones are mine."

From behind the pirates who had turned their heads to the voice, a Pegasus Mare emerged. She had a snow white coat, ice blue mane and tail with matching eye, and a cutie mark of a snowflake in the shape of a heart judging of the patches on her coat over her flanks. She wore a lightly tattered resplendent black and purple coat with a set of eleven medals, most of them being of Caribou make, hanging on the left side, a metal cuirass with a ribcage design over her chest over top a brown shirt and pants, around her waist was a red scarf with a leather belt over top, the belt had several small bones stuck through it and a buckle made completely of bone, covering her front hooves were a pair of  dark brown gloves with red stitching and a piece of bone pined to the top and a metal gauntlet on her left hoof under the glove. Over her coat was a brown harness which held ten cap and ball revolvers.

On her right shoulder was a Caribou skull with the anthers removed and a leather strap holding it to a shoulder guard, she also had armor on her left shoulder, belly, back, lower back legs, and wings. 

Over her right eye which had a large, deep scar running from her maneline down over to her chin was a black eyepatch with an diamond engagement ring at the top, a gold coin on the right corner, and a curved bone on the left side of it, atop her head was a dark green bandanna wrapped around it, her mane and tail were braided with small bones woven in and what looked like the braided tail of a Stallion hanging from the bandanna behind her left ear, and a large, battle damaged black tricorne hat with small spines with five inch rib bones at the top of the brims, a set of Caribou anthers at the base of the brims, and a small animal skull on the front. Under her hat were lit cannon fuses tied into her mane and the braided tail with smoke coiling around her hat.

At her left side under her left wing as a bone decorated scabbard with held a cutlass.

Accompanying her were a group of pirates wearing similar coats to the one she wore, along with black uniforms with white highlights, black and white bricorne hats, cross belts in a lighter shade with a silver disk-shaped buckle in the center of where the belts crossed, and white skull masks, white bones decorated their outfits.

They were armed with a rifle that was bolt-action instead of flintlock and had the blade of an ax under the front of the barrel and a two-pronged spike above it. Swords were seen at their sides and the weapon, just like their attire, was decorated with bone.

One thing that stood out was that at least 60% of them were females.

As the Mare approached she drew her sword; a cutlass as black as night with a straight, serrated blade, a gold unicorn were the hilt and blade met with green gems as eyes and a long horn that traveled 70% the length of the blade. A basket hilt the color of bone studded with green gems, wrapped around the handle was a length of red cloth and a small animal skull at the end. The blade itself was also covered in lightly glowing blue runes.

She lifted her sword and rested the blade sideways on her gauntlet point it at the three Wonderbolts, specifically at Dash, a smile on her face.

"Rainbow Dash, bearer of the Element of Loyalty, the only know Pegasus known to pull off not one but many Sonic Rainblooms, one of the saviors of Equestia, and now Wonderbolt. It's an honor to finally meet you."

Said Pegasus' jaw dropped, how in the world did this mare know her? It was Soarin who asked that question.

"How do you know her and who are you?!" He demanded moving protectively in front of Rainbow with Sky, the Mare laughed, her smile growing bigger.

"Soarin my dear, unlike those pathetic skeptics who forced Rainbow to move to Ponyville, I. Saw. That very same Rainbloom with my own eyes all those years ago! That sight helped me escape my personal Taratarus I had live in for years. As for who I am, the Caribou call me a few names; angel of vengeance, angel of death, agent of death, death's herald, and even death itself, but most others know me as Snowheart, Snowy or just Snow by my friends."

The two Stallions glanced warily at the bones she and her companions wore, if those were real...

"It just the Caribou, other species don't deserve to suffer the pain the Caribou deserve. This braided tail belong to the Stallon who took my family away from me."

Soarin moved a little more in front of Rainbow, who was still in shock, and said, "And how do you know me!?"

"Your one of the most well known Wounderbolts Soarin, and I heard a rumor that you and Dash here are dating."

Soarin flinched, it was true. He and Rainbow had been dating since some time before Rainbow joined the Wonderbolts, having first met through a mutual friend, and had even been seriously thinking about marriage.

Rainbow finally recovered from her shock, shaking her head she glared at Snow.

"Well if it's a fight you want, it a fight you will get! Bring it!"

The pirates behind Snow stepped forward, only of Snow to raise a wing.

"As I said, these three are mine."

"It's three on one, you can't win." Sky added cockily.

Snow just smiled bigger, "Oh no Sky Stinger, now it's fun."

A creepy laugh left her mouth, causing the three Wonderbolts to shutter.

"Careful you two," Soarin said cautiously. "Serrated blade wounds are harder to heal, and I don't think this Mare is quite right in the head."

"You wouldn't be either if you spent seven years as a Caribou slave my dear." Snow said grimly.

The three Ponies flinched, then attacked.

But Snow was ready, as Dash came at her she punched Rainbow in the face with her cutlass basket hilt followed by a punch to the chest with her other forehoof and a kick to the stomach which send Dash backwards slamming into Soarin, knocking them both down. Sky took a blow to the chest from the hilt then a kick to the stomach, sending him into the other two Pegasi.

As the three got up Snow pointed her sword and made a 'come at me bro' gesture with a challenging smile. The three groaned, this was not going to be easy.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Traveler

Below Deck

A number of pirates had gotten their limbs on some loot but before they could move it some random objects flew at them making them take cover. Three Ponies; two Unicorns and one Earth Pony came running, one was Rarity entering dramatically, the second Unicorn was a taller mare named Sassy Saddles, Rarity's manger of the Canterlot Boutique, the Earth Pony was a Mare named Coco Pommel, a Bridleway dressmaker and a good friend of Rarity's.

The three Mares stopped as the pirates quickly recovered and faced them.

"You ruffians aren't taking that which isn't yours." Rarity declared, Sassy nodding readily while Coco more meekly. The pirates growled. Besides the type Rainbow, Soarin, and Sky had seen, there was a few groups with a different uniform; most wore a bandanna of different colors but some wore worn hats of different kinds held together with stitching, the ones who had hair had it heavily braided or deadlocked with beads, waistcoats over what looked like some kind of leather armor and cloth shirts, leather baldric with large but simple buckles and holders for their weapons, gloves with leather wrapping up half the forelimbs, sashes under double belts attached to large buckles like their baldrics, weather worn pants with rope or strips of cloth or leather or both at various spots, and and simple leather boots with rope and cloth straps along with laces.

The were armed with dual swords, axes, maces, claw shaped short swords, and boarding hooks. The three Mares could also see that each of them had a small green bottle filled with some sort of liquid on their belts.

Coco leaned over to the Unicorns, "I don't mean to be a party pooper but, we're out numbered." she said nervously.

Before either Rarity or Sassy could response, a crossbow bolt zoomed past their heads and impacted the wall behind them, a half-second later it violently detonated, taking a good chunk of the wall with it. The three Mares, who had jumped and let out squeals of fright as their heads swing to look were the bolt had come from.

Reloading their magic heavy crossbow was a Changeling Hive Guard who still wore the armor along with a pirate themed outfit, from among the group of Hive Guards a Changeling Queen emerged.

She stood a half head taller then Chrysalis and had a royal purple mane and tail, wings shaped like that of an Atlas Moth, and royal purple eyes. She wore a wine red bicorne hat with gold edging, a gold ribbon flower, silver fur along the edges, and a number of large blue ostrich feathers protruding opposite of the flower. Around her neck as a choker necklace made of silver coins studded with various gems with a gold scarf under it, a resplendent rose red and gold coat with silver buttons and bell-shaped cuffs, two leather baldrics; a smaller one with a gem studded buckle and a larger and thicker one with a buckle like the one on her belt with a claymore strung across her back, a white silk shirt with a a black vest with wine red strip where the button holes were and gold buttons, leather gloves with a belt of red leather held by a silver ring one the right and a gold and silver hoof ring studded with diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, and rubies on the left, a leather belt over a red sash pined with several trinkets with a large silver buckle studded with gems, pants normally worn by royalty, and leather boots with gold edging and metal studs.

Four cap and ball revolvers were stuffed through her belt.

The Queen's mane and tail were done in seven braids that were tied at the middle with a red bow like the on Applebloom wore and a large barrel bead just above the tip, her mane was quite long and hung over her left right shoulder and down to the upper half of her forelegs. Both the mane and tail had many small diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, and rubies clips woven throughout the hair.

She walked forward with an air of vanity and elegance, the Hive Guards flanking her. She stopped a few feet from the front of Rarity and started at her with an air of interest, after a few uneasy minutes for the three Ponies, the Queen give a soft smile and spoke.

"Miss Rarity, Sassy Saddles, and Coco Pommel, we finally meet."

The three don't know know how to react, finally Rarity spoke up.

"Ahhhh... who are you and how do you know of us?"

The Changeling smiled, "Name's Atlas Moth and as for how I know of you, I know quite well of the bearer of the element of Generosity, her manger of the boutique, and the aspiring dressmaker she helped. Seriously Coco, I'm glad you stopped working under that hag you had as a manger."

Sassy blinked while Coco rubbed her hoof on her foreleg, Rarity then asked, "How do you know Sassy is my manger in Canterlot, and how do you know what happened with Suri?"

"I've been in Canterlot a few times for my hubby," Atlas rolled her eyes with a heavy sigh. "That place is filled with stuck-up idiots, seriously, I've met ruthless blackguard pirates who have far more class and respect then those so called "Nobles". I am not kidding."

Sassy spoke up next, "You where in Canterlot? How did you get pass the anti-Changeling lamps?" Atlas chuckled.

"Those are only attuned to Chrysalis' hive which is now ruled by Thorax, and Dragonfly's as well." The three Ponies looked flabbergasted.

"What do you mean by "only attuned to Chrysalis' and Dragonfly's hive"?!" Rarity asked.

"Darling," Atlas said with a light laugh, "did you really think that there was only one hive after she took out the others? Those were only the ones in that region! There are many hives through out the world, each with their own culture and identity. Chrysalis broke an ancient law with that attack and the other hives are looking for her. Even if she had won, the other hives would have come down on her like Timberwolves on prey. Dragonfly now, now that's a lad who I have great respect for and would love to meet one day."

"What about Thorax's hive? his Changelings look far different from yours." Sassy said. Atlas just shrugged.

"To each their own, the other hives consider his Changelings a race of the species." Coco then spoke up.

"You.. said you were in Canterlot for you hubby, your married? I like what you did with you mane and tail by the way, it looks nice."

"Why thank you Coco, as for my hubby," Atlas lifted the hoof holding the ring to show the Ponies. "My husband crafted this and my sword for me as a wedding gift."

Her magic lit up as she pulled out her claymore and showed it; it was shaped like a normal Northern Mountain Claymore, it's handle was wrapped in red leather, the end opposite of the blade was a large glowing Changeling crystal, the hand guard was gold and studded with emeralds with smaller crystals at the tips and a large ruby in the center, the blade itself was normal but was covered with green glowing runes.

The Ponies stared at the sword and then at Atlas, The three didn't really know what to do next.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Traveler

Galley

A lot of pirates had attacked the galley with the intent to clear the stores of food and drink, only to run into the Apple family, who were in the pirates own words; putting up a hay of a fight.

Granny Smith, armed with a frying pan, was dueling with a group like the ones Rarity had encountered, and actually driving them back. She may be old, but she was as tough as a barn full nails.

Applejack, along with her cousin Apple Fitter, used their applebucking kicks to send pirates left and right flying in a tangle of limbs and a clatter of dropped weapons.

"Oi! These lasses mean business!" One pirate called out recovering from being thrown across the room.

"Ya varmints bet yer tails we do! Charge them Big Mac!" Granny Smith ordered her grandson.

"EEYUP!!" With that, the large hulk of a Stallion charged and slammed into the wall of pirates like a one-Pony cavalry with the clatter of dropped weapons and yelps of pirates.

This continued for a few minutes, the pirates out numbered the four Ponies, but the four fought like demons, slowly but surely pushing the pirates back, then the four Apples got reinforcements of four more.

But then...

Several bangs were heard with many shots whizzing past the eight Ponies, just missing them. Looking up they saw that three more groups of pirates, a new type, had joined the fray.

They wore bandannas but none of them had hats, cloth shirts with leather vests over top, leather baldrics over the right shoulder to over the left ribs with simple metal buckles and a strap of leather running from the buckle down to the waist and to the back, leather gauntlets, what looked like a wide leather sash around the waist with two simple belts over top of it, a length of rope atop the sash, a leather sash hung from the bottom belt down to the thigh and looped back to the bottom belt on the back, under the leather sash was a cloth one that was tattered with the longest piece ending at the side of the left knee, striped pants with leather knee pads, and boots.

The baldrics and belts had been modified to hold ammo and held bags and pouches. For armament the group that had fired carried duel cap and ball revolvers with several more in holsters on harnesses, the group after them were armed with blunderbusses, these weapons were not flintlocks however; in place of of the flintlock was a lever and tube like that of a lever-action rifle, one pirate reloaded his by first holding it by the barrel, pointing it towards the ceiling, dropping a round sphere slightly smaller then the diameter of the barrel allowing it to slide down with ease, then grabbed the lever under the gun and moved it downward, ejecting a spent primer then moving the lever back.

The last group was carrying bolt-action rifles that were slung on their backs, like because they were in close quarters. All three groups had short swords.

The Apples eyes wide. "GET TO COVER!!" Granny ordered, she and the rest of the Apples dove behind some flipped tables, and not a moment to soon as the pirates opened fire. Red colored projectiles slammed into the table tops, it was the same energy that had trapped some of the Traveler's crew easier. Clearly, these pirates didn't want to kill any one on board.

The Apples were shouting to each other of the din of guns firing.

"Under cover, but no exit!"

"WE'RE UNDER HEAVY FIRE!!"

"We're pinned down!

"We're boxed in! WE'RE BOXED IN!!"

One thing the pirates weapons had was the ability to reload fast and keep the Apples pinned down as the ones they had been fighting before went beak to looting. The Apples however weren't having any of that. Before the Pirates could react, the tables the Apples were using as cover came flying at them, with a yelp the pirates and tables went down in a cluster of limbs, weapons, and other objects.

"Take that ya varmints!" Applejack shouted in triumph, it didn't last. The door exploded in a shower of broken peaces as a large double-headed war hammer went through them, and carrying the war hammer as the Biggest Minotaur the Ponies had ever seen entered. He was easily bigger then Iron Will in both height and mass, he wore a large helmet instead of a hat, the helmet was gold in color and had two strips of wrapped around it with various teeth of creatures attached and a set of very large feathers sticking up on the left side, a black coat with armor plates that went down to just above his ankles, heavy armor over his shoulders, torso, arms and legs, heavily padded gloves with metal studs on the knuckles, a large gold nose ring, three thick leather belts held by a wide strip of leather and a very large buckle, brown pants with armor plates, and thick, heavy leather boots with metal caps. On his head were a set of some of the most impressive horns that would make any Bull or Minotaur green with envy, the horns had several metal bands on them.

Across his chest were two thick leather baldrics, one held five cap and ball revolvers while the other and his belt held items related to trapping.

In his hands was a war hammer as tall as he was; it had a thick metal handle with bands fitted with blunt studs one inch apart for better grip, at the end opposite of the head was a spike that looked like it could pierce the skull of a hydra wit ease, the square heads were big, thick, and looked powerful enough and thick to crush a dragon skull easily, just under the heads were four metal skulls of a sea serpent. Around the heads were glowing runes.

"Hey boys! You lot having fun without me!?" He boomed cheerfully in a voice that would have made Luna proud.

"Steel Mass! Glad you could join us. We would have brought the loot up but these Ponies manged to push us back."

"Really? Well we can't be havin' that!"

Big Mac stomped his hoof. "I'll take on the big guy!" Steel let out a bellowing laugh.

"Finally a challenge! BRING IT ON!!!"

Both charged, locking heads and staring each other in the eye.

"Hold it!" Pinkie Pie then dropped in out of no were with her party cannon. "Surrender our treats back, or I'll blow ya all down with me party cannon!"

"Then you should watch yer flank lass," A voice said from behind Pinkie. Before she could respond, an explosion hit her right on the rump sending her flying over the Apples heads with a shriek and into the cabinets with a loud cash. Behind were Pinkie had been standing was a Zebra mare with gold eyes and five deep scars on the right side of her face.

"Watch yer flank lass, yer don't watch yer flank you get it blown off."

On her head was a gold bandanna, a bicorne hat with the front side taller then the back silver edging, crossed silver muskets, metal bars on the bottom and corners, and a large black feather attached to the back, a piece of shoulder armor  on her left shoulder with two steel chains across her chest, leather armor on her torso, leather armor shoulder pad on her right shoulder, a faded red coat, leather gloves, a leather belt held by a metal ring with a small piece with a metal stud hanging from it and metal studs, a white sash with silver coins hanging from it under the belt, armored pants, and black leather boots.

She, like all Zebras, wore several gold rings and a black leather baldric resembling her belt holding a jian sword.

Besides the sword, she had four cap and ball revolvers, a bunderbuss and a holster for a hand cannon on her back.

The latter of which she was reloading.

"Hey Zenith! Glad you joined the party!" Steel Mass said from his fight with Big Mac.

"Like I'd let you have all the fun."

Pinkie came out of the debris pile, and she was not happy if her smoking rear was anything to go by.

"Shot me in the RUMP!! THAT HURT!!!"

"Just be thankful it was just the power and not the shot!"

Applejack walked next to Pinkie who was rubbing her rear.

"Yer still got the rest of us to deal with!"

A small smile slowly spread across Zenith's face.

"It's not just us in here lass."

The Apples and Pinkie looked confused for a second, than heard something behind them. Turning around they as a large and long creature rear up like a cobra and roar at them.

The creature was a light dark blue with a large five-arm head crest with red stripes on the arms, dark yellow eyes, a mouth filled with razor sharp needle-like teeth, and several fins traveling down it's body which was at least twenty feet long and as thick as one of Sweet Apple Acres apple tree trunks. Accompanying it were ten similar creatures but were ten feet long, thinner, light blue, and lacked the head crests, another difference was the large one had thick scales and plates covering it's body, which the smaller ones lacked.

"What in tarnation are THOSE?!" Applejack shouted. It was Steel who answered, still in the lock with Big Mac.

"Those lass are Sea Serpents, and the crested is an Alpha, dangerous creatures of the Sea of Legends. Nasty tempers and mouths full of teeth, they make great attack animals."

The Apples and Pinkie looked at each other, things just got harder.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Traveler

Library

A small group of pirates were searching the library for something apparently held in one of the books, so far they hadn't found whatever they were looking for as they read the books then put them back if they didn't have what they were looking for.

Two Thestral pirates, one Horned with lighter colors and one Cave with regular colors, were reading a stack of books next to them. The Horned one had a cream coat with light brown webbed mane, tail and wings and gold eyes. He was wearing a red tricorn with silver edging and a set of blue feathers, a red coat, a black shirt and pants, orange waistcoat, brown belt with silver buckle and black sash under it, and brown boots with silver buckles. His cutie mark was a lantern surrounded by a black fog judging from the patches on his coat.

The Cave had an ash grey coat with navy blue webbed mane, tail and wings and yellow eyes. He wore a grey bicorne, a navy blue coat, red waistcoat, light gray shirt, black belt, light blue pants, and black boots. His cutie mark was a chuck of obsidian from his coat patches.

Both had axes with runes on the blades and two cap and ball revolvers each. The Horned let out a frustrated snort and he let the book he'd been reading fall to the table.

"Still nothing on what we're looking for," he turn to the rest of the pirates, "Anything?"

"No" was the answer. The Horned turned to the Cave, who was looking through his own book. The Horned facehoofed.

"Dark, you knew you can't read." The Cave looked up.

"Just because I can't read doesn't mean I can't help out Night."

"And how are you going to help find what we're looking for when you need to read to find it?!"

"Then what's this?" Dark turned his book around to show what was on it, it was a picture of a disk of some sort with one diamond in the center and six crystals around it with the points pointing towards the diamond. Night's jaw hit the table.

"How did you find that and how long were you waiting?!"

"I can't read but I'm not blind, and about twenty or so minutes." Dark said with what could only be described as a trollish smile.

"We've been here for twenty-five minutes and you had the book we've been looking for THE WHOLE TIME!!!!!!!"

Dark's smile just grew.

"Problem Bro."

Night's right eye twitched.

My brother can be such a troll at times, remember the promise you made Night, don't beat his face in as much as you what to.

Night just double facehoofed, "Just pack up the book and let's go."

The pirates walked out of the library, only to stop as an Alicorn literally appeared in front of them with a flash of magic. With her were two Pegasi and a baby Dragon.

"Hooves off those books!" Twilight shouted.

"What would pirates want with raiding a library?" The pirates looked at Spike with looks that said 'seriously'.

"Books can hold a lot of knowledge, and that's just as valuable as any treasure." Flare said getting into a combat pose.

"But either way we won't let them take any." Flash said also getting into a combat pose.

"You do know we're standing right here, and we only took one book." Night said rolling his eyes.

Dark smiled, "Okay men, to action!"

Some of the pirates behind them, who happened to be former Prench sailors, stuck their hooves in the air.

"We surrender!" The look on Night's, Dark's, and the other pirates faces could never be described by words.

"NO, Not. That. ONE! You morons! The sword dueling thing!" Night shouted facehoofing.

"Ooohhhh...."

The pirates quickly pulled out their weapons, Twilight looked a little startled but lit her horn while her company got ready. Then Flash felt something lightly bump his left back leg, looking down he saw a sphere the size of a Pony's eye, and a white hoof twice as big as his reach down and grab it. With a yelp flash jumped to the side, his yell alerting the others. Behind the was a Thestral twice as big as a full grown Stallion; he was white in color and wore armor that was used by Luna's Night Guard, with it he wore a black coat with gold trim and red cuffs, a blue waistcoat, and a yellow belt with a black buckle and sash. Hooked to his belt was a large spiked club coated with runes and six cap and ball revolvers.

He held the sphere in his left hoof as he walked into the light, causing Twilight and her group to flinch. He only had one pink eye, the sphere was his right eye, which he popped back into its socket.

"White, good to see you." Dark said smiling.

"You know me, hang back then strike." Twilight looked a bit shocked to see the armor.

"Your a NIGHT GUARD?! What is a night guard doing with these pirates?"

"Former night guard Princess Twilight."

"How do you know my name?"

White rolled his eyes, "Oh please, your more well know then you think Princess, and I left the night guard after killing loan sharks who killed my and my brother's parents and took my eye!" He said tapping his fake eye, then threw a small glass vial at the floor under them. Next thing Twilight and her group knew, they were trapped in a magic field unable to move.

As the pirates rushed past them White walked up to Twilight, "Sorry about the field, don't worry, it fades after a few minutes, you grace." He saw doing a mock bow lifting his helmet off before turning and running into the darkness. The trapped Ponies and Dragon tired to move but could not no matter how much they tried.

"How are these pirates so well equipped?" Flare asked.

"I don't know Flare, but this is not good at all." Flash answered.

"I can't move at all." Spike said.

"I'll try to cast a counter spell to free us but it might take a minute." Twilight said.

The two Ponies and Dragon groaned.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Traveler

Dinning Area

The Dinning Area was a battlefield with the Traveler's Marines and the pirates refusing to back down, while the passengers were doing their best to say out of it. And the pirates had manged to get a lot of loot to their ship.

"Think we're just about finished?" A random pirate, a Unicorn, asked one next to him.

"We should be, the Archduke should have found what he came for." The pirate, a Crystal Quartz Pony** answered.

"At least most of the passengers are tying to stay out of it, expect for the blue Unicorn, who's give are guys one heck of a fight." The first one said.

"Isn't that General Night Light? One of Equestria's best military leaders." The second one asked.

"It is! But... I thought he retired decades ago."

"He did, to help his wife rise their foals."

"Indeed, but even retired he is one to respect." A third voice said from behind the two pirates. Turning around they saw a Griffin and a Dracony Wyvern. The Griffin had the front of a Horned Owl and wore a large tricorne with gold trim, a black and gold coat normally worn by Griffin Nobles, a steel breastplate, white shirt, black belt with purple sash under it, black pants and boots, and a red baldric with a buckle made from melted down silver.

On his back was a scabbard holding a greatsword and stuffed through his belt were seven cap and ball revolvers.

The Dracony was purple in color, had red eyes, a gold and silver mane and tail tip which were braided with beads, and wore a large aged bicorne with small feathers held by a metal clip, a navy medal with a red ribbon around his neck, a red frock coat with an embroidered faded gold and silver floral design, a dark blue waistcoat, red, green, and blue striped sash under a leather belt with gold diamond shaped buckle, black pants, brown boots, and a black baldric with a gold buckle like the one on his belt and holsters for his pistols.

His sword was a basket-hilt and resting on his baldric were seven cap and ball revolvers.

"Oh, Apollo, Fire Gem, Didn't hear you come over." The Unicorn said with respect.

Apollo walked forward, watching Night Light.

"That Unicorn is one you must respect, for he is very powerful and very skilled in both combat and magic. His son was Captain of Canterlot's Royal Guard and is now Prince of the Crystal Empire after all,"

The Crystal Pony pirate lightly smiled, through the Empire had vanished to Sombra's curse and only reappeared a few years, not all of the Crystal Ponies had been enslaved before it disappeared, a large number had been able to escape, somehow eventually reaching the Sea of Legends, were they and their descendants had lived before joining the Outcasts when the former Royal's wars became too much.

"his daughter is now an Alicorn and was the personal student of the Princess of the sun herself," Apollo continued, "best to trend with care around him lads."

Fire Gem walked up up nodding his agreement.

At the same time, Fluttershy was hiding among a stack of crates, too scared to leave. She had seen the two pirates who she believed were officers, and she was scared what the pirates might do to her if they found her.

"Oh... what do I do what do I do," She was whispering to herself in worry, "maybe if I stay here they wouldn't notice me.

"Sorry lass, but we noticed you."

Letting out a quiet (and rather adorable) sequel of fright, Fluttershy spun around. Behind her were two Dragons; a Quadruped and a Longma. The Quadruped had bronze scales with lighter underbelly plates, brass eyes, and rust colored spines. He wore a wine red bicorne with bronze crossed sabers on the front, midnight black coat with rust facings, a wine red waistcoat, Brass gloves, black belt with  brass buckle and wine red and bronze striped sash under it, black pants, tan boots, and a tan baldric with brass buckle.

A mace with a spiked head and wine red runes hung from his belt along side six cap and ball revolvers stuffed through his belt.

The Longma had black scales, silver horns and underbelly plates, grey eyes, and black and silver striped hair on his head, back of his neck, and top of his tail. He wore a white tricorne with red edging and bronze gears on the brims, a light bronze coat with wine red highlights, a silver and black vest with grey gears line the bottom, silver belt with with red buckle and white and gold striped sash under it and, bronze pants, black boots and a silver baldric with gold buckle and small bronze gears running along its length.

Attached to his belt was a scabbrad holding a dao sword and a large tome; the tome was bronze with wine red highlights, silver gears along the edges, white runes on the spine, and a black cog with crossed hammer and monkey wrench behind it on the cover. On his back were a bolt-action rifle and a lever-action blunderbuss.

"Who... who are you? Pirates looking to chop me to bits?" Fluttershy squeaked with fear. Both pirates looked a bit surpised at that.

"Okay first miss, no we're not going to chop you to bits." The Quadruped said.

"And second, our leader ordered us to not kill anyone, and even if he didn't, it's very clear to us you have no desire to join in on the fight." The Longma said tilting his head to the left.

"Besides," the Longma continued, "we're engineers, we only attack if need to. We just hanging back..."

"and watching events unfold." The Quadruped finished.

Fluttershy blinked, "So... your not going to hurt me?" She asked from behind her mane.

Both Dragons shook their heads.

"Perhaps we should keep an eye on you, so to prevent anything nasty happening to you." The Longma said, the Quadruped nodding his head in agreement. Fluttershy wasn't sure how to react, on one hoof they were pirates, but on the other, she could tell from their posture and eyes the didn't mean her any harm.

After a bit of thinking, she nodded her head.

"Okay..." She said quietly, but she kept her guard a bit up, just in case.

______________________________________________________________________________________________
Traveler

Treasure Room

Not surprisingly, the Nobles on broad had run to were their riches had been stored. They arrived, only to find the room seemly untouched, the treasure laying in a neat pile in the center of the room.

"Well, guess those pirates couldn't find this room with the commoners in their way." One, named Upper Crust, said with a smug smile. Two Nobles, Fancy Pants and Fleur de lis, frowned at this. They were among the few decent Nobles, and weren't disdainful of the common Pony.

But then the lamps went out, and darkness overtook the room, the Unicorns tried to light their horns, only to find they couldn't. Upper Crust had temped fate, and it played another hand.

Thump

The Nobles jumped at the sound, as fog began to form around the edges of the room.

Thump

That sounded closer, the Nobles looked around the room.

Thump

It sounded like it was coming from the way they came.

Thump

Check that, now it was all around them.

Thump

One of the Nobles, by the name of Jet Set, couldn't take it anymore.

"Where and who are you?! Show yourself coward!!"

Silence, then... a short, but dark, laugh filled the air.

"Coward... that's rich, coming the likes of you."

"What are you talking about?! SHOW YOURSELF!!"

"While my companions fight the battle above, I went after the real targets, you."

The doors leading into the room suddenly slammed shut, trapping the Nobles.

"I not tapped in a room full of so-called 'Nobles', your trapped in here with... me.

The Unicorns tired to light their horns again, only to get the same result as before.

"Did you think I wasn't ready for you, you wouldn't be the first magic users I've faced, nor the first Nobles I have sent to the abyss."

Now the Nobles were staring to panic, they had no idea where the voice was coming from.

"What's the matter? Are you scared? Feeling helpless with out you magic? Good. You should be."

The Nobles were now really beginning to panic.

"You've always believed that because you were born in to Nobility that it made you better then the commoners, you are still the same species. I was born into Nobility, yet I was denied what was rightfully mine. I suffered in a tiny cell for seven long years, I escaped. And then, ten years later, after building something more, I took what was mine to begin with. You believe you of higher status then those you see below you. But there is one thing about you..."

One of the Stallion Nobles suddenly cried out in pain as a dark shape shot past him. He held a hoof to the left side of his face, only to pull it back and see a small amount of blood.

"You still bleed, you are still mortal, you can still die."

One of the Nobles shouted, "You can't hurt us! We'll use our money and connections to ruin your life!"

The laugh sounded off again, longer and louder this time.

"Always with the 'money and connections', You're not in Equestria anymore, you're in the Sea of Legends. Your on my turf now. Your threats mean nothing to me, other Nobles said the same thing, right before they died."

The Nobles paled.

"That's right, your wreath is no good to you when you are dead."

The Nobles were now huddled together.

"You always step on others to move up the social ladder, while Equestria's newest Princess earned her way, as it should be. I too earned my power before I took back what was mine. You always caused so many others pain to get ahead, and speaking of pain."

All of a sudden, all but two of the Nobles dropped to the ground screaming in extreme pain while the two standing; Fancy  and Fleur, watched in shock. Though they felt some pain, it was no where near what the others feel. To them, they felt their very skin burning with both fire and acid, their bones breaking, salt and vinegar poring by the tub loads onto their open wounds, and many other things that causes pain, and the most horrable thing of all, it was happening before their very eyes. But to the two standing all of them looked fine, just on the ground in pain.

"Feel that? That's what the ones you hurt felt, all of them, all at once."

Finally, after what seemed like a thousand years when it was only a few minutes, the pain stopped. The downed Nobles laid on the floor crying as the pain faded.

"Those tears, they are not yours, but the ones of the creatures you hurt."

"What... what are you?" One of them asked quietly.

"I?... I am a monument to all your sins."

With that, the fog coiled away from a dark shape as it emerged, and clutched in it's claws was a very large, rune covered halberd. The Nobles eyes went wide at the figure, who stood at least a half-head taller then Celestia, but the hat it was wearing made it look even bigger.

"Yo ho ho, Motherbuckers." The figure said with a predatory smile.
> Chapter 4: Intruders on Board! Part 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quick AN: Right after I uploaded the last chapter I noticed that the chapter numbers went 1 then skipped to 3, how I didn't notice that before I have no idea. Anyway, on with the story.




Traveler

Treasure Room

The fight had been short but brutal, the Nobles never stood a chance. The figure had beat most of them down with little to no effort, however Fancy and Fleur had put up a decent fight. After the fight ended the Nobles decided 'buck the bits' and pulled the ones who couldn't walk on their own out of the room.

After they had left, the figure tapped the bottom tip of his halberd against the floor, bolts of magic firing from the spike at the top into the lamps lighting the room up again. The figure was revealed to be Razor Tail, who had a large smile on his face.

"That's right, run."

He turned around and walked over to a large cabinet, he raised he halberd, turned it around so the hammer end was facing it, and brought it down, being careful to just break the lock. Breaking the lock he pulled the doors open, inside the cabinet was a very large amount of jewels.

But Razor only had his eyes on one, reaching in his index and thumb claws gripped a diamond slightly larger then a pea. Pulling it out he stared at it for a moment with a smile, slipped it into a zippered pocket, and said;

"Gather the rest of the loot,"

Thump

Multiple thumps filled the air, Razor was not alone.

"Bring it to the ship,"

Thump

"And leave nothing... of worth."

Thump

Around him the fog cleared, reveling a group of heavily armored creatures; they wore red, full body plate and chain mail armor with gold trim and dark purple runes, on the bipeds a length of red cloth with black edge stripes hung from the front and back like a loincloth while the quadrupeds had them hanging over their flanks, the cloth had the same design as the banners seen on their ship. The armor had been designed to invoke the appearance of a dragon version of a Pony Alicorn, complete with wings and tails, both of which were moving as if they were a natural part of the wearer's body, and horns with magic, even with the ones who were clearly not dragons or even Ponies.

The armored figures were armed with double or single headed axes of the same colors but some carried halberds of similar make.

They moved and started gathering up the treasure with a smaller group fell in line with Razor as he walked out of the room. This group looked like the others but had silver armor with black trim and gold runes.




Traveler

Dinning Area

Things were not going to well for the Traveler's crew and passengers, the pirates had been pushing hard and more and more of the ones fighting back found themselves encased in red magic fields. The guards aboard weren't having much luck either;

"Oh these guys are putting up a heck of a fight!"

"Yea they're mean!"

"BUCKING BLUNDERBUSSES!!!"

Case in point.

Indeed, the blunderbuss armed pirates were giving the defenders tartarus. Made even worse when another new group joined in;

This group wore large tricornes over bandannas, white shirts under leather armor, long coats, some sort of cloth sack stung over their backs, harnesses holding four pistols, belts with skull shaped buckles, red sashes under them, a small round yellow container, and plenty of slots for pistols, hard worn pants, heavy boots, and baldrics with skull buckles like their belts and modified to hold a lot of ammo.

The group was armed with pistols, but later more of the same type came in armed with rifles and hand cannons. The harnesses and belts on these ones held even more ammo.

The blunderbusses and hand cannons were the major problem, their spread were a major factor in the close quarters of the Traveler's halls and rooms. The pirates also outnumbered the ship's fighters, which was made worse when...

BOOM

A door was blasted open and a Minotaur came through followed by a group of four Earth Ponies around the size of Big Mac. The Minotaur wore a white shirt with a tattered red and black striped waistcoat that went to halfway down his thighs, leather baldrics over both shoulders and crossed over their chests with  small dagger stuck through loops, two leather belts and some rope around his waist with some bags, pouches and small cannon balls hanging off them, dense leather gauntlets, blue and light blue striped pants, and heavy, dense leather boots.

In his hands was a 24 pounder cannon with handles allowing it to be carried in a chainsaw styled grip with a length of heavy leather coated chain going from the cannon, over the shoulder and back again and a heavy support harness.

The Earth Ponies wore similar attire but a heavy leather vest over top their waistcoat, a thick bandanna, and a pair of rune covered crates over their flanks.

The Earth Ponies quickly loaded the cannon and the Minotaur aimed and fired, several Traveler crew and guard Ponies were hit by the grape shot and encased in magic fields. Things got even worse when yet another new 'unit' appeared; this one had no head gear expect a metal mask, a metal cuirass, two thick leather baldrics with heavy buckles, a thick belt with metal buckle, bags, and a small drum on the left with a blue sash under the belt, somewhat baggie cloth pants with armor, and heavy boots.

They were armed with a large sword with a serrated blade and, unlike the rest of the pirates, a large round shield with a metal skull on the front.

These ones were a major pain, as they were fighting the hardest and pushing back the Ponies. Night Light however was really putting up a fight, several time he alone had managed to push the pirates back. Velvet, Shining, and Cadance were also giving the pirates a hard time. Twilight, Spike, Flash, and Flare rushed out of a doorway and took stock of the situation; Rainbow, Soarin, and Sky were facing off against a snow white Pegasus Mare but she was holding out well, Rarity, Sassy, and Coco were hanging back watching the fight, Applejack and Big Mac were facing off against a giant of a Minotaur while with rest of the few Apples aboard were fighting off sea serpents, Pinkie was in a hoof fight with a Zebra Mare, A Griffin, Dracony, the three Thestrals, and a Changeling Queen watching the fight, and Fluttershy was... sitting in between two Dragon pirates? Who weren't harming or even touching her??

Twilight had had enough, she spread her wings and was about to take off when...

BOOM

A sudden explosion of fog and magic went off in the center of room, sending the pirates to one side and everyone else to the other. As everyone recovered a voice rang out,

"That's enough!"

Twilight shook her head, stood up and shouted, "Who are you?! And who is these pirate's Captain?!"

"To answer your second question..."

Thump

A flash of blue light flared out, blinding everyone and clearing the fog. When they could see again, they saw in the center front of the pirates was a figure, a male Kirin. He had a silver coat, red, gold-striped mane on his head, neck, and top of his tail, a pair of two half-a-meter long black horns sticking out from the back of his head, a tail three times the length of a normal Kirin's tipped with three scythe shaped blades, red eyes, a pair of fangs sticking out of his upper lips, the hooves of a Pony on his back legs, the claws of a dragon on his front legs, massive wings identifying him as a Pegasus-born Kirin, and small hands at the 'wrist' of his wing arms. On the left side of his face was a decent sized scar that ran from his hair line, through the right side of his eye socket, and down his face to the tip of his nose, on the other side was a black crested sea serpent tattoo running down his face.

The silver phoenix from before flew in and landed on the hammer head of the halberd.
_________________________________________________________________________________________

(AN: Loonggg description ahead, sorry in advance. You can skip it if you want to.)#

The largest, most detailed, and most noticeable part of his outfit was his hat, which was very large tricorne: at the base was a metal frame made of bronze with spikes and a smaller gold metal rope-shaped frame under it. The bronze spikes curved upwards with the largest under the valleys in between the brims around his head with an emerald just above each spike that matched the size of each one, the hat itself extended a little over half a foot sideways from his head then curved up with the brims when up half a meter, the valleys were boarded on each side with a gold metal frame with a symbol like the one on the Dragon's sails on the top corners and hanging from the spot where the brims curved via small rings was a set of six gold and silver coins with glowing runes.

The brims themselves resembled an Archducal hat as it was covered in faded red velvet with the gold design of mountains and valleys typical on crowns studded with a number of gems and pearls, in between the design and velvet were white velvet bunches with black velvet diamonds in the center, behind every second mountain was a gold band also studded with gems and pearls, at top of each band which went over the top of the brims were gold spheres each topped with a spike made of diamond, in the center of the hat right over the head was a smaller crown shaped to fit that spot with three large and long feathers colored blue, orange and yellow. The valley at the front of the hat was shallower with a section under it that had a glowing symbol of two crossed halberds behind a forward facing dragon head with a small dome-shaped orange gem to the above right and a long red feather opposite of the gem.

The most noticeable feature on the hat were two sets of long teeth around the hat; the first set started at the spot where the brims curved upwards with the small coins at the base of the teeth and extended a foot each, they sat in front of the gold bands, the second set sat in between the bands at the center of the brims and extended two feet up. There was ten teeth, five at the base and five at the center, on each brim for a total of thirty teeth, which all had tiny, glowing runes changing colors all over them.

On the right brim was a large cockade with the colors from center to ring; silver-red-black, a symbol pin shaped like the symbol on the Dragon's sails, a set of twelve tiny daggers stabbed through like sewing pins and a set of two blue ostrich feathers, two very long pheasant feathers, two peacock feathers, and two phoenix feathers. On the left is a sapphire pin with a large and long white-tipped blue feather, a red cockade with a large Emerald in the center and a red ribbon with a center black stripe running up to and over the edge of the brim, a large hexagon-shaped silver pin with a ruby cut into the shape of the symbol on the front of the hat with two very large and long blood red feathers behind it, a large gold pin/clip of the Dragon’s sail symbol with two small green feathers sticking up, two large gold feathers, and a length of dark red rope that ran from the near the top of the brim before looping at the curve into the valley on the back left.

Under the hat was a red bandanna embroidered with dragons and further decorated with nine small gold coins with a glowing red rune on each hanging by small rings and seven small silver coins studded with a single gem of various colors each, these were complemented by five trinkets; the center one was a gold star of the Prench Legion of Honor Order of merit, to its left was a trinket made of three fangs, the top one had three emeralds wrapped in copper wire, the middle one had a gold barrel bead around it, and the bottom one had what looked like small, crude green runes carved into it. The next trinket was a silver piece of eight held by copper wire through a hole on the top and bottom with a large gold rune on the face. To the right of the medal was a trinket made from an engraved tooth of an unknown creature, and the last trinket was a set of gems made up of a sapphire, ruby, and emerald with a brasher doubloon at the bottom.

His hair was done in braids that reached to halfway down his forelegs with ten behind his ears, at the top under the bandanna on each braid was a jewel cross encrusted with tiny gems, below that in order to the tips was a white skull clip with gem eyes of various colors, a series of silver barrel beads an inch apart with every third down having small chain loops connecting them to each other, red cloth hair ties under every second one, small sliver clips with sapphires in between every third and first bead, blue metal ring clips, green gem clips, black ring clips with Amethysts, red cloth hair ties with the Dragon’s sail symbol, and silver caps each with four diamond-shaped blunt spikes on the tips. At the tip through small hole and in between each bead was a short and lit very slow burning cannon fuse along with feathers of various lengths and colors sticking out of each barrel bead. The hair on the back of his neck and tail were in a similar style but shorter, sticking up rather than down, and more swept back. Around the back-center of the braids was a small silver chain.

Wrapped around his neck five times was a long, red, gold, and royal purple horizontal-striped scarf with five tassels each tipped with a black pearl. a small skull-shaped ruby, and a long silver claw at the base of each tassel. The scarf had many small trinkets ranging from small teeth to beads, numerous tiny circle gems to several large diamond-shaped gem clips of various colors, and small feathers of various sizes and colors through string and even medals decorating it, most notable of these being an orange round plate with a glowing Dragon’s sail symbol, a glowing ghostly green item that looked like a dagger with a circle handle, a gold hexagon-shaped badge with a large skull-shaped ruby, and a small looping silver chain with silver coins and gold rectangle plates with either no gems or rubies and emeralds.

Wrapped around the scarf multiple times was a black string decorated with many red, black and while beads, three small bird skulls with ruby, sapphire, and emerald eyes over the center wraps and a lose end hanging down to his elbow on the left from the bottom of the scarf wrap with a large and long red feather at the tip. Also around his neck were three medals with their ribbons over the scarf wraps and a gold chain on top of the scarf with a gold hexagon-shaped badge with a large ruby shaped into the sail symbol on the front hanging over the top.

He wore a heavy resplendent royal purple and gold coat adored with nine medals of different origins on the left side and several pinned on the right, numerous diamond and square-shaped gems of various sizes and colors spread over the upper arms, a large gold pin shaped in the symbol of two crossed halberds behind a forward facing dragon head with emerald eyes on the right collar, the  Dragon’s sail symbol in silver pinned to the left side of coat under the cape, a small and long length of gold chain around his chest going over his right shoulder and under his left arm, eight small diamond-shaped emeralds on the collar, and two blue cloth bands and a small black bird skull with sapphire eyes and three large red feathers sticking out of the back on the left upper forearm with a black metal armring or armband studded with large hexagon-shaped rubies and black string tied into bands with red, black and white beads on the right.

The coat has numerous small gold square-shaped studs and several glowing orange spots of various shapes and sizes visible on the front and arms. Attached to the cape on the right above the clip is a red lanyard with a large badge displaying the Dragon’s sail symbol. Also around his neck were three medals with their ribbons over the scarf wraps and a gold chain on top of the scarf with a gold hexagon-shaped badge with a large ruby shaped into the sail symbol on the front hanging over the top. Under it was a decorated red waistcoat that was longer than most, a hardened steel cuirass covered with runes of various sizes, a black leather armor vest, and a white silk shirt with more frill.

Over the coat was a red royal cape with white, black spotted collar with a small length of silver chain attached to two gold buttons, the cape's clip had a Dragon’s sail symbol badge next them and numerous rune tiles and carved rune bones with the glowing runes of various colors, a thick leather pauldron on the left with a ruby shaped into the Dragon’s sail symbol, a pauldron made up of four metal plates with the outer halves glowing orange on the right, two blue feathers sticking out and angled towards the back from under the pauldrons and red cloth straps with silver rings extending from under the pauldrons over and through slits in the cape. Through tears in both the coat and cape rune covered chain mail armor could be seen.

His wings had simple gold, red, and blue rings and beads on the wing fingers while on the wrist hands were gauntlets like the ones on his forelegs.

Black string ran through small loops on the rings all over both the dorsal and ventral sides of the wings and connected to each other via knots with several loose-hanging strands. Red, black and white beads were all over these lines of string with clusters of two large red feathers at several spots along with both double and single feathers at the tops of the loose strands, and on the dorsal side of the wings behind the wrist hand was a small black bird skull with emerald eyes and three large red feathers behind the skull on each wing. The front side of the wing armor had layer steel plates held onto the arms by thin leather straps with small steel buckles that feed through the wing membrane.

Hanging on the ventral side of each wing are two small lanterns, one from the wing arm wrist and one from the middle of the wing forearm. Each of the four lanterns were a red crystal in the shape of an Earth Pony skull missing the lower jaw with a black metal hexagon-shaped frame with silver pieces resembling claws on the side corners and a diamond-shaped ruby on the bottom corner.

Two black baldrics went over his shoulders then crossed over his stomach with a large steel buckle, a second steel buckle with a steel cover at the end, and all three were studded with diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds. On the left baldric was a round metal frame with four sections holding an emerald, ruby, sapphire, and amethyst. Attached to the baldrics along his back were two small leather stacks, four small scrolls with leather clips holding them on, several clusters of two feathers of various colors, a small satchel bag with a dagger on one side. On the shoulder areas of the baldrics were seven red glowing crystals, under the right baldric was a red sash, and attached to them where they crossed over on his back was a holster holding a custom bolt-action rifle of Germane origin.

Under the wings and attached to the baldrics and belt like suspenders were two more smaller baldrics, the one on his right held two large black leather pouches held closed with a silver button and a silver metal band around the middle towards the front. Behind the pouches was a large leather-bound tome with a dark red cover, gold-plated outer corners, a horizontal gold metal band with pointed ends on the middle of the spine, a heavy silver metal lock, and a large tan pad that took up most of the cover with a very large and complex glowing red rune held onto the baldric with two very short three-linked silver metal chain that attached to the ends of the spine of the tome with strong looking clips. On his left, from front to back: was a pouch holding three large and three small test tubes filled with glowing liquids of various colors and capped with corks and a smaller pouch with a lid held closed via a gold button, a large teardrop-shaped potion bottle filled with a glowing red liquid and capped with a cork, a large satchel held closed with a gold button in the center of an Enchantment arcane symbol with three round potion bottles filled with yellow, blue, and orange glowing liquids and capped with corks held onto the satchel via nets, and a pouch with rune-covered tools.

Around his waist was a heavy leather black belt with a large buckle with a diamond-shaped ruby on the tip of the loose hanging end, a green cloth wrapping with a large gold symbol pin of the two crossed halberds behind a forward facing dragon head, a long red ribbon held wrapped on with a small round plate clip with the Dragon’s sail symbol, two daggers, a rope belt with a small bottle and two large ones under it, a flat leather bag with gold frame, studs, and a ring with a ruby inside attached to the belt with as small gold chain, and a brown leather Spyglass holster with a large glowing red rune on it and a large red map on either side. Under the belt was a sash just like his scarf with trinkets consisting of a large disk with the Dragon’s sail symbol, a small diamond-shaped emerald, nine gold coins attached with rings, and a small gold bead chain hanging from the top of the sash and traveling from under the belt for about two inches at the lowest point before the chain looped back up under the belt and under the top of the sash again. Holes in the cape allowed the baldrics, belt and wings to feed through.

Sitting over his flanks were a large brown leather satchel with the Dragon’s sail symbol on the face and two large scrolls on either side on the right and a chest shaped and styled saddlebag on the left with a symbol on the front; a mast with full white mainsail under crossed 110 pounder cannon and broadsword.

His lower forelegs and hands were covered by steel gauntlets with four layered plates with a blade on top of each plate over the arms with the layer at the wrists lifted slightly to allow the red coat cuffs to stick through, the finger tips of the gauntlets were shaped to fit his claws. On the knuckles of the gauntlets are three diamond-shaped gold studs with two emeralds of the same shaped just behind those and a rectangle-shaped metal plate with glowing orange ends, a ruby shaped into the Dragon’s sail symbol on a leather plate on the back of the gauntlet, six small square-shaped gold studs and a dome-shaped orange gem behind the index finger knuckle, and red cloth wrapping with one edge colored gold wrapped around the hand under the symbol plate.

The cuffs are large with split between the top section to allow the blade to run in between them with a small square-shaped gold stud on each side and a rectangle-shaped metal plate traveling around the rest of the cuff boarder with glowing orange ends that stop just before the studs.

The gauntlets have two diamond-shaped rubies on the second plate from the top, small diamond-shaped rubies bordering each plate, a dome-shaped sapphire on each plate bolted joint, the top half of the plate blades glow orange, four green diamond-shaped emeralds on the plates, four orange dome-shaped gems around the blades with two on each side, red cloth wrapping with one edge colored gold wrapped around the top plate with a rectangle ring to allow the blade through and two short blue feathers under the wrapping on the inner top sides.

There is a gold chain wrapped around the gauntlets behind the hand and the fingers of the glow like flames with claws being orange/yellow and changing to red as it reaches the knuckles.

On his fingers were eight rings, one for each finger and thumb; a silver skull ring with ruby eyes on his thumb, a silver and jade oriental dragon ring on his right index, a gold ring with an emerald on his right middle and a gold ring with a ruby on his right ring finger while his left hand had a gold ring with an amethyst index, a ring of outward-facing skulls with gem eyes of alternating colors on the middle, and a gold skull ring with a vertebrae wrap on the ring finger.

Over his back legs were slightly baggy pants with Purple on the front half and red on the back half and a blue flame or Kraken-like design, black leather padding on the groin and extending a little down the front of the thighs that tapered into points with a small gold diamond-shaped stud just above the tip, two thin steel strips with glowing orange ends under the belt and three small green hexagon-shaped and one red diamond-shaped gems above the gold studs. Wrapped three times around the left thigh under the leather front tip was red cloth, a length of brown rope traveled from under the belt buckle before looping around the left outer thigh and up to the left center of the belt. Several spots of various sizes glowed like fire.

Attached to the flanks via straps attached to the belt and knees was a set of three large scale-shaped armor plates and one the legs below the upper knees was a set of layering plate armor that covered the both knee sets and the front of the shins with the cuffs of his boots sticking out from between the lower kneepads and top plate of the leg armor.

His tail had a set of similar scale-like layered armor on his flanks covering the sides from the base to the tip at the base of the blades and held on via many thin but dense leather straps. Nine thin silver rings along the tail were visible through the top and bottom gaps and at the spot where the base of the three blades met the tail tip was a small gold-colored lantern shaped like a four-sided triangle with the tip cut-off and widened a bit with a hexagon-shaped plate fitted close a little under it, at the bottom of the crystal side panels are two gold lines angled down with the tip being a diamond-shape with a small square pointed stud in the middle on two sides while the other two have a hexagon-shaped plate with the Dragon’s sail symbol curved from a ruby on them. On the corners at the bottom are silver claw-like extensions and on top is a red "dial" with a length of gold chain with silver cloth under it that wraps around the tail.

On his back hooves was a pair of heavy royal purple boots that went up his lower knees with layered necks. The cuffs were double layered with a triangle-shaped cutout in the front, the bottom layer being red, and the top layer having two small diamond-shaped gold studs close to the sides of the cutout. The cuffs had large gold rings on the top outer sides attached with leather loops, a silver strip at the very top of the top cuff that when under it, four silver square studs on the top layer next to the cutout, gold trim around the edges of both layers with a silver skull clip pined to the tip of the bottom cutout and a red ribbon going over the top of the cuff, a gold coin pinned on the outer side of the right boot bottom cuff with a red feather and a blue one, a length of brown rope around the middle of cuffs’ top layer attached with a loop on the back and a badge in the shape of the Dragon’s sail symbol, and three large leather loops over the front and sides on both boot cuffs.

Around his legs from the upper knees to the lower ones was a set of black greaves with a dragon head as the knee pad and set so the leg when through the open mouth, the greaves had eight small diamond-shaped emerald studs, three lengths of red cloth attached with a large silver ring, red cloth with one edge gold wrapped around with a single silver coin, and a large length of gold chain wrapped around the armor from under the nose of the dragon head to the tops of the boots. in pinned on the outer side of the right boot bottom cuff with a red feather and a blue one, a length of brown rope around the middle of cuffs’ top layer attached with a loop on the back and a badge in the shape of the Dragon’s sail symbol, and three large leather loops over the front and sides on both boot cuffs.

The boots themselves were a single green diamond-shaped gem on each just under the cutouts, a small length of green cloth wrapped around the neck of the boot with a red cloth with one edge silver wrapped around the left neck and red leather strips wrapped around the front, back, and under the boots and held on with a large silver ring on the sides of the boots. There were large silver buckles with brown leather straps around the ankles with gold trimmed spats around the boots under the buckles with a rectangle cutout for a claw-like blade and a strip of metal on the front where the toes would be with the ends glowing orange along with three small diamond-shaped gold studs and a gold sole with a large front point.

Like the pants parts of the boots had spots of various sizes glowing like fire.

One unusual item that really stood out was also one that looked very out of place: a very large, blue bow similar to the one Applebloom wore just much larger on the second left from the back braid instead of a cross with long ribbons that hung down to his shoulders, the cross opposite to it was a bit larger and more ornate then the others. The bow itself had several tiny gem clips of various colors hanging off it and the ribbons.

Held in his right wing hand was a large silver, rune covered halberd in the shape of a dragon; the large wing formed the ax blade with a scythe shaped spike at the top, the head with ruby eyes formed the hammer, the front legs claws formed a hook with small gears visible showing that it could extend outwards when needed, and the tail formed the handle with a large diamond-shaped sapphire on either side of the body. The tail handle had a red gem in the shape of the Dragon’s flag symbol just under the base with two red lengths of cloth with one edge gold, one large wrapped around twice and one small wrapped around once and hanging off about a foot or so, with a silver round plate with the symbol of two crossed halberds behind a forward facing dragon head on it and two red feathers under the plate. Under the red wrapping was a plain gold length of cloth that wrapped around the tail handle six times with nine gold and silver coins and fangs with glowing runes of various colors hanging off it at various heights, below that several bands with blunt spikes for better grip and a sword with a sapphire at the end. 

Six custom cap and ball revolvers or rather, hand cannons judging by their size, were slipped through loops on his belt and baldrics of a total of twelve along with four butterfly swords on his shoulders (one sheath with two swords each on each shoulder) and a sword that looked like a mix under his left wing but it was hard to tell what kind actually was due to the wing.

(AN: End of the description, again sorry about that.)
_____________________________________________________________________

"The Captain would be me."

With him were eight pirates in heavy armor armed with either duel axes or halberds, the Kirin continued.

"And to answer your first question," He thumped the bottom tip of his halberd against the floor, the phoenix flew off and land on the Kirin's shoulder.

"The name's Razor Tail. Archduke Razor Tail."

Twilight froze, memories of research when under Celestia's teaching came back to her. At some point during that time, Twilight had come across some books holding information on Kirins. According to the books and Celestia's word of mouth, Kirins had lived just outside Equestria since before the Pony tribes came, but most of that history had been lost at some point. First contact, which had happened some time after Discord's first defeat, had not quite been pleasant, thanks to Starswirl. During the meeting between the Princesses and the Kirin Clan leaders at the time he had, perhaps due to his racism against Dragons, had insulted the Clan Leaders (by accident or not was up for debate, ever long after). The Kirin, being half Pony and half Dragon, had understandably not taken kindly to this, the insult had apparently been bad enough they had threaten war, something that Equestria at the time was not ready for. Thankfully the Princesses had manged to calm the peeved Clan Leaders down, but even long after relations between the Ponies and kirin hadn't been to good. While relations had improved over time, only a tiny number of Ponies, unless vouched for, were allowed in the Kirin Mountains. Starswirl had become something of a pariah to the Kirin, even today.

It was for these reasons that Kirins were considered very rare in Equstria, even though they had a very large population.

Twilight, reading those books, had come across something that really caught her interest, because of the race of Dragons the Kirins had been born from a Dragon race that was immune to magic. The Kirin couldn't use magic the same way other Pony races could, so they had created their own. Somehow, someway, they had discovered how to make runes that could draw in loose magic in the air like a magnet and store it. These runes then allowed the Kirin to use magic through items imprinted with these runes.

Twilight, being Twilight, had asked Celestia if she could study and research this. Celestia had sadly said that she couldn't due to agreements between her and the Clan Leaders, Kirins were extremely protective of the secrets of rune magic, and for good reason: items enchanted with rune magic would allow anyone to use magic. Only Kirin Runesmiths fully knew how they worked, though any Kirin could learn it through trial and error. But these runes, unless either the Kirin had learned from a Runesmith or one had improved them, were far weaker.

Twilight had understandably been unset that she couldn't study Kirin Rune magic.

Kirins were also known for being formidable fighters, being taught almost from the day they hatched on how to fight, in fact Kirin born in their home mountains were taught how to use their claws and teeth to defend themselves before they could speak or even walk, their ability to breath fire and immunity to magic added to their capabilities. They shared a very close bond with each other and would often refer to each other as brother or sister. This did extend outside to other races or species but this was rarer.

In modern days Kirins keep to themselves, not really interested in outside events unless it threaten their homes. But there had been efforts to further improve relations, in fact, before the disaster at Ponyville, The Kirin Leaders had talked with Celestia, Luna (who they had welcomed back), and Cadance about having a small group of young Kirin live among Ponies as a start to putting the past behind them, the selected town was going to be Ponyville. The disaster hadn't changed anything, just delayed the plans while the town was being repaired.

Twilight snapped back to realty as Rainbow shouted, "HE'S the Captain?! He looks like a pirate King of some sort!"

Razor chuckled, "Well, I was born into Nobility, and I do have the papers to prove it."

The Nobles, who had been sitting back, saw Razor and one shouted, "No wonder we got our tails handed to us, we were up against a KIRIN!!"

Twilight stepped forward, Razor turned to look at her. "Princess Twilight Sparkle, Equestria's newest Princess and the one of friendship, We finally meet."

"I take it you've heard of me." It was a statement, not a question.

"Indeed I have, of you and your friends. I take it you and them have met my Head Officers."

Pinkie answered before Twilight.

"Yeah and the Zebra shot me in the rump!"

Razor facepalmed, "Zzeennitthh..." then looked at the Zebra. "What did I say about shooting the opposition in the rear like that?"

Zenith's ears folded back, "Ahhhh... don't?" She squeaked

"Yes. We're having a talk later."

He turned back to Twilight.

"Anyway, tell me miss, how did you and you friends fare against my Head Officers?"

"Um... not so grand." Spike said rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. Twilight turned and glared at him. Razor give a light smile and shook his head.

"Well anyway, it's time for us to take our leave, but first..."

He raised his halberd and thumped it against the floor again, only this time the runes glowed brightly for a moment as a ball of blue light and white fog appeared, when it cleared there was a large chest with its lid open revealing a huge amount of treasure within. The Traveler Ponies could only stare in surprise, Razor chuckled that that.

"It's payment for the cargo and other items we took, also the Sea of Legends isn't really a safe area for a cruise ship, so if I were you I'd set a course for the closest port of repairs and to get you bearings."

The Traveler's Captain looked up from the chest. "Well... were is the closest port?"

"That would be Imperator's Grave, a three day trip from here, just drop my name to the shipwrights there and they'll repair you ship at a reduced price. You can't miss it, just look for an island made of shipwrecks, leviathan bones, and rocks."

Shining Armor recovered and glared at Razor.

"Paying for the damages or not, your still a pirate and attacked an Equestrian ship."

"True, but I'm not like some of the pirate gangs that roam these waters."

"And how are we to believe your Nobility? You just a bragged pirate!"

"Okay first, that was rude. Second, some of the pirate gangs in these waters would have just killed you all or worse. And third,"

He pulled a scroll out of one of the chests on his flanks, then had Atlas float it over to Cadance.

"Destroying it wouldn't do you any good, I made sure to make copies long ago."

Cadance grabbed it and unrolled it, her eyes widened.

"He is Nobility! This is an official document!"

Shining looked at it and paled a bit. "Oohhhh...."

"Relax, I'm not going to have you head roll because of a minor insult." Razor said as Atlas took the scroll back.

"Wait," Rarity suddenly said, "If your actually Nobility, then why are you a pirate?"

"I prefer a life of adventure, not sitting in an office gossiping about things and acting "high and mighty" and "better then everyone else" all day."

"Isn't the pirate life dangerous?" Razor just shrugged.

"I'd prefer a death at sea if it came to that, better creatures have met far worse fates. Anyway, time for us to go, I got what I came for,"

Razor flicked his wrist, revealing a tiny diamond in between his index and thumb claws.

"Till next time we met."

He raised his halberd and slammed the bottom against the floor, the runes glowed very brightly and a lot of fog filled that side of the room, when it cleared the pirates were gone. It wasn't just them either, their ship was gone too. The Ponies trapped in the magic fields suddenly found themselves freed.

Sky was the first Pony to say something. "Is it just me or is anypony else having trouble wrapping their heads around this: Pirates who are lead by a Noble and...pay for the stuff they took?"

"I find that mighty hard to swallow." Applejack said scratching her head.

"They did seem more considerate then other pirates... I mean, they didn't kill anypony and payed for what they took." Fluttershy said.

"Yeah, I mean, pirates steal, but they never pay for the things they take?" Pinkie wondered out loud.

The Traveler's crew was looking through the chest, inspecting the contents.

"This will pay for the stuff they took, the damages, and then some."

"All these gems are perfectly flawless too."

Everypony else was not sure how to take all this in.

A bit later

"Princesses!!" The Captain shouted in a panic.

"What is it Captain?" Cadance asked.

"We just went over the passenger list, we have a small number missing!"

He handed the list over to Twilight who looked it over, most of the passengers were accounted for but there in fact a few missing. Twilight's eyes went wide as she read the names of the missing passengers:

Angel Wings

Vapor Trail

The CMC

The Ponyville foals

The Young Six

And The SOFS Students

Twilight almost had a heart attack, she had promised the students parents and guardians that they would be safe. Soarin and Sky also looked quite panicked, the CMC's families weren't looking so well either.

"WERE ARE THEY!!??"

"We don't know, we searched the entire ship and found no trace of them."

"I hope their alright..." Fluttershy said quietly.

Velvet and Night Light, who had been sitting off to the side with Rainbow's parents, suddenly had a terrible thought; nopony had found them, because they weren't on the Traveler!

Slowly, the four of them looked in the direction the pirate's ship had been, the other Ponies followed their gaze.

"It can't be... The pirates must have taken them!" Night Light said in shock.

Everypony else soon had the same look of shock, if the pirates had them, finding them would be very difficult. The Sea of Legends was a massive area, it could take mouths, a year even, to locate even a ship that big. And most importantly; what would the pirates do to them?

Everypony knew, they had to find them, fast. The Traveler set sail to Imperator's Grave, hoping to start from there.




Dragon of the Depths

One of the forward cargo bays

In a somewhat dark room, the lid of a large crate slowly opened. Lifting the lid was a light tangeloish grey hoof which was attached to a young Pegasus mare. Angel Wings slowly and carefully looked around, seeing nothing of danger, she turned her head to look back into the crate.

"All clear."

She stepped out of the crate followed by Vapor Trail, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Button Mash, Tender Tabs, Rumble, Dinky, Pipsqueak, Chipcutter, Ruby Pinch, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, Sandbar, Ocellus, Silverstream, Gallus, Smolder, Yona (who slipped and landed with a crash, causing everyone to freeze for a minute), Vellum Codex, State Sentiments, End Zone, Popsicle, Berry Blend, Golden Wheat, Raspberry Scoop, Grapeshake, Apple Betty, Crescent Stars, November Rain, State Tales, Cobalt Firer, Steamsail, Monkey Wrench, Goldtile, Summer Meadow, her twin sister Mulberry Flowers, Citrine Spark, Sun Field, Honeycomb, Sugar Maple, Huckleberry, Ocean Note, Sky Slicer, Patty Peppermint, Soaring Virtue, Pizzelle, Rainbow Catcher, Love Melody, Juno, Burning Heart, Lucky Clover, Shimmy Shake and Lighthoof (The last two weren't wearing their cheerleader outfits).

They looked around the room, many barrels and crates of all sorts, most tied together in bundles but a large number hung from the ceiling in nets or rope lines. The older Ponies felt some of the foals press against their legs. Dinky shivered in fright, Summer Meadow leaned down and gently nuzzled her.

"It's okay Dinky, we'll be okay." She said softly.

"Us on board a massive pirate ship with who knows how many pirates, yea we'll be okay." Smolder said, her voice laced with sarcasm. The others glared at her.

"Not helping Smolder." Gallus snarked.

"Okay before a fight breaks out, let's get our bearings first." Sandbar said hoping to calm the two down.

"Agreed." Everyone said. Raspberry Scoop turned to Steamsail.

"Steam, your father works on ships, what would be our best course of action?"

Steam rubbed his chin for a few minutes before answering.

"It would be to find a lifeboat and launch it. The problem is their kept on the main deck were the pirates work."

"So that's out of the question?" Applebloom asked.

"Not necessarily, last we checked night will be coming soon. So most of the pirates will head to bed, which would allow us to get one as long as we can avoid the night watch."

"Alright we have that, let's find our way up." Scootaloo said.

Quietly, they began to move through the room with Sugar Maple taking point. They ended up getting lost as the cargo was stacked in a maze like setup.

Sandbar: " A dead end again."

Vellum Codex: "Wait, we're back were we started!"

Apple Betty: "Okay seriously, I've done mazes on paper that weren't this hard! And I've done some hard ones in the past."

Huckleberry: "Who stacked this stuff? This is awful!"

Smolder: (Frustrated snort)

After at least an hour wandering in the maze they ended up back were they started, again. They sat down for a minute to calm down then discovered that some of the stacks could be moved. After moving some they finally found a way out, Sandbar walked up to a door, pressed his ear against it listening for a moment, then opened it, only for some loose barrels to crash to the floor on the other side, scaring the crap out of them.

November Rain was not amused. "You motherbucker!"

They entered the room which was very dark, the Unicorns lit up their horns bathing the room in faint light. The room was another cargo bay, thankfully easier to navigate. After walking for a few minutes they were suddenly thrown off their hooves and feet when a strong wave hit the side of the ship, putting the horn lights out.

What followed was;

Rumble: "ACK!!! You're crushing me!"

Summer: "Oh sorry Rumble."

Vellum Codex: "Here let me help you up Rumble. ????, Hey Rumble, I know you're a strong colt but... why do your shoulders feel all soft and smooth?"

Summer: "Because those aren't his shoulders!"

Vellum: "!!!! OH I'm so sorry Summer!"

November Rain: Codex, I know your my best friend and Summer is a beautiful Mare but she's also my marefriend."

Vellum: "You do know Rain that herding is legal in Equestria if each member is willing and not of the same family."

Summer: "Alright boys, not in front of the foals. Besides, nether of you have taken me out for dinner yet."

Gallus: " Oh just get a room you three!"

Ocellus: "Please could we not fight among each other."

Stage Tales: "I agree with Ocellus, we have more important things to worry about right now."

After the Unicorns relit their horns, the group continued on. Eventually they found their way up, passing through the next six decks which all held cargo, they entered the seventh deck up and found what seemed to be the prison deck as the entire deck held small, one-creature cells with thick, heavy hardened steel bars and locks. The cells held nothing within, not even a bed or carpet to lie on and even had wooden shutters to isolate anyone inside from the outside world. Much of the group gulped fearing that if they were found, they'd end up in those same cells. 

The next deck up held the bottom cannon deck, they came up the stairs and very carefully lifted the hatch. The room they were now in was what looked like a cafeteria or mess hall, there were many tables with seats, a counter leading into a kitchen on the right from the hatch and eight double doors, four behind the hatch and four on the opposite wall.

Careful moving one of the doors, they found a series of hallways, stairs, and doors, picking one at random they entered the port side gun deck. Inside they found a long hallway with 68 ponder cannons on one side with enough space behind them to make up a little over half of a gun deck on a normal sailing ship, in between each of the cannons were some support structures, the space held several sets of stairs leading up to the next level and support structures. Behind those was a series of pipes with flared ends, a manual winch, and metal slots.

A closer look at the slots revealed them as ammo dispensers while the two ropes from the winch traveled up to and along the ceiling, and through two holes above the gun port.

The cannons themselves were in their stored positions and were longer by one and a half times the normal length. They a a set of four rings on the barrel; a silver ring with six thick spikes at the front, a red ring with ten small gold spikes, a silver ring with four medium sized domes, and a gold ring with eight tiny domes. After the rings was a twin set of gold spikes traveling to the back of the cannon. There were two things that really had the groups attention; the first was a piece of round plastic disk with a red dot in the center and red black lines in the shape of a plus sign each with four smaller lines through them at different levels held up by a small metal frame.

The second was a system like that of a cap and ball revolver; the hammer, when triggered by a length of rope, would slam down on a primer which then fired the cannon. A closer look revealed the primer was fitted to a short cylinder akin to one on a revolver facing into the chamber, complete with the action of the cylinder rotating when the hammer was pulled.

Steamsail took a look at a stored cylinder showed that the side that went into the cannon was covered by a layer of was, thick enough to protect the power within but thin enough to light the power charge in the cannon.

"Wow," Steam said putting the cylinder back in the crate it came from.

"These pirates are far more well equipped then the typical pirate or even most navies. How do they have this much advanced gear normally reserved for elite or specialized branches.

No one in the group could answer, but they had a feeling there was a lot more to this then what meet the eye. Leaving the cannons behind they moved up to the next deck, Steamsail paused at the steps and looked back.

I'm glad the pirates boarded us, this is only the lowest cannon deck. I don't think even an ironclad could withstand a broadside from a ship like this.

Sweetie Belle tapped him on the leg to snap him not of his thoughts.

"Come on Steam, we need to move."

Steam nodded and followed her up the stairs.




Dragon of the Depths

Razor's Office

Razor and his Head Officers were sitting around the large rectangle table in the center of the room. The table had charts, books, items of various origins, rum bottles and goblets filled with fruit preserves, smoked meat strips*, sweets, and in Razor's, Gold Fire's, Shadow Fire's, and Fire Gem's cases, small gems. The room itself was massive, besides the pipe organ on the back wall, there were two spiral stairways leading up to the floors above and down below in the back corners and a door on each side of the pipe organ. The front wall had the door leading into their private meeting room, four banners, and some large paintings of the Outcasts that Razor had commissioned from an artist.

The right wall facing from the door cabinets with counter tops holding various items and a length of square windows looking out over the sea and the darkening sky.

The left wall facing from the door had a long table which held a number of mannequin heads each wearing a hat of some type or another, under each of the mannequin heads was a flag each with a different design and in front of each head was a sword of various types. The entire table top was in a glass case and there was a similar length of square windows.

Hanging from the ceiling above the table was a large anchor like the one in their meeting room and a large number of lanterns lighting up the room.

Through out the room were shelves filled with books.

Razor was reading the book Night and Dark had retrieved from the Traveler while the others were watching him and waiting, expect for Snow who had Silver in her lap and was cuddling with him rubbing his neck while the little hybrid had a look of pure bliss and was purring as Snow ran her hoof up and down his neck.

"So Razor, if you don't mind us asking, why did you what us to retrieve that book?" Night asked after Razor looked up.

"Well to answer that, it turns out there's more to the key then we thought."

He picked up the diamond.

"This diamond and the crystals will not work without the item known as a the Power Ring."

He set the diamond down, lifted up the book and showed them the page Dark had been on earlier.

"This power ring will allow the crystal's power to combine into this diamond, showing us the way to the Lost Tombs. Without it, the crystals are just trinkets."

"So were do we find the power ring Dad?" Silver asked.

"Well son, the last known location of the ring was a Panish Treasure Galleon named the Explorer. Unfortunately, the ship vanished years ago and I've been unable to get any info passed that."

Atlas Spoke next.

"Well, according to the whispers in the tavern on Imperator's Grave, and Intel from our coves in Panish waters, The Explorer was last headed for Blackcap Peaks when it disappeared."

"Blackcap Peaks? That's far from their waters. Why would they head there?" White asked.

"The Explorer was used for finding new locations, hence the name." Gold Fire said.

"A Treasure Galleon as an exploration ship?" I find that hard to believe." Zenith said.

"Treasure Galleons have some of the largest cargo holds, so it might have been based on that." Steel said taking a swig of rum.

"That's true, the Outcasts use Treasure Galleons for moving large amounts of cargo." Apollo said nibbling a piece of meat.

"I still find it a little hard to believe."

"So how far to Blackcap Peaks?" Snow asked.

"It's a far distance, I'd say about... a week to two weeks trip." Apollo said.

Razor at this point had grabbed his rum bottle, picked up a small power horn, poured a tiny amount of power into the bottle, and blew a tiny flame into it. A small, but loud, puff of fire shot out of the bottle and scared the heck out of the others.

Dark looked up from the mango he'd been munching on.

"Razor, why do you do that?" Said Kirin just shrugged.

"Adds flavor."

"Sir, with all due respect, even other Kirin, your own kind, think your crazy." Fire Gem said.

"Well, I do have a reputation to uphold."

The others just facepalmed or went back to their treats. After a few minutes, Shadow Fire spoke.

"So, it was a bit of a surprise to come up against the Bearer of the Elements of Harmony."

There was a round of laughter, with Atlas speaking next.

"Yeah that was quite the interesting encounter. I got Rarity, who was a bit taken aback by my beauty." She a hoof along her braids.

"I went against Applejack and her brother Big Mac, they put up quite the fight." Steel smiled a the memory.

Those three Wonderbolts were a little challenging, but had a hard time against me." Snow said with a laugh.

"Shadow and I just kept an eye on..." Gold Fire stared.

"...The shy one, Fluttershy." Shadow finished.

"An noble and honorable thing you two, if one ain't willing to fight, why start one." Apollo said.

"Speaking of noble, where were you Razor for most of that?" Zenith asked.

"I was taking "care" of the Nobles on board."

"And by "taking care of" you mean beating them into the floor." Fire Gem deadpanned.

"All but two of them went down with no effort, those two at least put up a fight."

"Razor, every time we find out there "High-Born" indiviuals on board a ship we're attacking, you use some of the tactics you got from Blackmane to scare them, render them powerless in magic terms, then attack from the fog and darkness. Why, you are a Noble, by blood i might add, isn't that a bit hypocritical" Atlas asked.

"Maybe, and I might of end like them if my so called father hadn't shown me that side."

"Also, the crew and us as well, have called Razor is a rare competent Noble, and remember, he's not afraid to get dirty with the rest of us."

"And let you guys have all the fun, yeah right." Razor leaned forward.

"And I also wouldn't send my fellow Outcasts into something I'm not willing to do myself. I lead those who chose to follow, we're called the "Outcasts of the Abyss" for a reason. You all know as well as I do that for many of the Outcasts, this is all they have. Many of them didn't even have homes before they joined, I would never force any to join, it's their choice, like it was for all of you."

The other nodded in agreement, it was true. Many of the Outcasts didn't really have anything left outside of the Outcasts. The Head Officers each knew it had been their choice when the first met Razor.

"I may be a Noble and a pirate, but I'm one that cares about his people, and those people are you, All. Of. You!"

He thumped a fist against the table.

"I may be a hypocrite by attacking other Nobles, but they attack each other all the time, ruining lives of the "commoners" at the same time. Atlas and I started the Outcasts to give those same "commoners" something to live life again. I maybe be a Noble, but I'm not what they are; nothing but a bunch of nose-in-the-air idiots who believe their untouchable."

Atlas gently put a hoof on Razor's shoulder.

"Easy Razor, we all know how strongly you feel about that."

He let out a calming sigh.

"Sorry about that everyone, it's just... ever since my mom was cast to the waves, I've always felt like I failed her because I wasn't able to protect her from my waste of flesh father."

"She would have been proud of you Razor." Zenith said. "You didn't fail her, you hadn't known what your father was really like until it was too late."

She stood up and walked over to him, followed by the others, Snow spoke next.

"I still remember when you found me on that rock, very close to death. You and Atlas found me and nursed back to health, you saved me that day, and not just me; many of the souls on this ship had nothing left, you gave them something. Heck, look at how many former members of the four Empires had joined the Outcasts over the years, either from poor treatment or being left for dead."

She leaned over and pulled the Kirin into a hug.

"You pulled all of us from the holes we were in, healed us, give us a new life, and many other things without asking for anything in return."

She then looked him in the eye.

"That is why we chose to follow you, Archduke Razor Tail."

Fire Gem spoke next.

"I've talked with the crew many times and they have all said, and I quote: The Captain give us and our families a home, a better life, pays well, and most importantly; actually gives a crap about his people."

Razor then felt something give his tail a light tug, looking down he saw Silver looking up at him.

"Dad, I remember long ago you said to Mom that you were scared that you wouldn't be a good father, after what you had been through with yours."

Razor blinked in surprise. "You heard that, that was years ago."

Silver nodded and continued, "You did tell me once that Kirins have long memories. I may not have known your father, but from what I have heard that was for the best. My point is, I believe you've been a good father. You've played with me, helped me when I was having trouble, and, despite my young age, being teaching me many things that you had to learn on your own."

Silver stood on his hind legs and wrapped his forelegs around his dad.

"I love you dad and as far as I'm concerned, you haven't been a good father, but a great one." Silver finished tightening his hug.

Razor sat there for a moment, the wrapped his own forelegs around his son.

"And you are my greatest treasure Silver, don't forget that."

The others joined in on the hug. They stayed that way for a few minutes when the moment was ended by...

KA-BOOM

Everyone jumped in surprise.

"What was that sound?!" Dark asked.

"An explosion of some sort." Apollo said.

"If one of the Dragons got dunk and lit the gunpowder up again there's going to be tartarus to pay!" Fire Gem said angrily.

They moved through the doors and out on to the deck, only to find the crew chasing after a group of Ponies and some other creatures. Razor leaped from the deck he was on, spread his wings, and landed in front of the running group who put on the breaks. The crew blocking off any escape behind them.

Standing at his full height Razor looked over the group; mostly Ponies: nineteen Earth Ponies, fourteen Unicorns, and thirteen Pegasus Ponies, twelve of those were foals. With them was a Jewel Beetle Changeling**, a Mountain Hippogriff***, a young Dragon, and a Yak.

All covered with soot with some singed hairs, looking up he saw some crew members in similar conditions.

Looking back at the group who were staring a him with terrified expressions, he drew in a breath. He knew this group wasn't part of his crew, he knew them all by name.

"Alright, My Head officers and I were talking about our next course when we hear an explosion, we come out to find you chasing... them."

He gestured to the group in front of him.

"A group of Ponies with a few other creatures who aren't members of the crew. So, will someone please tell me what the hay is going on here!!!"
> Chapter 5: Intruders on Board! Part 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dragon of the Depths

A bit earlier

The group had moved the several decks now and had seen pirates of every sentient species on the planet. Carefully moving to avoid being seen, they had eventually found themselves on the sixth deck of an open pit that when down eleven levels from the top down. At the top were cranes move cargo up and down and plenty of lights, at the bottom of the pit was a ship that looked like it was either being taken apart or rebuilt. Angel turned to Steam.

"What are they doing down there?"

"It looks like they're fixing that ship up."

"Isn't that ship a Panish Flag Galleon?" Vapor asked.

"I think it is, they're probably fixing and modifying it."

"Why would they do that?" Smolder asked, "I thought pirates would just sink them after they looted them."

"Not necessarily," Ocellus spoke, "pirates often took the ship as well, it was half the loot. They would either sell it or use it themselves."

"Did a little studying on that didn't you Ocellus?" Sandbar asked, with Ocellus blushing in response.

"Yeah I did."

Monkey Wrench then spoke up.

"If they're fixing and modifying it within this ship, how do they deploy it?"

"Well, I might be wrong but, Look closely at the stand the galleon is on, it looks like it lowers deeper into this giant." Steam said pointing with a hoof.

Sure enough, the stand had thick chains connected to it and eight fixed cranes on the second deck from the opening. If any of them guessed correctly, the galleon when finished would be lowered further down and launched from hidden hatches in the sides of the giant with it's masts down and lifted into place when the launched ship was free of the giant.

"Guys..." State Sentiments quietly, but suddenly, said. "This ship, this... Titan. Has anycreature ever built something like this before?"

"My father did once tell me that at one time there were plans for ships like this, remember the bulk cargo ships Equestria uses? There were plans to make warship that size but it never got off the ground."

"Why would that be?" Gallus asked. "I admit Griffins don't really have a navy but this ship seems to have all the capabilities of a port and shipyard."

"He is right," Sandbar said. "Having a mobile port and shipyard would give the nation that had one a huge advantage in a war."

"From what I know it turned out to be too expensive, and there never was a need for a ship this size."

"Sooo.... The first ones to actually build a ship like that, were pirates. Is anycreature else having trouble getting their heads around this." Smolder said.

The rest of the group agreed, whoever lead these pirates had plenty of resources at their beck and call.

Chipcutter was looking at the ship when a thought came to him.

"What happens to the crews of the ships they take?" He asked.

"Well, first they are given the choice to join the pirates, those that don't are held for ransom, if no ransom could be payed the captives were either left on an island or..." Steam passed for a minute, then slowly drew a hoof over his neck. The others eyes widened with fear and shock.

"You mean... if they find us, we'll either end up as pirates," Summer began.

"Held for ransom," Mulberry added.

"Or... " Golden couldn't finish.

Steam nodded slowly. "I've also heard stories of pirates... torture their captives."

"Such as...?" Silversteam asked sounding like she didn't to know.

"... keel hauling, dipped in boiling oil, and feed to sharks to name a few." Steam said reluctantly.

Now the group was terrified, the young six were hugging each other shaking, Angel and Vapor looked their hooves together, the foals were frozen, and the students were huddled together. When they moved again, they passed by a number of pirates who were to busy with their own things to notice them, eventually they entered what looked like a very large tavern, with pirates all over the place. The group hid behind a stack of empty crates and barrels and watched the pirates playing games, drinking, or just talk and having a good time. A band was playing a song adding to the cheerful atmosphere.

Four pirates, a Pegasus mare, a Dracony Wyrm (Unicorn Dracony), a Male Griffin, and a female red-nose Caribou playing a card game. The Pegasus laid a card down.

"Let's change it to green."

"WHY GREEN!!??" The Dracony shouted before banging her fist against the table. "The one bucking color!"

"SUPPER! Supper time! Got the first round up and more to come so get a move on!" a Unicorn mare came through a door on the far wall carrying ten plates of food. The pirates waited as the mare pulled out a list.

"Okay, the watermelon pizza with extra mangoes?" A Thestral Stallion waved a hoof.

"Over here."

"The fried fish with tartar sauce?" A male griffin answered.

"That would be me."

"The..." She was cut off as a loud bang went off. Everyone in the room jumped in fright as they looked to were the bang came from. On the floor was a cannon belonging to one of the Deck Crackers, who looked rather sheepish.

"Sorry me bad, me bad."

"Oh for, you know we're to disarm the firearms when they're not in use."

"Scared the crap out of us ya big lug!"

"Let's just get the mess cleaned up before Fire Gem comes down here,"

"Agreed, I don't know about the rest of you but I'd rather not get chewed out again after that powder incident."

"Wait, what's that noise?"

They listened for a second, only to hear... coughing? Looking in the direction the cannon had fired, they saw the now destroyed stack of crates and barrels smoking and... the coughing coming from there. Before the pirates eyes, a number of Ponies, foals included, and some other creatures, appeared when the smoke cleared.

After the coughing group got their lungs cleared and took stock of the situation, they had just been discovered. The two sides stared at each other for about five minutes, one very nervous and the other very surprised.

"Oh hey, this isn't where we're suppose to meet our friends." Vapor said with a nervous smile.

"We're sorry. We must have taken a wrong turn." Sandbar said rubbing his hooves together sheepishly.

"So we'll be leaving if you don't mind. Bye!" Mulberry said, with that the group turned and bolted out the door with the pirates after them. After a while they passed through a door to a hatchway, Rumble spotted a level next to the door, ran to it, and pushed it, closing the door.

Most dived down through the hatch but when Yona tried she got stuck, trapping herself, Silversteam, November, Rumble and Smolder.

"Yona!"

"Yona sorry!"

Smolder grabbed one of her horns and started pulling. Below Sandbar and Sugar Maple started pulling her legs.

"No, no, not PULL," November was saying to Smolder, the Dragon stopped. "PUSH!" The two of them and Silversteam started jumping up and down on Yona trying to push her through. Rumble let go of the level and started to run to them.

"We gotta get out of here right n..." The door opened with the pirates waiting on the other side, one of the Thestrals had his hoof on another level they'd missed before.

"Oh no."

Rumble shot back to the lever on their side shutting the door again.

"Come on you g..."

Door opens again.

Rumble hit the level, shutting the door again. The pirate Thestral pressed the level on their side, only for the door to stay closed. Surprised, he pushed it again, still stayed closed. He held the level down and still the door stayed closed.

The pirates looked at each other in confusion.

"What the heck?"

"Why do these things always break at the worst times."

On the other side, Rumble, joined by November, was holding the level down.

"Come on buddy, come on buddy come on buddy." He was saying.

"We're tying over here!" Smolder shouted.

"Yona sorry, yaks big."

Smolder and Silversteam jumped up and landed hard on Yona, finally pushing her through to the deck below were the others were waiting. She landed the a heavy thump that knocked the others back. Sitting up and looking around, she noticed one missing.

"Where's friend Sandbar?"

"Ah Yona," Gallus began,"Let me define... COLTSITTING!!"

Yona jumped up and picked up Sandbar, who was flat as a pancake with his mane and tail swaying a little. She grabbed his tail and nose and pulled both, stretching the young Stallion until his body snapped back into shape. He gave the yak a glare.

"Yona sorry." She said sheepishly.

November with Rumble in his magic aura came down.

"COME ON GUYS!! THEIR RIGHT ON OUR TAILS!!!"

They zoomed off as the pirates dropped down. The other Unicorns picked up the foals in their magic as the ran. Ducking and dodging the group continued to run the the ship's halls till they entered a large room, the pirates right on their tails. Monkey Wrench and Sandbar shut the door and Ocellus and Silversteam latched it shut. As the pirates pounded on the door the group looked around the room they were in; it was a large and long room with support pillars, crates, barrels, and the most eye catching thing; a massive cannon. Big enough that one could fit at least nine cannon side by side in a circle in the barrel and as long as at least four Ships of the Line.

"Okay that's has to be the biggest cannon I have ever seen." Steam said in awe.

"STEAM!!"

The thumping on the door got heavier. "Let us in! OPEN THE DOOR!!"

"Oh right."

"YAK SMASH!!!"

The door was knocked off it's hinges as a pirate Yak crashed through sending some of pirates flying a few feet. As they recovered they saw the group run up stairs, they followed, only for the Diamond Dog at the front to stop because he didn't see them, leading everyone behind him to crash in quite the dog pile (no pun intended).

As the pulled themselves out, one of the Pegasus pirates shouted, "THERE THEY ARE!!"

The group had started moving down another hallway when that shout rang out, so they picked up the pace. After running for what felt like hours they entered a room under the main deck and locked the door behind them. The room they were now in was some sort of storage room for older equipment, with swords, firearms, and red barrels of gunpowder on shelves.

"Quick grab a gun!" Steam shouted.

State grabbed an old blunderbuss as Wrench grabbed a power barrel.

"Okay got one."

"Alright now we gotta load it." Wrench started pouring powder into the barrel, making some dust fly and Smolder, who was standing close, felt her nose inch. She jumped back, turned around, and let out a large puff of flame as she sneezed.

"DON"T MAKE ME SNEEZE AROUND GUNPOWDER YOU GUYS!!" She yelled.

The other ignored her as they were looking around for something.

"Okay were do they keep the bullets?!" 

All of them rushed about the room, not noticing that Wrench was leaving a trail of powder behind him. Gallus jumped onto some shelves, his eyes brightened.

"Guys I found the bullets!" He yelled grabbing the bag, not being as careful as he should have been as his claws tore a hole open.

"You did? Where?" Vellum said.

"They're right here! They were..." Gallus pulled the bag off the shelf, and every single bullet fell out and rolled all over the place. The group could only watch in horror.

"Oops...." Was all the Griffin could say.

All of them frantically looked for them but they were gone. State shouted angrily.

"This gun is useless! You lost all the bullets Gallus!"

"Well Wrench is losing the power!"

A loud thump on the door caused everyone to jump and Wrench unknowingly through the barrel away, powder hitting Smolder in the face. The inch returned stronger then ever.

"We know your in there!" A voice shouted outside. "Come out before we come in."

The group screamed and ran, Smolder let out a huge sneeze which lit the powder trail. She screamed and followed after the group, who had stopped hearing the sounded. They saw the blazing powder trail behind them, screamed, and ran around the room with the spark behind them. The pirates busted the door open and entered, only to stop seeing the group running and screaming with a large spark chasing after them.

They were not sure how to react. Finally, the Dracony female had had enough, she drew in a breath.

"SSTTTOOOOPPPPP!!!!!!"

The group did, that was when they noticed the barrel with the flame entering it, Sandbar looked up.

"Oh crapbaskets."

KA-BOOM

The room was filled with with flame as the top burst open and the group and the pirates with them were sent flying into the air and landed on the main deck covered in soot and smoking hair. They quickly got up, grabbed the foals, and bolted as every pirate on deck chased after them with the original pirates. They run towards the stern, only to put on the breaks as a large figure landed in front of them.

The figure, a tall Kirin stood at his full height, thumped the bottom of his halberd against the deck, and stared at them. Behind them the pirates cut off any hope of escape.

The Kirin looked over them, then at the pirates behind them, then back. He drew in a breath as a Changeling Queen with a young Kirin/Changeling hybird on her back, a Pegasus Mare, a male Griffin, a male Dracony Wyvern, three Thestral Stallions, a male Quadruped Dragon, a male Longma, a massive male Minotaur, and a Zebra Mare come up behind him.

"Alright," The Kirin started. "My head Officers and I were talking about our next course when we hear an explosion, we come out to find you chasing... them."

He gestured to the group.

"A group of Ponies with a few other creatures who aren't members of the crew. So, will someone please tell me what the hay is going on here!!!"

He shouted at the top of his lungs, wings flaring. the pirates and the group flinched back, none answered, not sure how to. Finally, one spoke.

"We're not sure ourselves sir. We were just about to have dinner when one of the Deck Crackers dropped their still loaded cannon which destroyed a stack of crates and barrels, we heard coughing, and when the smoke cleared, there they were. They saw us and bolted, leading to a chase around the ship. Which ended with them trying to load one of the old blunderbusses, and a lit trail of power, which lit a barrel, which was that explosion."

The Kirin's eyes narrowed slightly, then  he looked at the group.

"And pray tell, how did you get aboard our ship? Your tail's on fire lass." He said pointing at Vapor.

"Wha-?" She snapped her head around and saw that the lower half of her tail was on fire! Vapor let a loud shriek and began stamping her hooves on her tail trying to put it out. Thankfully several splashes of water from the buckets of the close by pirates had put it out, though Vapor ended up soaked.

Not that she was complaining, she preferred being soaked to her tail being the next Equestria Games torch.

"Thank you." She squeaked.

The Changeling Queen's horn lit up and Vapor found her self dried off, after this Angel Wings spoke up.

"Well to answer you question, Princess Twilight ordered me and her," she pointed at Vapor, "to take this group below and hide so we hid in a large crate. When we came out we found we were no longer on our ship." She said with a sheepish grin.

The Kirin raised an eyebrow while the Dracony shouted, "Alright who forgot to check the loot?!"

The crew looked each other, none of them had any idea who had brought that specific crate. Fire Gem facepalmed.

"So... What do we do with them?" Gold Fire asked

The group were huddled together, then Applebloom said, "Please don't keel haul us."

"Or feed us to sharks." Diamond said in fear.

"Or dip us in boiling oil." Tender Taps added shaking.

All the pirates recoiled in shock.

"Wow wow wow, where did you hear such things!?" Shadow Fire asked.

"We may be pirates but we're not those kind of pirates!" Atlas said.

"And we would Never harm gems such as yourselves." Razor finished.

That got the group's attention.

"Gems such as ourselves? What?" Angel asked. Razor leaned forward.

"Not all treasure is jewels and gold lass, sometimes it's a trinket that you got from a friend," He reached up with his left wing hand and tapped the silver piece of eight.

"Sometimes it's a gift from your mate," He tapped the scarf around his neck.

"Sometimes it's an item from your first adventure," He tapped the trinket made of the three gems and the brasher doubloon.

"And sometimes it's the life you brought into this world." With a smile he took his hat off and set it on the head of the hybrid, who's head wasn't quite big enough for it. With a laugh Atlas give Razor his hat back.

The group watched this unsure of how to react, then Ocellus said.

"Mate? Your married?"

"And have a foal?" Vapor asked.

"Aye, have been happily for six years." Atlas lifted her hoof and showed them her ring.

"Oh, well, congratulations." Ocellus said with a smile.

Atlas give her a tip of her hat.

"And my son," Razor extended his wing over and Silver climbed over to his back.

"this is my son Silver Moth, and my name's Razor Tail. I'm also known as Archduke Razor Tail but most of the time just Razor Tail."

"Name's Atlas Moth, I'm Silver's mother."

The rest introduced themselves.

"Steel Mass, I don't think any of us have seen a Minotaur as big as you, you look like you could bring an Ursa down." Smolder said.

"I've never actually faced an Ursa, I have faced a Hydra, now that was fun."

"And you names would be?" Razor asked. Each of the group introduced themselves.

"Nice to meet you all, and about the raid, we did pay for the stuff we took and the damage."

"So... What happens to us now?" Summer asked.

Razor thought for a second.

"For now let's put you in the Main Meeting Room, and get you guys cleaned up, soot can be somewhat difficult to clean off after awhile."

He turned to a silver phoenix sitting on his shoulder.

"Silberbar, keep an eye on them, let us know if anything comes up." The phoenix saluted with his wing and flew over to Angel Wings and landed on her head.

"Isn't that a silver phoenix? Those are believed to be extinct." Ocellus said.

"Not quite lass, their around just... very hard to find. We rescued this one long ago. And Silver, would you escort them as well? Oh and, bring them something to eat."

"Sure Dad."

After the group was escorted to the meeting room, The crew went back to whatever they had been doing while a repair team went to fix the damages. Atlas turned to Razor.

"What are we going to do with them Honey? You know that their friends on that ship are going to come looking for them."

"I know, but trust me, its far safer for them to be with us then out on their own in these waters. The Sea of Legends isn't merciful to those who do not know her."

"So what are you going to do?" Snow asked.

"I'm going to make them an offer; either we drop them off at Imperator's Grave were they'll be on their own, or they sign up for the crew temporary, for this voyage."

"Are sure the latter option is a good idea?" Zenith asked.

"No, I'm not, but if their out on their own, it's not just the sea itself that threatens them. You all know as well as I do the dangers that roam these waters."

"Then it doesn't sound like they really have a choice." Steel said.

"I know, and that's why I hate it. If they chose to be left at Imperator's Grave then I'll honor that choice, but I worry for their safety when they do leave it. If they landed in the hooves of the Caribou..."

He trailed off, leaving the sentence unfinished, he didn't need to.

"There also the fact that their friends, if I know Equestrian Ponies, will come looking for them."

The head Officers understood that, if they found their missing friends not with the Outcasts...

"I'll talk to them after supper, I give them their choices, and honor what they pick."

With that, Razor turned and walked away. He was in conflict however, he would honor whatever choice they picked but, he could only hope they made the right one, for their own sake.

He pulled out the picture of his mother and stared at it.

'I hope I'm doing the right thing Mom, I deeply hope.'
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Dragon of the Depths

Main Meeting Room

After being escorted to the Main Meeting Room, the youngsters sat at the very large table in the center of the room. The Main Meeting Room was used for meetings between Razor, the Head Officers, and all the other Officers on broad, mostly for important updates to areas or sorting out issues that popped up. The room was almost exactly like the Head Officer meeting/dining room, just much larger and longer, with a table that could easily sit a hundred.

The youngsters sat in silence, thinking about what they had found themselves in. First, they had been taken from their cruise by mistake. Second, they were among pirates who so far had been kind to them (there was a lingering worry that would change). And third, they were in a large room waiting for the pirate's leader to talk to them about their fate.

On the plus side, the room was definitely a whole lot better then the cells they had seen earlier, and Silver Moth had been quite friendly, the Mares couldn't help but dawww a bit at how cute he was. Silver had also brought them some food, which they were thankful for as they had not eaten anything since lunch.

After they ate they just sat in silence, mulling over their situation. Most of them just rested their heads on their forelimbs while others jut fidgeted with with whatever they had, like Angel was with her bracelets and Vapor with her tail (which wasn't burned as badly as she had thought).

After an hour wait, Razor brought them into his office. They sat around the table, Razor got comfortable as the youngsters sat down with some wariness.

"Okay, I know your all nervous and thinking we're going to do something bad to you all, we're not. As my wife said before, we're pirates but not those sort of pirates."

"Then what are you going to do with us?" Popsicle asked.

"Well I got two choices for you but I want you hear both of them fully before making a decision, okay?" He said in a firm, yet gentle, voice.

The youngsters looked at each other for a few minutes then turned back to Razor.

"Okay." Was the response.

"You first choice is we take you to Imperator's Grave, its the main port in the Sea of legends, I even recommended that you ship head there for repairs."

"So why can't they just pick us up there?" Angel asked.

"Because found were we are now it would be a five day trip while they would only have a three day trip, if they even headed there to begin with. Now on Imperator's Grave, finding a way home might not be a problem as Sailors of all sorts from all around the world visit it. But, if we drop you off there, you guys would be on your own, and getting a ship home would require some luck as the ships tend to travel all over the place."

"Meaning they could be gone if we went there and even if we got a ship home it could take a long time." Mulberry said.

"Yes, you could try getting your own ship but, I'm guessing none of you really have sailing experience."

Steamsail raised a hoof, "I do but not very much." Razor nodded.

"Okay, I'm also guessing you don't really have any form of payment for your own ship."

They all shook their heads.

"Thought so, even if you dropped my name there get a ship would be difficult. Unless you got one of the junk ships but those are, "some assembly required" to put it very mildly. There's also the dangers in these waters."

"What sort of dangers?" Scootaloo asked.

"Lass, the Sea of Legends is merciless to those who do not know her. I have seen ships pulled to the depths by creatures larger then even this very ship, pirate gangs that would do unspeakable things to treasures like you, storms that can cover entire regions for days on end, and Caribou Slaver groups that attack any ship they can. While the Outcasts of the Abyss have dedicated Anti-Slaver fleets always hunting them down, I would fear the possibility..."

He didn't finish, he didn't need to.

Right away the youngsters, the females especially, began to shake in their seats, horrible thoughts traveling through their minds as the Ponies hugged their tails.

"And that's only just a tiny drop in the barrel." Razor added sadly.

After a few minutes the youngsters looked at each other again, then back.

"What's the second choice?" Soaring Virtue asked.

Razor reached for a scroll on the table and passed it to State, who unrolled it. His eyes widened.

"This is a contract!" He looked closer, "...for signing up?"

"Indeed lad, the second choice is all of you joining the crew temporarily, which will bind you to the Dragon. But in exchange, you have my word that We'll take you back home once this voyage is done, you'll be under my protection, you'll receive a full share of treasure like the rest of the crew, and you well be treated with respect like the rest of the crew. there's also the fact that if you friends come looking for you, and I have have very good reason to believe they will, it would be easier on us all if you were here."

"He isn't lying," Ocellus said. "Everything he said was true."

"How would you know that?" Smolder asked.

"Ahh... Changeling."

"Ohhhh... right."

The youngsters looked over the contract, everything Razor had said about it was listed and would indeed bind them, but it would do the same to Razor, in fact he had already signed it.

State looked up.

"Could we talk about this among ourselves first?"

"Take as much time as you need. You don't even have to answer tonight, you can tell me you answer in the morning if you have it by then."

Razor leaned forward.

"And something I want to stress to you, this is YOUR choice. Whatever you pick of the two I will honor it, I only ask that you really think about it and chose wisely. Not for my sake, but yours. Also, we're meeting with a supply ship tomorrow that is headed back to Imperator's Grave. So you have until then."

With that, he called Silver in and asked him to take the youngsters to some rooms for the night. Once they left Razor walked up to the pipe organ and began to play, the sound traveling through the ship.
________________________________________________________________________________
Later

Atlas entered Razor's office only to see no sign of him, looking around she noticed the doors on either side of the pipe organ were open. Stepping out onto the balcony she saw Razor lying on the hammock set up against the wall looking out over the water.

"Hey Atlas." He sounded a bit down.

"Honey, what's wrong?"

"Am I a manipulative jerk?"

Atlas recoiled as if struck.

"What?"

He turned his head slightly to look at her.

"I did give our guests their choices but I might have manipulated them to sign up."

He looked back out over the water.

"So, am I a manipulative jerk?"

Atlas didn't even know how to respond, she walked up to him and gently laid a foreleg over his back.

"Razor, sometimes a leader had to be manipulative to protect those he cares about. I could feel your concern for the youngsters, even Changeling on board could, the one with them too."

She sat down next to him.

"So while yes you may be manipulative, but it's for the right reasons."

"Is it?" He lifted his head up. "I give them their choices, I just hope what they pick will be the right one. You also know of my greater plans."

Atlas rubbed his neck.

"I know, and what happens if they choice to go to Imperator's Grave?"

"They'll broad the supply ship, and I'll contact our agents there. They'll make sure they get home safely."

"And their friends?"

"One of our undercover merchants will tell them and lead them home as well."

Atlas pulled her husband into to a hug.

"It'll work out Razor, it will."

They stayed like that for a while, then headed off to bed to enjoy some cuddle time together.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Canterlot

Princess Celestia's Personal Chambers

Celestia sat on her bed fuming as she examined the scroll in her magic, a few days ago she had received word of a port town had burn stacked and burned to the ground. Nothing remained but ash and wreckage, the townsfolk had escaped and told of a giant of a ship had sailed close under the cover of both the night and a thick fog.

The fort had been hit by some sort of enchanted rockets that encased the fort in a magic field the the soldiers couldn't leave, with the soldiers trapped the attackers, later reveled to be pirates, stacked the town unchallenged. They had taken everything, gems, gold, wood, metal, everything of value.

But wasn't what had Celestia steamed.

The pirates had also taken the foals in the town's orphanage.

From what she knew, the foals had gone with them willingly. She had wondered why till she had dug deeper. What she had found had enraged her, the orphanage had been mistreating the foals, and the deeper she had dug, the more enraged she became.

As it turned out, the entire town had been a pit of nothing but everything against Equestria stood for. Now all the townsfolk were facing criminal charges.

She had later found out that while the townsfolk had escaped, there had been one lost. In a cave far from the town an Earth Pony had been found dead from a shot to the head, he had been tied up and executed, a cut from a blade was also found on his neck. Not deep enough to kill, but enough to lightly bleed.

Celestia had know of this Pony; A Noble who had dealt in things that even the worst ones in Canterlot wouldn't dare touch with a 30 foot pole, including selling Ponies to Equestria's sworn enemy: the Caribou. This alone was a death penalty, so in a way whoever had killed him had done Celestia a favor.

But the scroll she held was not that, but a letter she had got from Twilight some time ago, The cruise she had set up for her and the others had been blown off course and had ended up in the infamous Sea of Legends, were it was attacked by pirates. While they hadn't killed anypony and had payed for what they took and the damages, they had taken some of the passengers, including the students from some of Equestria's allies.

As expected, they had not been to happy to hear that, thankfully they hadn't threat war this time, but had demanded they come with her after these pirates. A request Celestia agreed to. 

Tomorrow she would be personally taking an Equestrian Juggernaut with a fleet of two hundred fifty into the Sea of Legends to go after these pirates, and Celestia knew just who these pirates were.

According to eyewitness accounts the flag the pirates had flown was a flag that was red with a black quadruped Dragon in flight above a maelstrom with a small chest clutched in it's claws.

The Outcasts of the Abyss, lead by the Kirin Pirate Lord Archduke Razor Tail.

Celestia had known of this pirate since he had defeated the Royals that had ruled the Sea of Legends, a feat to be respected, according to her few sources there Razor was different from other pirate lords as he had far grander plans for the Sea of Legends, the rumors she had heard was he the drive, the ambition, and the resources to unite the various pirate gangs, smuggler rings, privateer fleets, Merchant armadas, and other sailors of any kind under his banner. If he succeeded in this, the Outcasts would become a world power, one that would be very powerful and difficult to bring down.

For now Razor seemed to be in no rush to do so, and that's what worried Celestia. Now one hoof, a nation built of those types would normally not last very long, mostly do to infighting. However from what she had heard, Razor had done a number of them favors that earned the Outcasts their loyalty.

"And Chancellor Neighsay believes that other races threaten Ponies when one is building an empire of pirates and other sailors." She said to herself with a roll of her eyes.

Another thing was, while Razor didn't contact them to often, he was still a Kirin, which meant he could talk to the Kirin Clans and possibly get their support. And Celestia knew Kirins were formidable fighters.

On the other hoof, having Razor as an ally and friend would mean a very powerful navy on Equestria's side should a war break out, and allow Equestrians to explore the Sea of Legends. As well as possibly secure the Kirins as an ally, and stabilize the Sea of Legends factions.

Celestia at the moment didn't think the second option was possible, at least not now. The fact that Razor had kidnapped Equestrian citizens and foreign youngsters mean that she had to find him and bring him down. She had heard stories about his ship but she didn't believe them, after all, a ship like that would be to costly. She had also been informed he was now looking for a location known as the 'Lost Tombs'.

"I don't know what your searching for there Razor Tail, but you overstepped your bounds this time. I was content to leave you to your business in the Sea of Legends but with the attack on Equestrian land and vessel and your kidnapping of the youngsters you have crossed the line. I'm truly sorry, but you reign must end." She said regretfully.
> Chapter 6: Aboard The Dragon of the Depths #1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dragon of the Depths

The Next Morning

The youngsters had a surprisingly good sleep despite being on a pirate ship, they all had gathered in one of the interconnected rooms they had being given to discuss their options.

The rooms were rather comfortable, if a bit spartan. They all had a bed that could fit two, a bedside table on each side, a large chest at the foot of the bed, a crate with hammocks next to the door out, and to their surprise, a connected bathroom complete with two sinks, a working toilet, and a working shower. Curious, Vapor had tried one of the showers last night and was quite surprised when she got both hot and cold water.

The Dragon of the Depths had functional plumping, who knew. The way the rooms were laid out reminded them of train cars with what seemed to be akin to a living room, with couches and tables in the center of two room sections. The youngsters figured these were possibly guest rooms.

Though the thought seemed a bit... out there?

At the moment they were in the living room, State had read over the contract Razor gave them several times with Ocellus and Vellum both last night and the morning looking for any ways out of it should they sign it, and had found nothing, the contract was airtight.

State send it down then looked at the others.

"We've looked over it enough to memorize it and nothing, no loop holes, no easy ways out, nothing."

They had all talked before bed and were a bit divided, some of them wanted to sign up, others wanted to go to Imperator's Grave, while the others were on the fence. Silver had earlier given them some books about the Sea of Legends to help with their decision, which Ocellus had read.

"Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm not sure about either choice." Smolder said.

"Personally, I'd just sign up." Angel said, Vapor nodded her agreement.

They talked about it until Silver knocked and told them they would be meeting with the supply ship is ten minutes. After he had left Angel addressed the group.

"Well, we only have ten more minutes, let's make a decision, let's just hope what we pick wouldn't come back to bite us on the tails. Those in favor of signing up, raise a limb."
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Ten Minutes Later

Razor watched as the supply ship, a large, modified bulk cargo ship, pulled up beside the Dragon. Ramps from both ships lowered and connected, allowing the crew to transfer the supplies. Silver came up with the youngsters in tow, they walked up to Razor who turned to them as they approached.

"Well youngsters, have you made your choice?"

Angel walked forward, she would be their speaker.

"Yes we have, we gave it a lot of though and talk, we've decided..."

She paused to draw in a breath, trying to relax.

"To sign up. As much as we would like to get back to our friends, we looked through the books Silver gave us and we think we would be safer with you."

The other made sounds of agreement, some a bit more reluctant.

Razor tilted his head, not convinced.

"I don't mean to sound rude, but I can tell some of you are more reluctant, and as I said before, I wouldn't force you to sign up."

"We know, but after everything, we did figure it would be safer with one who knew these waters. And we really don't what to risk ending up in the hooves of Caribou." She shuddered, joined by the others.

Razor straightened his head.

"Are you sure this is you final choice? You can still change your mind if you want to now, I won't stop you."

The youngsters looked at each other, nodded their heads, pulled out the contract, and signed it. Immediately after the last one signed they and Razor felt magic flow throughout their bodies, the youngsters were now part of the crew and Razor would keep his word on returning them home.

"Ahhhh... I hate that feeling." Razor shook his body trying to get rid of the the feeling, the youngsters doing the same. Razor then took back the contract.

"Well, that wasn't pleasant." Patty Peppermint said.

"Aye, I haven't been able to fix that."

Razor shook his head.

"Anyway, welcome to the crew, I've have some of the Officers show you the ropes."

Silversteam raised a claw.

"Question?"

"Yes Silversteam?"

"What do you mean by show us the ropes? there's plently all around us."

"Yona confused to."

Razor chuckled.

"No, it means to teach or explain to someone the customary ways of doing something."

"Ohhh... We get it now."

After Razor had gathered some officers and the youngsters began their training, the transfer of supplies was complete and the Dragon continued on her course to Blackcap Peaks.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Later that day

The youngsters had gathered in the main tavern as the crew had called it for supper. They all were sitting around a table talking about what they had been up to since they signed up.  The only ones not there were Angel and Vapor.

"I have to say, working on board has been a bit easier then I first thought." End Zone said taking a drink.

"Well the steam donkeys do make working with the rigging easier." Steam said. 

It was true, the main deck had steam donkeys placed were they would be most useful.

"And the crew has been friendly to us." Ocellus said.

"That's made things a lot easier on us." Stage Tales said.

They talked about what had happened through out the day, the foals had stayed mostly out of the way though Applebloom helped a little with the work on the galleon. The rest of the foals spend the day playing with Silver, who was happy to have some playmates. Gallus and the Pegasi worked up in the sails, the others did various jobs around the ship.

As they talked Sandbar took a look around, the crew were all eating, talking, drinking, and just have a good time. He turned to look at the other.

"It's funny, these guys are pirates, yet they treat us like crew mates even though we just signed up today."

"And it's genuine too." Ocellus added.

"That's because even through you've only signed up today, the crew has taken a liking to ya."

The youngsters turned at the voice, Fire Gem was standing next to them.

"How long have you been standing there Fire Gem?" Apple Betty asked.

"Long enough to hear the tail end of Sandbar's sentence, the reason I'm over here is I want to get to know our newest crew mates."

"You know we're only here for this voyage right." Patty said.

"Doesn't mean I can't get to know you. Besides, this voyage could be a long one." He gestured to an empty spot next to Raspberry, "Mind if I sit with you?"

After they answered that they didn't mind, Fire Gem sat down. After a few minutes, Popsicle said.

"Fire Gem, if you don't mind me asking, how did someone like you end up here on a pirate ship?"

"I was wondering about that too, you seem like someone from high-class." November said

"To answer that, let me tell you a bit of my story."

Everyone leaned forward.

"To be honest, I am from a very wealthy family, but I grew tired of the "stagnant life" so, after I arrived at Imperator's Grave, I was in the tavern when a bar fight broke out. It lasted for awhile but I held myself well thanks to the training my dad gave me, after the fight ended a Kirin approached me and we struck up a conversation. We talked for a time and he made me an offer; I join his crew and I would get the life I had wanted. With nothing to lose I signed up and became the Outcast's Fleet Warrant Admiral and got the life I wanted. That's how I meet Razor Tail"

Fire Gem then looked at the table with a bit of a scowl.

"It wasn't just the stagnant life that caused me to want a life like this."

Confused by the sudden change, Golden asked, "What else was it?"

He let out a heavy sign.

"Before I answer that, know that my parents are very loving and supportive to me, so don't get the wrong idea. My parents, both Unicorns, were not home very much do to several factors, such as having to attend Noble parties and whatnot. When they were home they tried to send every free second with me which unfortunately wasn't much. This left me in the care of the servants who weren't that bad, they at the very least tried to be friends with me, which I did appreciate greatly, but there was this one plot-hole, please pardon my language, that was my parents adviser. I hated his guts, he was very insistent on teaching me the "proper" way to do things, I wouldn't go too deep into that because I'd be beating old wounds. In short; he firmly believed that there should be rules for absolutely everything."

Summer facehoofed, "One of those! Now I get why, my sister and I had to deal with that type before and that's the reason we moved to Ponyville."

Mulberry just faceplanted the table with a groan.

"How bad are those types?" Vellum asked.

"Everything must be done this way, and by this way I mean my way sort of bad." Fire Gem said.

"That includes going to the bathroom!" Mulberry said.

Summer double facehoofed. "You have no idea how embarrassing it trying to do you business with one of those looking over your shoulder."

"It once got so bad that Summer blasted one through multiple walls." 

"I regret nothing."

"With me, after I had enough, burned his mane and tail off, gave a good kick to his hind legs, told him were he could stick his "proper ways", told him he had to tell my parents why I wasn't here when they came back, grabbed my things and just walked out the door without looking back."

"How did that go?" Smolder asked.

"My parents were really peeved at him and throw him out of the house, from a two story window."

"How did you parents take to you joining up with Razor?" Sandbar asked.

"Well it went like this..."
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Flashback

Several Years ago

I was the newest Officer in the then small Outcast's, after Atlas, Snowheart, and Apollo. We were docked at Imperator's Grave and were checking over our cargo being loaded into Razor's ship before this beast when...

Fire Gem checked off the last rum crate as Razor walked up to him.

"How's it coming Fire Gem?"

"So far so good, just need to finish the last bit here and we'll be good to set sail."

"Good, finish up and we'll set..." He stopped when he saw a pair of Unicorns coming towards them quickly.

"You know them Fire Gem?"

Said Dracony turned around, only for his eyes to widen.

"Yes I know them."

The Mare with golden coat, purple mane and eyes looked around til her eyes meet Fire Gem's, she smiled wide with relief and elbowed the silver coated, red maned and eyes Stallion who also smiled with relief. The two ran towards them, Razor turned to Fire Gem.

"Who are they? They seem really happy to see you."

"They're my parents."

"Oh... I see." Razor took a few steps back.

The two unicorns stopped in front of the Dracony, the Mare reached forward and cupped her hoof against his cheek.

"Fire Gem, we've spent a lot of time looking for you." She said with a firm but happy tone.

The Stallion stepped forward.

"Son, you had us very worried when we could find you. Two years son, two years you had us worried sick." He said firmly.

Fire Gem didn't say anything, he couldn't.

His father looked up at Razor, sizing the tall Kirin up.

"You the one who's been looking after our son?"

"That would be me sir, and as long as Fire Gem is a member of my crew he I will continue to do so."

The Stallion stared at Razor for a minute, them a smile slowly spread across his face.

"Thank you."

Fire Gem was wrapped in a hug with his mother.

"Mom, I..."

"Two years, TWO YEARS, you leave without a word, do you have any idea how worried we were Fire Gem. We thought you had died!"

She tightened the hug.

"Don't you ever scare us like that again!"

She further tightened the hug, unaware the Fire Gem was turning blue.

"I'm so glad you okay."

"Ma... choking, not breathing."

"OH!"

She let go and Fire Gem gasped for breath. His mother had a hoof over her mouth.

"Oops... sorry son." She squeaked quietly.

"It's alright mom." He said after caught his breath. He then looked at his parents, his ears back.

"I take it you're here to disown me..." He said sadly.

Both his parents recoiled in shock, eyes wide in shock.

"WHAT???!!!" They both shouted. Fire Gem rubbed his foreleg.

"I did walk out and signed up on a pirate crew."

His mother grabbed his shoulders hard, scaring the hay out of him.

"Fire Gem, We would NEVER disown you!"

His father laid a hoof over Fire Gem's back.

"Son, we knew long ago that the life we live wasn't for you. True be told, when we came back after you left we were planning on telling you it was time to go out and find your calling. Besides, we had wanted to get rid of that "adviser" for years, you leaving finally giving the reason."

The mother spoke next.

"Fire Gem, We don't care that you left to find the life you want or that you signed onto a pirate ship, the question is; are you happy."

Fire Gem looked a little surprised, but answered after a second.

"Yes, I am."

Both just smiled and pulled him into a hug.

"Then that's enough." His father gave Fire Gem's shoulder a light pat.

"Fire Gem, Know this, no matter what happens, we will always love you, no matter what." His mother said tightening her hug, being careful not to choke him again.

The father went over to Razor.

"Razor Tail is it? I've heard a bit about you, what would your intentions be with my son?"

"Well as long as he's a member of my crew I'll look after him, if he ever wants to leave that's his choice."

The father looked over the Kirin for a minute, then smiled.

"Then as long as my son is one of your crew mates, the Outcasts will have the support of Fire Gem's family."

He then joined in on the hug, Fire Gem wrapped his patents with his arms and wings, crying with happiness while Razor watch with a smile.



Flashback Ends

The youngster were amazed.

"They accepted that you were now a pirate, just like that?" Sun Field asked.

"I was just as surprised as you, then again from what I understand, they were lucky to have me."

"Lucky to have you? Do you mean your mother was unable to have foals?" Silver Spoon asked.

"Unfortunately yes, Dad once told me that Mom had been very upset, and that's putting it very mildly, that she was close to not being able to have foals. So when she carried me she was very happy, again putting it very mildly."

"If you parents were Unicorns, how did they have a Dracony?" Chipcutter asked.

Fire Gem shrugged.

"Your guess is as good as mine, it just seems Pony families sometimes have a foal who are a different Pony race."

The youngsters immediately thought of the Cake Twins.

"On another subject, why are you guys called 'Outcasts of the Abyss'?" Tender Taps asked.

"Well lad the reason is..."



Atlas Moth's Room

Atlas was leaning back in her chair, hind legs propped up on the table and a cup of mint tea in her forehooves. Her room resembled her room in her former hive, with green crystals lining the walls and a bed made of Changeling gel, the table and chairs were made form hardened Changeling slime.

Currently she had her head back with her eyes closed and her mouth a blissful smile, once in awhile taking a small sip of tea. She opened her eyes, lifted her head up, and lit her horn. The door opened revealing Vapor Trail and Angel Wings, the former with her hoof raised to knock.

"Ah, Vapor Trail, Angel Wings, come in. I guess you wish to talk?"

The two Ponies stood for a second, then walked in closing the door behind them.

"Yes, yes we do." Angel said quietly, Vapor rubbed her foreleg.

"Well come sit down, would you like some tea? It's fresh."

Vapor and Angel sat down and took a cup, Angel took a sip and pulled back in surprise.

"This is really good." Vapor took a sip.

"Wow... I've never had tea like this before."

Atlas smiled.

"It's my sister's recipe, she knew how to make it not only taste great but also rejuvenating."

The Ponies looked up.

"You have a sister?" Angel asked.

"Had, she died years ago."

"What happened?" Vapor asked.

"Our hive was attacked by Ponies, my sister told me to flee with the young. I did but, out of two thousand Drones, only five survived with me and all the young. My sister, Monarch Butterfly, fought hard but eventually fell."

"We're sorry." Vapor said, Angel nodded her agreement, adding;

"She must have been a great sister."

"She was, total sweetheart, I know she would have loved being here with the rest of us."

Atlas reached over and picked up a framed picture sitting next to her hat. It showed a teenage Atlas with another teenage Changeling Royal Mare who had a foreleg over Atlas' shoulders, this Royal had a royal purple backplate and dark blue mane, tail, eyes, and wings. Atlas' own backplate was also dark blue, both Changelings had huge, happy smiles on their faces. Atlas showed them it.

"That's you sister, she's very pretty." Angel said.

"When was this picture taken?" Vapor asked.

"Thanks, and this was from back when our mother was still alive, she passed peacefully in her sleep after me and Monarch had turned twenty, cancer."

"Oh... sorry to hear that." Angel said.

"Thanks, she had known she hadn't long left in this world, the last thing she said to us before she closed her eyes for the final time was; "No matter what comes next, know that I love you two very, very much." Her passing still hurt both of us for along while after."

"And then the attack..." Vapor quietly added.

"Yea..." Atlas teared up a little. "My group and I fled while Monarch stayed with the others to allow us to escape, they had armor, but the attack Ponies had sheer numbers. Last I saw of my sister was a sword being run through her chest."

She wiped her tears.

"I later found out that a Pony Noble had lied about our hive, before we had a deal with the Ponies in the area; they left us alone, we left them along. The Noble had said we were kidnapping Ponies to "Drain them dry" which was not the case at all."

"How did your hive feed then?" Vapor asked.

"Through passive feeding, we simply took the emotional energy from the gathered deposit in the air."

Atlas took a sip of her tea.

"Funny enough, that same night I meet my hubby."

"We were wondering that, how did you meet Razor?" Angel asked.

"Me and the survivors landed on a distant island to rest and morn, we were cold, wet, hungry, and tired. As I laid there crying, the few Drones trying to comfort me, we sensed a Pony approach, it was a young Kirin; Razor Tail. He was cautious in his approach, not that he didn't need to be, we were just too burnt out to doing anything to him. He came up to us, looked me in the eye, and spread both wings and forelegs. We just snuggled into him and I cried into his shoulder as he wrapped us up, taking some of the love he offered. We stayed like that all night, that was the same night the Outcasts of the Abyss were born, we just didn't know it at the time."

Angel and Vapor were silent for a bit, letting Atlas sort through her memories while they processed this. Finally Vapor asked.

"Why do you guys call yourselves the "Outcasts of the Abyss"?"

"Razor came up with the name, as for why; it's because that's what most of the members of our faction are in fact Outcasts in some way. Some lost everything but their families to greedy Nobles, some are here because it's the only place they really fit in, some are here because they have no place left to go, some because they wanted a better life, a large number are freed slaves, and some are here because this is all they have, and that's only the tip of the iceberg."

"Wow..." Was all the two could say.

"Yea... At least we have each other to help through the tough times, my hive has regrown and  now see my husband as their King. But I still deeply miss my sister" Atlas said.

After a few minutes, Vapor asked.

"What's the other Head Officers stories?"

"That's for them to tell, but I will tell you a bit about Snowy. She had been married to a loving Unicorn Stallion and had three foals, two Fillies and one Colt. They had a happy life, before the very same Noble who killed my sister sold them to the Caribou."

Vapor looked horrified while Angel covered her mouth with both hooves.

"They were taken from her kicking and screaming, put on a ship, and that ship disappeared. And poor Snow, she suffered seven long years of pain before she escaped. Razor and I found her just barely alive holding on to a rock, Snow was a broken shell of a Mare when we pulled her aboard. For a long while she was understandably terrified of Razor and couldn't be alone with him without screaming. She did eventually regain enough of her mind to realize that Razor meant her no harm. Since then she has become a terror to the Caribou and a Pony that many former slaves rally behind."

She let out a sign and finished her tea.

"But she never fully recovered, even to this day Snowy wakes up in the night screaming at the top of her lungs and some times has major breakdown. Heck, before we even set out on this voyage she had a minor one. I doubt she will ever fully recover from that, all we can do is help her through it, Silver's been a real help there. Snow doesn't even know if her family is even alive."

She looked at the two Ponies.

"That ring on her eyepatch is the same ring her husband gave her."

Vapor was crying into her hooves while Angel just sat there staring into nothing. After a time Vapor wiped her tears and, wanting to change the subject, said,

"Silver is quite the cutie, I admit the Mares in our group couldn't help but dawww when we meet him."

Atlas smiled with pride.

"Snow thought the same thing, our son has that charm and is well liked by the crew."

"We can agree with that, he's such a sweetheart." Angel asked.

"Aye that he is, though out of the Head Officers Silver has bonded with Snowy the most, as she took part the most in raising him when Razor and I were busy, having been denied that joy herself."

She then looked a Vapor.

"Lass, is something wrong? Your emotions are a bit in turmoil."

"Just thinking, I know a Stallion who I've known since we were kids."

Atlas tilled her head slightly, then said,

"You love him." It was a statement, not a question.

"Yes, but I don't know if he loves me back, I'm scared it'll ruin our friendship if I say it."

"Vapor, I've only known you for a short time, but I can tell you're a wonderful Mare, tell me how you two meet." She said gently.

She did and the three of them sat there listening and talking for a long while.



Razor's Office

Razor let out a breath slowly and braced himself, around him were numerous wooden training dummies like the ones used in martial arts. Sitting up he opened his eyes and attacked. He jumped into the air swinging his halberd through four dummies, landed, smashed the hammer end against one knocking it down, pulled out a revolver and shot through three, throw three throwing knives into three, one missed and hit some sort of magic field(1), fired a shot into the missed one, slashed two with his tail blade followed by two more with his claws, pulled out a second revolver and emptied them into most of the remaining dummies, then finally pulled out his bolt-action rifle and shot through the final dummies which were lined up.

The Silver Phoenix, Silberbar, clicked the button on the stopwatch he was holding.

"What's the time?"

Silberbar showed him the watch.

"Nineteen seconds, not bad, about five seconds less then last time."

He went over to a glowing rune and tapped it with a claw, dropping the field. He cleaned up and walked over to the table. Razor was happy to know his practice was paying off and his combat skills were still sharp, one must be ready to fight many opponents at once in this sort life, something he found out the hard way.

He feel a minor pain from his left wing, he reached over and gently rubbed it, under the attire lay a large scar at the base of the wing, a permanent reminder that he was not invulnerable, as his younger self had believed. That same overconfidence had very nearly cost him his wing and life.

Setting the halberd down he picked up a custom made gladius hipaniensis and hooked it to his belt. He also picked up his custom-made swords and daggers, which along with the gladius hipaniensis shared the same design, though the large sword is a mix between a Broadsword (Double-Sided Edge and Blade Length), Rapier (Crossguard Style), and Saber (Blade Curve).

The blade was a glowing ruby red and dark red in color with one gold section on the back of the blade with a tiny silver tip and silver sections, one with a short darker silver claw towards the base on the back of the blade and one at the front that angles down and along the front edge of the front of the blade, behind the front silver section was a gold section that angles up and along the back bladed, and on the tip of the blade was a darker silver tip shaped like a claw. On both of the sides of the blade on the center was a hexagon-shaped silver plate with a sapphire curved into the Dragon’s sail symbol on it with a hollow A shape above and below it which had a tiny diamond-shaped sapphire on the tip and a small diamond-shaped silver stud inside each A shape and under the symbol plate was a glowing green dragon shaped like the Dragon’s flag. Wrapped around and up from the base of the blade was a large length of purple cloth with one edge colored gold wrapped around the blade three times with a small gold round plate with the symbol of two crossed halberds behind a forward facing dragon head on it and two blue feathers under the plate and A red length of cloth wrapped tightly three times around the blade above the purple cloth. Above the red cloth is a large round disk with an eight-point star and a large diamond-shaped emerald within with the longer tips following the blade.

There were several cracks and spots of various sizes that glowed sapphire blue on the blade.

The Crossguard was gold and was shaped like a large chain(s) with (nine (Large Sword), six (Butterfly Swords), or three (Daggers)) large, medium and small-sized diamond-shaped rubies and emeralds, silver rings (three (Large Sword), two (Butterfly Swords), or one (Daggers)), and silver coins (four (Large Sword), three (Butterfly Swords), or two (Daggers)) held on via rings of their own. The Handle had a length of purple cloth and a length of red cloth with one edge colored silver wrapped around the hand with seven gold and silver coin attached to the cloth with small rings and the Pommel had a glowing three-point flame.

He slid the large sword into the sheath under his left wing, the four butterfly swords into the ones on his shoulders, and the two daggers along with the gladius into the ones on his belt. Sitting down he opened his compass, set it on the table on top of a map of the Sea of Legends, and picked up a parallel ruler. Frowning as he laid out the course to Blackcap Peaks, he set the ruler aside.

"One to two weeks depending on weather to Blackcap Peaks, this trip is going to be a long one. Thankfully the Caribou treasure convoy route crosses with our path, would really keep morale high taking one out, Snowy would sure enjoy it."

His thoughts were interrupted when the compass crystal suddenly glowed green.

"Well, that was unexpected."

Looking over it, he set the compass in the center of the map and traced it's path with a claw. It was pointing to a chain of islands located a fair distance away from a trade route known as The Spine, these island were uninhabited and most of them were barren with only the largest one having plants of any kind.

That island, called Ashbone Spires, was a 'No Sail Zone', for good reason. The first was the rock, it somehow blocked magic of all kinds, even Discord's magic would not work there. But the second reason was far worse. 

He laid a claw on the spot and the compass crystal glowed ever brighter.

"You have got to be kidding me, Ashbone Spires of ALL PLACES!! Even the Caribou avoid that island like they would Snowheart, of all the places."

Just then a small, onyx black pendent in the shape of a small beetle light up in green. Surprised, Razor reached over and picked it up, flipping it over the underside had the word "Canterlot" imprinted. Razor arched an eyebrow.

"One of our Canterlot agents is calling? It must be important as they normally send messages through dragonfire letter."

Activating it, a round green screen formed and an Unicorn Stallion in Royal Guard armor appeared, with a worried look on his face.

"Agent Flame Shield report, is your cover blown?"

"No my lord, I'm in my room in the barracks, my shift just ended."

"Then what's wrong? You look like it was blown."

"Princesses Celestia and Luna are coming to the Sea of Legends with a Juggernaut and a fleet of two hundred fifty ships after you! On response to the so-called kidnapping of the School of Friendship students and the attack on the town and ship."

Razor's blood froze, his eyes went wide.

"Your kidding."

"No I'm not kidding, also the guardians of the non-pony SOFS students and Neighsay are coming as well."

"Neighsay? What is that bigot filth up to?"

"He want's to use the so-called kidnapping of the SOFS students as leverage to shut the school down."

"Faust im Himmel, thanks for the heads up, continue you duties and keep me updated on anything important."

"Well do me lord." Flame Shield saluted and cut the feed.

Razor looked at the table with a hard glare, things just got worse. So he said the first thing that came to mind.

"I Knew that attack would come back to haunt me!! That blasted fortune cookie!"

He faceplanted into the table.

"The crew are not going to like this."



(1) After Atlas nearly had a hair cut when she surprised Razor while he was training, she all but demanded that a shield was set up to prevent any future accidents, extra important as Silver was due to hatch soon.
> Chapter 7: Imperator's Grave
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Traveler

In route to Imperator's Grave

The mood on the Traveler had been gloomy, the families and friends of the missing creatures were besides themselves with worry, Twilight had been panicking badly until Cadance, Starlight, Shining, and Spike had finally got her to stop before she had a heart attack. Finally after three days of travel Imperator's Grave came into view.

"Island Ho!"

Everpony on board run up to the main deck, and stood in awe. Their eyes wide and mouths dropped open.

Imperator's Grave was a massive island, if one was to take Canterlot and put Ponyville, Sweet Apple Aces included, around it, you would get it's size. All around the edge were docks and shipyards of various sizes, many towers littered the water, far enough to allow even the largest ships to sail through them but close enough that they could support each other. The towers had two levels fitted with 110 pounder cannons, on the top were a multi rocket launcher at each corner and a heavy mortar on top. Numerous shipwrecks and bones of various sea creatures could be seen in the water and ships from gunboats to some Men O' War closer to the island moving among them.

The island itself consisted of many rocky hills with walkways tunneled through, rock formations of various sizes and shapes, a few archipelagos, and towering rock formations with some reaching higher then the Royal Palace. The island had many fortresses and other installations littered the island, all very heavily armed. In the air attached to some of the rock formations by thick chains were airship.

"So that's Imperator's Grave, this place is a fortress. Just look at those defenses." Soarin said waving a hoof out.

"The pirate said we couldn't miss it, kinda hard to miss an island made of rock, shipwrecks, and bones." Sky said.

"And has a fleet guarding it." Shining added.

As the Traveler reached the outskirts a brigantine approached them and pulled up alongside them. A Pegasus lifted a trumpet to his mouth and said,

"Ahoy there, permission to come aboard?"

"Permission granted." the Traveler's captain answered.

The Pegasus, who was dressed like that of a captain, flew up with two other Pegasi and landed on the deck in front of the captain.

"Greetings and welcome to Imperator's Grave. We don't see cruise ships here often, or Royalty for that matter." He turned to Cadance and Twilight and did a polite bow.

"What brings you here if I may ask?"

Shining told the story but left some details out, just in case. The Pegasus looked surprised.

"You had a run in with a Caribou slaver fleet?!"

"Yes, though thanks to a rouge wave most of that fleet was sunk and we lost the rest in the Jagged Pillars, and that's were the pirates attacked."

"I see, well you came to the right place, while I can't help you with those pirates I can bring you into a dock for you ship. Also if you are going after you friends I'd recommend you leave the cruise ship here and use a different ship or ships as the Sea of Legends is not merciful to those who don't now her water."

The Traveler Ponies looked at each other, then Rainbow asked,

"What do you mean by that?"

"Lass, there are many dangers in these waters, sea creatures as large as this island and even bigger have pulled ships into the depths, pirates gangs, Caribou slaver fleets, though they've been dropping in numbers like a rock for at least five years now, storms of incredable power, and that's just of the tip of the iceberg."

The Ponies looked at each other with very worried looks. If the Sea of Legends was as dangerous as they were told...

After thanking the Pegasus they were lead into a large dock and tied the ship down. The Ponies walked down first reaching the rib bones, Twilight and Fluttershy walked up to them.

"Wow, I've dealt with many different animal land, air, and sea, but... I've never seen bones like this before." Fluttershy said her eyes trailing the ribs.

"I agree, the creature these ribs are from must be huge." Twilight added.

"Would that be the same creature as that skull?" Thunderlane said pointing towards the end of the beach.

Turning around everypony's eyes went wide, in front of them serving as an entry to the island from the dock was a giant reptilian-esque skull easily big enough to swallow a ship-of-the-line whole. According to Twilight, the skull by itself was one hundred meters in length, with fangs that measured at eleven point five meters long, the center eye in a cluster of five was ten meters in diameter.

On both sides of the skull were walls made of rock, shipwrecks, and bones like the ribs that reached up to at least twenty stories in height and were forty feet thick, with an incredible amount of cannons, rockets and other weapons. Night Light pointed out whoever build these defenses had wanted to make it as difficult to assault as possible.

They passed through the open maw of the skull and entered into a city built of rock, shipwrecks, giant hermit crab shells, and leviathan bones. Shops and houses were all around, with a large building set against one of the rock tower formations with the words "Sea Oasis" on a sign above the entry. Deciding that was as good of a place to start as any, the Ponies walked towards the tavern. As they walked they noticed members of pretty much every known sentient species on the planet, just going about their day; talking, shopping, eating, and so forth. Some were carrying odd items such as what looked like crates with different colored cloth draped over the tops, skulls made of various materials like bronze and silver, small chests of various designs, and random trinkets into various shops.

Rainbow suddenly elbowed Twilight, when she turned Rainbow pointed to one of the three story buildings. Hanging from it were red banners with a black quadruped Dragon in flight above a maelstrom with a small chest clutched in it's claws. The same design as the one on the ship at attacked them.

The Ponies eyes widened as they took another look around, flags and banners of the same design could be seen every were. Shining was now very glad he had left out some details earlier, for it seemed they were now in the Dragon's lair. Entering the Sea Oasis they entered a open room that only had a stairway to the tavern below, the room as easily as large as six of the Royal Palace throne rooms and held everything one would expect a tavern to hold; the wall opposite of the stairs was a bar with stools, the wall to the left of the stairs was a stage with a band playing a tune, on the right wall was a set of massive kegs of various drinks, and throughout the center were many tables and roof supports.

They took a seat at a table in a corner tying not to draw attention to themselves, after one of the barmaids got them some drinks, they began discussing their situation.

"So, we're in the Sea of Legends, which is know for it's great dangers." Cadance began.

"We were first attacked by Caribou slavers who we escaped," Shining continued.

"Only to run into pirates who took some of our own," Velvet added.

"And now we're on what seems to be the lair of those same pirates." Flash finished.

They knew this task would be a difficult one, for starters; they had no idea were to start. Those pirates could be anywhere, and the Sea of Legends was gigantic. Twilight laid out some plans.

"The first thing we could do is split up to cover a bit more ground."

"I don't know about that Twi," Applejack said, "one group could end up in real trouble and the other's would never know."

"I'm with Applejack on that." Rarity said, looking around. "And just between us, these pirates could better their decor."

"Never mind that Rarity, we have far more important things to worry about."

"Yea like... Finding and getting our friends back!" Sky said.

Just then, the tavern quieted down. At first the group thought they had said something wrong, but those worries were put to rest when a voice spoke out.

"Alright lads,"

Looking over, they saw a brown Earth Pony Stallion with a long and thick graying black mane and beard, both with burning fuse tied into them. He wore a tricorne with a cluster of white feathers off to one side, a coat, waistcoat, shirt, pants and boots, all in black. The Traveler Ponies recognized him as the infamous pirate lord: Blackmane, one of the most feared pirates to sail the seas.

"I'll give ya Blackmane's honest opinion, you ask to hear about the legends of Archduke Razor Tail and his outcasts, well then, let them be told."

He sat up from his leaning position.

"Archduke Razor Tail, a Kirin who's origins no ones knows of, there are many tales, but the most well known one is that he's the unwanted son of a disgraced Noble. Whether this one is true or not, he's gained many titles over the years of here; The Slayer of Royals, The Savior of Seaponies, the Freer of Slaves, The Messiah of Merponies, and The Ruler of Outcasts to name but a few. You lads ask me can the good Archduke can promise you a place where you can belong and life of plunder and adventure? Aye!"

He shifted in his seat.

"For among all the sailors that travel the Sea of Legends, he ranks among the most clever."

Blackmane reached for a bottle of rum.

"Before I meet him, I thought myself the deadliest scourge of these waters."

He chuckled as he poured rum into a mug.

"It be a known fact that Kirins be formidable fighters, but this Kirin... while he lacks some of the discipline his kind after famed for, is still a fearsome beast that feeds off trouble and turmoil. I once seen him clear the deck of a Caribou titan then take it for his outcasts by himself like it was nothing, another time the two of us raided a Panish port town and he defeated the guards before they even knew what hit them. I admit that among the Pirate Lords that sail these waters, only me and a few remain, the rest fell to his tail blades. His fighting style be a mix of the ones he's seen in his life."

He finished pouring and set the bottle down.

"Razor Tail fights like a demon, he'll switch between his halberd, pistols, and rifle in a heartbeat during a battle and he'll use the surrounding terrain to win. He retreat only to hit ya from behind, and he's a canny one. Knows his way around these waters and islands."

He took a long drink then set the mug down.

"So if it's fortune and adventure you seek, then Archduke Razor Tail is your Kirin. Only..."

He leaned forward.

"Don't meddle in his personal affairs, or threaten the ones he cares for. Some may think the compassion he has for those in the Outcasts of the Abyss is a weakness, those ones find out that he can be very meriless to those who harm his loved ones, he has some rather crafty ways to get revenge. And there be more mystery in that Kirin..."

He paused, then finished with,

"then even I dare ask."

After he finished activity in the tavern resumed, the Traveler Ponies looked at each other. 

"A faction?! That pirate is the leader of a Faction??!!" Twilight said shocked.

"I thought pirates worked with only one ship." Rarity said.

"Not always," Shining said. "Sometimes they from into small fleets to take on larger prey such as warships. If this pirate, this Archduke Razor Tail, has enough power to form a faction, we maybe in deeper then we though."

"How could any pirate form and maintain a faction?" Rainbow asked.

Cadance spoke next,

"Well, this faction is called the "Outcasts of the Abyss", could Razor Tail have gathered outcast that nopony else wanted and took them in?"

"It's possible Cadance, he might have given them something in return for their loyatly." Shining mused. "Still, just how big is this "Outcasts of the Abyss"?"

"Big enough to rule a large part of the Sea of Legends." Flash spoke up as he returned from the bathroom. "I did mange to get the name of his ship."

"What would it be?" Applejack asked.

"The Dragon of the Depths."

They turn back to the map they had brought earlier. The Sea of legends was dotted with many islands and rocks ranging from small to very large with areas of open ocean, some areas on the map were marked in red as 'No Sail Zones' and others were marked as roaming zones for pirates. After some debate they deiced to split into three groups: Thunderlane, Soarin, Sky Slinger, Starry Eyes, Flitter, and Cloudchaser in one group, Twilight, her friends, Spike, Flash Sentry, Flare Warden, Twilight's parents, and Dark Moon were the second, and the rest of the Traveler Ponies would be group three, the Nobles and the Traveler's crew would stay behind.

Get ships weren't, too bad. Thunderlane's group got a run-down sloop, Twilight's group got a schooner, and group three got a old Ship of the line. All three ships were in need of repair, which cost a fair bit on top of the repairs for the Traveler.

After everything had been squared away, the three groups sailed away.



Thunderlane's Group

Three days later

Thunderlane was at the helm signing in frustration, three days going onto four and they hadn't come across anything of note, just islands and waves. The others on board were bored out of their minds, only Starry Eyes up in the crows nest and Soarin at the map table had anything to do.

Starry held up his spyglass up to an eye and scanned the water, empty sea, islands, still empty water, rocks, large storm ahead, more islands, more... wait a minute, STORM!!!

He spun around, right ahead was a massive storm, black cloud and all. Quickly reach over he rang the bell next to him, the sound alerting the others.

"Storm dead head!"

Sky looked ahead, "Well crap."

"You wanted some fun." Soarin deadpanned.

"Not that kind!"

They hit the storm dead on, rain poured down by the bucket loads, winds and waves tilled the sloop over quite far. Thunderlane was fighting with the helm trying to keep it straight. Soarin was with him trying to help, eveypony else was below deck.

Starry walked to the deepest level, only to find a bit of water.

"Seems he got a bit of a drip down here." He said to himself as he began to look for any holes. After a few minutes the water level got deeper.

"What is going on? Hey Sky, Cloudchaser, could you two grab some buckets and lend a hoof down here please?"

"Sure Starry, what do you need the buckets fo-" Cloudchaser went silent when she and Sky saw the water level. "Oh... I see."

The three of the sent the nest half hour filling the buckets, bring them up top, and throwing the water over the railing. Suddenly a bolt of lighting slammed into the ship scaring the hay out of it's crew. Down blow a hole blew open.

"Ohh we got a hole!" Starry shouted as he grabbed a plank of wood to repair it. The water reached the next level as Starry burst out gasping for air, after that he sounded at the top of his lungs,

"START BAILLING!!!"

"OH BOY!" Sky shouted.

Two more holes blew open.

"We're getting shot or something!"

"Yea shot by Faust." Cloudchaser deadpanned.

"Thunderlane! Soarin!" Flitter shouted, the two ran down.

"What's going- oh boy oh boy!" Soarin said seeing the water level.

"Bail! Bail NOW! ALL HOOVES ON DECK!!!" Thunderlane shouted.

"No under deck!" Flitter joked.

"All hooves below deck, TOUCH THE DECK!" Cloudchaser joined in. They continued to bail water while Starry tried to repair the holes, it soon became obvious that it wasn't working.

"How could this get any worse." Sky said, his voice filled with sarcasm.

"You did not just say that!!" Thunderlane said.

It was to late, as a large wave hit the ship and it went under, taking it's crew with it.




Later, close to morning

Unknown Island

Broken boards washed ashore, followed by two Pegasus Mares. Flitter lifted herself up coughing up water as Cloudchaser gasped for air. After she caught her breath she turned to her sister.

"Are you alright Flitter?"

"I think so," She thumbed her chest. "just recovering."

Cloudchaser looked around, noticing something, or rather, someponies, missing.

"Were are the boys!?"

"Think they went down with the ship?"

"I don't think so, we were with them went the ship broke apa-"

Cloudchaser suddenly stopped as she fell over, unconscious. Flitter's eyes widened in shock, but before she could even shout her sister's name, something sturck her in the head, knocking her out.



Next morning

Same island

The Stallions were coughing up water, laying on their backs, or just recovering from last night's storm.

"I don't know about you guys but that's the last time we sail with a budget ship!" Sky shouted.

"Aye!" Starry agreed.

"Wait, were are the girls?!" Thunderlane said looking for the two Mares.

"Well this is great, first we're shipwrecked on an island and now the girls are missing." Sky said.

"Do you think they went down with the ship?" Soarin asked.

"I don't think so, maybe they washed up elsewhere, at least I hope they did." Thunderlane said.

"Let's take a look around first, see if we can find them." Soarin said getting up.

The four Stallions walked into the forest behind the beach, they found nothing until Sky walked up to a group of trees with several cuts on them. He followed the cuts till his eyes with some sort of brown... thing.

"Okay, now that's just plain ugly." He muttered.

Then the "thing" suddenly jumped at him! Sky let out a yelp as he jumped back, alerting the others. They didn't get a good look as some sort of pot landed at their hooves and broke apart, releasing a gas that knocked the Stallions out.

Same Island, again

Dragon of the Depths

Razor stood on deck glaring at the island close by, the Outcasts had arrived an hour ago and dropped anchor not to far away, out of range of the magic disabling field. Atlas walked up next to him.

"Are you sure you want to go alone honey?"

"Yes Atlas, it's better because I can move in, get what we came for, and get out quickly."

"And if you encounter any of "Them"?"

He pulled out his gladius. "They will feel my blades cold, sweet kiss. I wouldn't show mercy"

"And any "fresh victims"?"

"I'll free them and bring them aboard with me, I wouldn't leave them here."

"You longboat's ready sir." One of the crew shouted.

Razor climbed in and the boat was lowered into the water, Razor checked over the mini steam engine and made sure he had plenty of ammo.

"Razor, what do we do while your there?" White Fang asked.

"Keep an eye out for this flare," Razor held said item up, "If or when you see it fire the howitzers, load them with fire shots."

His crew nodded as Razor stared the engine.

"Be careful Dad." Silver called out as Razor moved away.

"I will son."

He turn back to the island.

"Once again back at this cursed place."

He entered the field as the runes on his gear went black, signaling the magic had been cut off. Signing he looked up, Ashbone Spires were named due to the mountains and rock spires here being a black ash color, the bones came from the number of skeletons of sea creatures that washed up here. Those same rocks canceled out magic of any kind, and the island was filled with jungle, which was the reason Razor didn't bring his halberd.

He moved through a series of caves before dropping anchor at a small, hidden cave and climbing out.

His glare hardened, pulled out his sword, and he bared his sharp teeth.

"And this time, no mercy."
> Chapter 8: Ashbone Spires
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ashbone Spires

Unknown Location

Pain, that was all Flitter knew as she slowly regained conscious, her head spinning. As her vision can back into focus, she became aware of three things; one, she was hanging upside down by her tail. Two, her legs were bound by two lengths of rope. And three, she as at least four stories from the floor. She covered her mouth as best as she could with her front legs.

"Oh Faust,"

Noticing her wings were free, she spread them and flapped them, only to not start flying. Understandably, Flitter was very confused.

"What, why can't I fly?"

Flapping her wings again, something was very different, almost like there was no magic. Wait, there was no magic. Flitter's eyes widened, now that she was fully awake, it felt almost like she had been drained of magic again, just like with Tirek. Now Flitter was very worried, while a Pegasus lived in the sky, they knew full well what happened if they were in the sky and their flight was somehow removed.

Flitter managed to angel herself to see her flank, which still had her cutie mark, much to her relief.

"Got to get down, but how?"

Looking around, she saw the rock walls had wooden structures built into them with lit candles on one wall.

"Maybe I can hold onto one of these things and cut the ropes. I'm not dying like this!"

She pulled her legs apart to try breaking the ropes, which to her surprise worked. Turned out the ropes around her legs were old and just weak enough. The one around her tail was hover much stronger. Looking back at the candles, she had an idea.

"If I can burn the rope it might be enough to get free."

She started swinging till she managed to grab one of the candles and bend over to try and reach the rope, only for it to just be out of reach. Flitter started swinging again to try and grab one of the structures, this time she succeeded. She careful reached with the candle and just touched the rope, which slowly lit up as it began to burn.

Flitter smiled is triumph, only for that smile to disappear when she saw the structure she was holding on to also caught fire. In rapid succession, three things happened; one, the rope broke. Two, Flitter lost her grip. And three, she remembered she was four stories above the floor.

With a scream, she hit several of the structures on the way down before hitting the stone floor. Flitter laid there trying to dull the pain, slowly she stood up and took note of her surroundings. Bones, lots and lots of bones of various creatures littered the floor, Griffin, Storm Creature, Caribou, even Pony. Flitter could only look around in horror, realizing she was very luck none of the went through her.

"What is this place?"

She began to walk forward, limping from the pain. Stepping through the bones and past skeletons chained to posts and the walls, all of which had be broken and had what looked like teeth marks on them.

"Cloudchaser... I've got to find her."

Lucky, none of the skeletons looked fresh. Looking up she spotted something she could use.

"A torch..."

Flitter picked the lit torch off the walk and continued onward. After a few minutes she had to squeeze through a narrow gap, she got through but the other side had water falling which put out her torch.

"Feather!"

Thankfully the room ahead had enough light to see, she looked around and found some fire and re-lit her torch, she also found the way through. Flitter had to cawal on her belly to fit through, as her tail entered the hole a dark shape shot past, she heard it and turned around, nothing. Frowning she continued.

She soon came across water deep enough that she had to walk through on her hind legs, at several points she stepped into a shallow pit which caused all but her fore hooves to disappear for a few seconds, she quickly got her head above water with a gasp. After finding her footing she moved forward.

After walking through that she finally entered another room lit up a little by more torches, this one had what looked like several beds spread out, one of which held...

"CLOUDCHASER!"

Said Mare was still unconscious, her hooves tied to the bed with rope. Flitter rushed up to her.

"Cloudchaser, Cloudchaser wake up!"

Cloudchaser groaned as she opened her eyes, she moved her head to look at her sister.

"Flitter? Wow you look like Tartarus."

"Yea, I woke up to find myself hanging upside down hanging by my tail, got a candle to burn the rope, then fell four stories."

"Four stories?!"

"Yep, onto a stone floor covered in bones."

"Dear Faust, at least your okay."

"No kidding, let me get you free."

Flitter began trying to untie the ropes but wasn't having much luck, Cloudchaser watched her. That's when Cloudchaser caught something not of the corner of her eye, she looked towards it only to see something about to leap at Flitter!

"Flitter watch out!"

She spun around, only for the shape to ram into her knocking her down and the torch out of her hoof. She pushed it off her and scooted back, the shape stood up and let out a feral growl followed by the worst breath the two Mares had ever smelled, it made Timber Wolves breath smell like rose, that was no exaggration.

The shape then leaped at Flitter, who dodged. This when on for a few minutes but the thing manged to pin all four of her legs down, terror ran through both sisters as the shape reared back opening it's mouth with a feral laugh. 

Which was cut off as something long smacked it off Flitter and back a few feet, it stood up and reared onto it's hind legs before a thrown short sword pierced it's chest. The shape grabbed the swords handle, the rolled onto it's back as it fell forwards into the torchlight.

As it fell the two Mares heard a voice quietly but coldly say; "Geh schlafen, fur immer schlafen."*

When the shape fell into the light the two Mares wished it hadn't: It looked like an Earth Pony, but it was horribly wrong, it's body was covered in large scars that looked like chucks of skin and flesh had torn not by teeth, it's lips were gone, exposing the teeth that had been broken into sharp points, it had no eye lids, just wide eyes that even dead showed nothing but a feral hunger, all that was left of it's ears were the holes with some sort of yellow liquid run very lightly from them, and it's wild mane, tail and fur were caked in filth and infested with maggots, lice and ticks.

Cloudchaser suddenly found herself free and she rushed to her frozen sister, wrapping Flitter in a hug which she returned. The two then looked at their savior as it stepped into the light.

"Archduke Razor Tail?!"

The Kirin pulled the sword out of the thing's chest and wiped the blood off.

"Yea, it's me, and looks like I got here just in time." He said as he give the thing a cold glare. He then turned back to the Mares.

"Are you two okay?"

"I think so." Choudchaser squeaked.

"What... what in Equestria is that thing??!" Flitter asked pointing to it.

"The reason this island is a No Sail Zone, at one time they were normal Ponies like you, but when they were trapped here they over time became... this." He said gesturing to the body.

"Now, they're nothing but cannibals that will eat any male that washes up on this island."

"You said any male, what happens to the females?" Cloudchaser asked, she sounded like she wasn't sure she wanted to know.

Razor gestured with his wings to the room, the Mares looked around before looks of horror appeared on their faces.

"You mean..." Flitter didn't finish, she didn't want to. Razor only nodded his head grimly.

The two Mares looked at each other before they moved over to Razor and hugged his neck while pressing their bodies as close as they could shaking and crying in fear. Razor spread his wings, very gently wrapped them around the Mares and picked them up, safe in his wings and whispering soothing things to them. He then turned and walked out of the room leaving the body behind.




Ashbone Spires

Unknown location

Thunderlane groaned as he came to, slowly he opened his eyes, only to jerk his head back with wide eyes. He was high up at least thirty stories if not higher, in a hanging cage made of bone. Next to him Sky, Soarin, and Starry stared to wake up, as they saw the predicament they were in, they heard two more groans next to them.

Turning around they saw something that, before now, they thought was a legend. Two Merponies, one Stallion and one Mare. In appearance Merponies had a similar shape to regular Ponies with longer legs, a finned crest around the back of their head with a gap for their neck, fins on the sides of their legs, and a ten foot finned tail with the fin being larger at the tip. Like some other Pony races, Merponies lacked cutie marks.

The Stallion was ocean yellow with black fins while the Mare was ocean blue with light red fins, The Stallion was a Seahorse (Earth Pony) and the Mare was a Manta Ray (Pegasus) if her large, fin like wings were anything to go by.

The Stallion rubbed his head as the Mare opened her eyes which were a pretty sea green, when she saw the four Pegasi she let out a fearful squeak and moved back, the Stallion looked over his eyes being orange. He saw the Stallions and moved in front of the Mare protectively with a growl.

Thunderlane held his hooves up trying to calm the Merpony.

"Easy easy, we're not going to harm you."

The Merpony stopped growling and stared hard at them, before he relaxed.

"Alright, it seems we're all in the same boat here. Who are you Ponies?"

"I'm Thunderlane, this is Soarin Skies, Sky Slinger, and Starry Eyes."

The Merpony nodded to each. "My name's Salmon Hunter, this is my sister River Ride."

River give a smile then covered her eyes with a foreleg, which made her look adorable.

"She's very shy."

"Also very cute." Starry with a smile, and a small blush. River also blushed while Salmon chuckled.

"So... any idea how to get out of this?" Soarin asked.

Sky spread his wings and gave them a flap, only to not move.

"Wha... why didn't I move even a little bit?"

The other Peagsi tried and got the same result.

"It's the rock on this island."

The Ponies turned to Salmon.

"The rock?"

"Yes, the rock on Ashbone Spires emits a field that cancels out any and all magic, so you flight won't work here."

"Well that complicates things." Starry said.

"What I'm wondering is how did we end up this situation? The last thing I remember was something jumping at us then some kind of gas." Soarin said rubbing his head.

"That would be "Them"." Salmon answered.

"Them?" Thunderlane asked. Salmon nodded.

"Yes, them."

"Whose "them"?"

"Ponise who ended up trapped here long, long ago, with no magic they resorted to cannibalism to survive, and it turned them into feral monsters who only eat."

"So you mean..." Thunderlane said with a shaky voice.

"We're on the menu."

The four Pegasi paled, then Sky said.

"Oh hay no, we ain't staying for lunch."

"Ditto." The others, Merponies included, said.

"How... how do we get out of here?" River quietly squeaked.

They looked around, their cage was in the middle of a canyon hanging from a thick rope. The canyon walls had vines growing on them, they started swing the cage over to the wall towards the sea. It took several tries but finally got a good grip.

"Put you legs through and start climbing." Soarin ordered.



With Razor, Flitter, and Cloudchaser

Razor slowly walked through several tunnels with Flitter and Cloudchaser riding on his back, the two Mares were recovering from the shock of might have happened if Razor hadn't found them. Flitter reached over and gently tapped is head.

"Yes Flitter?" He asked turning head a bit to have one eye on the way ahead.

"We didn't say this before but, thanks... for helping us back there." Cloudchaser nodded in agreement.

Razor gave them a little smile.

"Your welcome girls, I would never leave gems like yourselves with that filth."

"Gems like us?" Cloud asked.

"Not all treasure is jewels and gold lass, it can be a number of things, sometimes it's a trinket from your first adventure," He taped the trinket made of the three gems and the brasher doubloon."

"and it's the life you bring into this world." He smiled fondly.

"Brought into... you have a foal?" Flitter asked, shocked.

"Aye, and I'm happily married, have been for six years now."

"Who's the lucky Mare?" Cloud asked.

"Atlas Moth."

"The Changeling Queen who's a member of you crew?" Flitter asked.

"Aye."

The two Mares were silent for some time after that, finally Cloud spoke.

"Archduke Razor Tail..."

"Please Cloud, just Razor, I only use my title went needed."

"Okay, Razor... your not like other pirates my sister and I have heard of."

"Don't kid yourselves lass, I do engage in pirate activities, their just mostly kept to the four empires and the Caribou."

"You still helped us when you could have just left us." Flitter added.

"I maybe a pirate, but there are lines I won't cross. I wouldn't leave anyone to that fate."

"Razor, is it true you lead a faction of outcasts? Sorry if I'm being to forward but..." Cloud began.

"It's okay girls, and to answer you question, yes."

"How did you manage to do that?"

"It's a long story, one I'll leave until we're safe."

Razor looked ahead, stopped, and defleted a spear with his gauntlet.

"It's time to kick some tail, you girls strapped in?"

Both Mares pulled at the straps Razor had given them so they would stay on when he was moving fast and gave him the okay.

"Good, brace yourselves and cover you eyes till I tell you, this is going to get ugly."

He pulled out his sword in one hand and two pistols in his wing hands as the Mares did, ahead was a large open cave with several rock bridges at different spots over a deep abyss, and a lot of those cannibals charging at them.

"Alright you ugly motherbuckers, time to have a change in diet." Razor growled.

He pulled the hammer on one down, aimed and fired, taking out a bunch, Razor then leaped into the air, fired another shot taking four down, landed, blocked a polearm, give it's wielder a kick to the face, and slashing three more with his sword. Razor charged forward slashing and firing more shots into any that came to close, he then thrusted his free hand forward in a fist that smashed one in the jaw sending teeth flying and the unlucky cannibal into the ones behind him. Razor charged again blocking weapons and giving out punches, kicks, shots, and slashes. He jumped onto the next bridge up, one cannibal came at him with a spear, only for Razor to sidestep, deliver a backhand to the cannibal's face followed by a punch to the side of the head. Razor then through the spear into several as a second cannibal charged, only for Razor to stab it through the chin, kick it into the air towards the other side of the bridge, take out the rest of the cannibals in his path with his claws and tail blades, grab the thrown one as it came down and pull his sword out while throwing the body away. He sheathed his sword and jumped up.

On the next bridge up another group came at him, the front one leaped only for Razor to grab it by the neck and shove an object into it's mouth. The object in question was a barrel small enough to fit in the palm of a hand with a neck jutting out of one end, the neck had a metal cover with a lever pointing down, and a metal ring on one side held by copper wire.

"Chew on this pineapple."

Razor slipped a finger through the ring, pulled it off with the metal cover popping off, and kicked the cannibal back into the crowd. The object went up in a mighty blast taking the cannibals with it, and breaking open a natural gas vein with ignited into a stream of fire. Razor looked up and with a roar jumped to the next bridge up and through another one of the bombs into another exposed gas vein, the following explosion caused the wall to break apart as the gas ignited. The bridges, unable to handle all of this, began to collapse, taking the remaining cannibals with them into the abyss below.

By this point the two Mares on Razor's back couldn't take it anymore.

"Razor I'm sorry but if we don't uncover our eyes we're going to throw up!"

"Okay girls, hang on tight!"

He continued to run up the wall as it began to break away, he jumped up to a more stable wall but lost his footing. Razor's claws were dug deep into the rock, creating sparks as he slid down a little before he stopped. Razor dug his claws in as he climbed, the Mares holding on for dear life. They finally reached an opening to the outside as the gas veins suddenly went in a massive fireball, as the heat formed into a powerful wind Razor spread his wings catching it and sending him and the Mares out to the open air and sunlight. Razor glided down and grabbed the top of a palm tree which slowed their fall as the tree bent. Razor let go as his back hooves touched the ground and the stunned Mare unlatched themselves and got off his back.

The Mares brew in fresh air with relived smiles.

"That... was... AWSOME!!!" Cloud cheered, "Can we do that again?"

"Sorry Cloud but we have work to do." Razor said with a lighthearted smile.

"What sort of work?" Flitter asked.

"I'm looking for a green crystal about three inches long with one end pointed. According to my compass here, it's further up that mountian."

Razor pulled out his magic compass and pointed to a mountain not to far away. The two Mares looked at the mountain and turned back to get a good look at the compass. It was a compact device shaped like a hexagon with pointed corners, a domed lid and case made for pure jade with gold metal edging, sapphires at three of the points, two silver pieces of metal shaped vaguely like sabers sit at the base of the dome on the sides, on the top of the dome was a red rune that looked different from a Kirin made rune. Inside was a gold ring half an inch thick with two finger bones, one with a small silver ring, around it the tips going clockwise.

The disk itself was made of pure blue pearl with a ruby center which also covered the spots displaying the orientation of the cardinal directions, while the directions in between were covered with gold (though the directions themselves weren't listed), a shadow vane sat at the center going towards the lid hinges like a sundial, and the arrow was shaped like a key with three teeth, the center tooth being slightly longer. The compass had two lengths of small silver chain to hold it to the belt.

"Admiring my compass?" Razor said braking the silence. The girls looked away, embarrassed at being caught.

"No need to be embarrassed you two, anyone who sees this compass the first time tend to stare at it."

"It's rather... for lack of a better word, unique." Flitter said.

"It belonged to my grandfather on my mother's side."

"Why is there no directions on it?" Cloud asked.

"Well that's because it points to what the owner want's most, the rune on the lid here was cast by my grandfather after learning Kirin rune magic, that's part of what allows it to do that."

"I thought Kirins were secretive about their rune magic."

"They are, grandfather was a deeply trusted friend to the kirin and took what he knew to the grave. He only left a few notes for me to start with this compass."

Razor stopped and looked ahead.

"Best we keep quiet now, the cannibals no doubt heard that blast so they could be anywhere now so stay close, I'll protect you."

The girls nodded and pressed against his sides. With that they moved forward, wary of any enemies.




With the others

The caged Ponies had climbed up to the top of the cliff (which Thunderlane swore was taller then Canterlot Mountain), and got on enough to take a breath.

"Never thought I'd be so happy to be on solid ground." Sky said panting for breath.

"Okay find a rock and cut the rope."

They got half way through when they heard an explosion, turning they saw a huge plume of flame shot into the air.

"What was that?" Starry asked.

"That would be some of the gas veins that run throughout this island." Salmon answered.

They finally cut the rope when they heard the sound of many hooves stomping the ground coming towards them. Looking up the saw a huge amount of cannibals coming towards them.

"ROLL THE CAGE!!" Soarin shouted.

They rolled the cage keeping ahead of the cannibals went they came up to a steep hill going down and started to roll down picking up speed.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"




With Razor and the Mares

After a bit of climbing and a failed cannibal ambush, they reached a hut built from bones filled with items clearly not made my the cannibals. Razor had snarked that the cannibals had made a classic blunder when facing Kirin.

"What would that be?" Flitter has asked.

"Attacking a Kirin who hadn't found them already, that allows us to bring them down faster."

They entered the hut and began looking.

"Remember, green crystal about three inches long with one end pointed."

"Found it!" Flitter called out holding the exact item.

"Wow, that was fast."

Razor took the crystal, held it for a minute, that tucked it into a pocket.

"Okay lets-" He stopped as he caught something out of the corner of his eye. Moving over it was a regular spice container, but Razor felt something off about it. Picking it up he flipped it to look at the bottom, only to find a symbol that everyone in the Sea of Legends hated, a shield with a pair of antlers over top, the symbol of the Caribou.

"What is this doing here, the Caribou haven't been in this area for a hundred years, and this spice if fresh. I'd say no more the a week old." He said slipping the container into a pocket.

"Okay let's go."




With the boys, and one girl

The cage hit a tree and crashed into the ground, the Ponies groaned in pain.

"Ow my back."

"That hurt, that hurt."

"I'm gonna feel that tomorrow."

The sound of hooves came closer.

"LIFT THE CAGE!!!!"

"Come on guys, lift it like you would your younger sibling!"

They lifted the cage and started running, they ran about ten meters when they hit another hill, rolling down it screaming again before they fell off a small cliff and crashed into a wall, which broke the cage open and flinging the Ponies out.

They groaned as they stood up and looked back, to see the cannibals charging at them.

"Run for it!" Soarin shouted.

"Alright hooves, don't fail us now!" Salmon said as the took off, the cannibal after them.




With Razor and the Girls
The three had seen the whole thing.

"Oh I forgot about the boys!" Flitter said looking ashamed.

"At least we know their alive." Cloud said quietly.

"Their headed for the caves, that's were I parked my longboat, come on!"

The three charged into the tunnels.




The Boys and one Girl

"RUN!!!" Starry shouted.

They had ran into a cave system and the reached a room with several split paths.

"Which way?!" River said with fear.

"What, listen." Thunderlane said.

They did, they heard someone calling them."

"This way!" Salmon said pointing to one path.

They ran down it for a few minutes and reached an open cavern, they quickly looked around and saw...

"FLITTER, CLOUDCHASER!!!"

"With Archduke Razor Tail?"

"Who cares, they have a boat and a way off this island!"

They ran as the cannibals enter the cavern, River was in front of the boys who would at some points took a look back and screamed as they ran. Finally they reached the water and dived in as Razor reared back and released a blue, purple and white flame at the cannibals who tried to stop but the flames were faster. The Stallions and River climbed aboard with Flitter and Cloud pulling them up.

Razor stared at the screaming cannibals with a snarl.

"Burn you monstrosities, burn..."




Some time later

The Stallions and River were laying on their backs, tried after all that. The two groups had hugged each other tightly after starting to believe the other was dead. After just staying in each other's embrace for a while, they turned to Razor.

"Razor..." Thunderlane started, "Thanks for pull our tails out of that mess." The other nodded their agreement.

"It wasn't a problem, I'm just glad I was here."

"Are we safe now?" River asked.

"For now, the cannibals wouldn't follow us, but we're out quite out of the woods yet."

"What do you mean?" Sky asked.

"You'll see soon. By the way, I'm surprised none of you Stallions tried to attack me."

"After what we just went through, I don't think any of us want to try it as you our only ticket out of here." Soarin said.

"Good to know."

"So..." Sky began, "This is a bit out of the blue but, do you have room for us aboard you ship?" He finished hopefully.

Razor just smiled.

"Always."

They then entered a large chamber with some sort of strange creatures inside. They were like a large hybrid of lobster and shrimp with grey plates covering their six eyed heads and backs and large crab claws.

"What are those?" Thunderlane asked.

"They're called "Salt Lobsters"." Salmon answered.

"Ugly as sin, but very good eating, especially with rum." Razor added.

"And they have really bad attitudes." River supplied.

The group traveled through the cavern about halfway when, the Salt Lobsters suddenly attack with several jumping onto the boat, all but Razor were knocked onto their backs trying to keep the lobsters mouths which were filled with small, sharp teeth away from their faces and screaming for help. Razor was ready and stabbed each lobster in the belly as he pulled them off the Ponies.

After he pulled the last one off he asked, "Are you guys okay?"

They all answered yes.

"We got to get out of here!" Soarin said in fear.

"Don't let them on board! They might turn us over!" Razor ordered.

He kicked a lever on the steam engine and a puff of black smoke shot out as the boat began to pick up speed. The lobsters chased them for a bit when Razor pulled an object, like what he had before, pulled the pin popping the neck cover off and through it behind them into the water.

"Get this you Hundinnen!"

Behind them a huge pillar of water came up as the object detonated, taking a large amount of the lobsters with it.

Some lobsters tried to climb aboard only for the ponies to knock them back off.

"Ha ha we're having lobster tonight!" Razor shouted taking shots with his pistols.

He looked forward then suddenly shouted,

"Hold onto something! A LOG!!"

The boat hit the log and bounced upward, most of the passengers managed to grab something, Thunderlane wasn't so lucky. He went flying off the boat but managed to grab hold of the boat.

"Crap! Hold on Thunderlane!" Soarin shouted as he moved to pull the Pegasus up.

"I'm holding!"

Razor helped pull him up then pulled out another bomb, pulled the pin and through it.

"Hey freaks, catch dis!"

It exploded taking more lobsters out.

"Ha ha great catch!"

Razor had Flitter steer while he pulled out his rifle for it's better armor penetration. They continued to fight the lobsters off for a time before more then they could handle started to appear, Razor turned around.

"One of you pass me that crate now!"

Starry ran over to the small crate Razor had pointed at, picked it up and opened it. Inside were a lot of those bombs Razor had been throwing, he carried over to the Kirin who pulled out a third one, pulled the pin, placed it into the crate and shut the lid. Starry through the crate into the water behind them and after a few seconds it went up in a mighty blast that took the rest of the lobsters with it, the surviving ones retreated as a large wave from the blast came towards the Ponies.

"Hold on!"

They rode the wave out of the entryway and into the open water and sky.

"Oh sweet Faust open air and water." Sky said happily.

They moved towards the waiting Dragon of the Depths as they felt their magic come back as they exited the field. Once there Razor flew on to the deck while the Ponies on the longboat were lifted up. As they came aboard the were greeted by the crew, with Rumble and Vapor tackle hugging Thunderlane and Sky respectively, much to their joy. Atlas walked up to Razor.

"Not quite according to plan huh."

"Compilations were encountered, adapted to, and overcome."

He turned around to look at the Ponies reuniting with each other. Sliver walked up to the new group slowly, stopping when Flitter and Cloud turned to him. The three sat there staring at each other when,

"Dawww." Flitter said reaching down and pulling the youngster into a hug. "You're so cute." Silver for his part just returned the hug with a smile and a light laugh.

"So this is you son Razor?" Cloud asked.

"Son??!!" The four Pegasus Stallions asked.

"That would be him, his name's Silver Moth."

"Wow, never thought a pirate lord would have a son." Sky said rubbing his head.

"Who's the mother?" Soarin asked.

"That would be me." Atlas said stepping forward.

They all chatted for a few minutes with Thunderlane telling them that the Ponies from the Traveler had split into four groups, after that Razor said,

"Let put this island to our rudder, so time to make like birds and flock off."

The crew got to work and the Dragon of the Depths sailed away, leaving Ashbone Spires behind.
> Chapter 9: Let the hunt begin
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dragon of the Depths

Main Tavern

The crew of the Dragon had gathered together as Razor was finally going to brief them on what this voyage was for. Snow and Zenith had set up a projector aiming at the far wall were everyone could see, as they did that the crew just sat and talked. Thunderlane and his group had signed up earlier after figuring that it would be better in case the other groups crossed paths with them.

Razor walked in and after speaking with the two for a few minutes he walked up to the front and called for everyone's attention.

"Alright everyone, now that we're all here it's time for the reason for our current voyage be told. I wasn't able to earlier due to unforeseen things coming up. So without further ado," He gestured to Snow who turned on the projector up, on the wall a building of unknown make appeared.

"This building here is a possible appearance of the structure known as the "Lost Tombs"."

Angel raised a hoof, "The Lost Tombs? What's that?"

"The Lost Tombs are part of what once was an ancient civilization that vanished long ago, no records of it remains." Apollo answered.

"The only traces ever found of this civilization were these paintings on rocks and walls of things like fish, crabs, and Krakens." Fire Gem added.

Angel nodded understandably, Razor continued.

"The Lost Tombs hold an artifact called the "Trident of the seas". The stories say that whoever holds it will have complete control over the Sea of Legends. My arch rival Iron Horn, a Unicorn Stallion for our new crew mates, is looking for it. Even through he always kicks himself in the flank with artifact hunts. I think I say for all of us what could happen if he got a hold of it."

The crew nodded in agreement.

"The Lost Tombs is the trident's last known location, because of the magic that protects it I can't use my compass." Razor said holding up the item. One of the Merpony crew members raised a hoof.

"Captain, pardon me for saying this but... you usually don't go after artifacts like this, don't get me wrong we understand not letting Iron Horn get his hooves. But you once mentioned that you had a personal reason for this search."

"You are right about that, I do have a personal reason."

"Captain, you know you can tell us, we've all sailed the Sea of Legends together for a long time." A Thestral Mare said.

Razor smiled, "I know, it's just this reason brings back some memories, both good and bad."

He gestured to Snow who placed the picture of Razor and his mother.

"This is my reason, that Kirin hatchling you see is me in the arms of my mother, Silver Winds, when I was very young."

Right away all the female members, including the ones from the Traveler, started dawwwing at how cute Razor looked as a hatchling, causing the heavily blushing Kirin to hide his face with his hat, much to the other crew members amusement. Atlas stepped in after a few minutes.

"Alright that's enough, if he blushes any more and harder his coat's going to turn permanently red, and I'm quite fond of his silver coat."

A male Dracony Drake (Earth Pony) spoke next.

"So that's your mother? She very pretty."

"Thanks." Razor said.

"So that's where you got your looks from, what was she like?"

"Total sweetheart, and a very good cook just like her grandson."

"What happened to her and why dose it have to do with the Lost Tombs?" Thunderlane asked.

"That was were my late father cast her to the waves, while I very seriously doubt there'll be anything left of her I do want to at least give her a proper burial, and finally get some closure." He let out a sad sigh. "I've held onto it for seventeen years, it's time for me to let it go and finally close that chapter forever."

Razor wiped some tears that began to fall with a foreleg, not caring if he was showing weakness in front of the crew. To him crying wasn't a weakness, it was letting the pain out.

"I never even got to say goodbye."

The crew were silent, unsure of what to say, looking at their Archduke with looks of sympathy. His pain hit quite a few of them home as they to had been through similar things, some started softly crying their own tears with the ones sitting next to them rubbed their backs or gave other forms of comfort while others just stared at their tables, some took their headgear off in respect. After a minute the crew mates looked at each other and nodded. They turned back to Razor who had Atlas rubbing his neck and said together,

"We're all with you sir."

Razor lifted his head.

"You pull us out of our own despairs, it's only right we help you out." A Thestral Winged Mare said.

"Most of us would most likely be in some sort of prison or dead if not for you." A Nirik male said.

"You gave us all a new life we could live again sir, a place were we could belong, you took us under your wings and healed us, outcasts no one else wanted." A Painsh Earth Pony said.

"That is right, when everyone else cast us out into the cold and dark, you came and spread your wings, shielding us from their hateful scorn." A Pegasus Stallion said spreading his own wings for emphasis.

"You gave our families a place to live and us a life of adventure, and even if you a Noble, your a competent one and you'll grab a shovel and dig a long side the rest of us." A Unicorn Stallion said.

"And let you guys have all the fun? Digging for treasure is part of the fun." Razor said with a smile.

"We're with you in this Razor, right to the very end." A Thestral Horned Stallion said thumping his hoof against the table he was sitting at.

The rest of the crew all said their own agreement, Razor looked over them with a growing smile.

"Thanks everyone, you have no idea how much I appreciate that. Now moving on I have some good news and some bad news."

"What's the bad news?" Snow asked.

"I received word from one of our coves that both Celestia and Luna are coming after us with a fleet of two hundred fifty ships lead by a Juggernaut, and the guardians of the non-pony SOFS students and Neighsay are coming as well..."

As Razor had predicted, the crew and Head Officers did not like it, but their reactions weren't as bad as he thought they would be.

"Okay you all took that better then I expected."

"This isn't the first time someone came after us sir."

"It's kind of old news for us."

"Remember the old Royals, after all but two of them were dead they rest came after us."

"Not that it mattered in the end."

"Still the fact that their bringing a Juggernaut is a bit worrying, those ships are no joke." There were sounds of agreement.

"What I want to know is why is Neighsay coming? The guardians of the non-pony SOFS students I understand, but why Neighsay?!"

"He want's to use our so-called "kidnapping" of the SOFS students as leverage to shut Twilight's school down."

There were groans and faces meeting hooves, hands, paws, and tables. Many were cursing Neighsay, some with implied death threats.

"So what's the good news?" Atlas asked, Razor gave a predatory smile.

"Tomorrow, we're hitting a Caribou treasure fleet, a very loaded one."

That raised the crew's morale up a few levels if their exited cheers were anything to go by, Razor held up a had for silence. Once things quieted down he continued.

"Now later tonight Shadow, Snow, and I will be making a stop at Fortune Rock. While we're doing that I want the rest of you to begin teaching our new crew members the skills they will need while their staying with us, go slowly and be gently with them, understood?"

"Yes sir."

"Good, and because this voyage is more for something personal, we're going to be going on treasure hunts on the islands and shipwrecks to make up for that as we search for the Lost Tombs. I think that's everything, as you were."

With that Razor turned and left the room, the crew resumed what they had been doing. The newest crew members turned to each other.

"The Princesses are coming with a Juggernaut and a fleet of two hundred fifty ships." Vapor said.

"Those Juggernauts are no joke, they're the reason the Caribou built their Titans." Thunderlane said.

"Even though the two ships have never faced off, as the Caribou's leadership keeps them at home." Soarin said.

"Still, this whole thing, I just hope a war doesn't start because of us." Summer said sadly.

"We can only what and see what happens." Angel said.

They sat there thinking, the Princesses might be willing to let things silde if they knew that the ones they thought kidnapped were on board safe and sound, but at the same time, they might attack right away. There was also the other groups.




Later, after supper

Flitter walked along the main deck deep in thought, going over everything that had happened. She climbed up the steps of the quarterdecks til she reached the fourth level and walked over to the railing, she placed her front hooves on the railing and looked out over the water in the sunset light.

She stood there staring into the horizon for awhile thinking about what she and her friends had learned today, when she felt something gently tap her side, looking over she found herself looking at Silver Moth, who was looking up at her with his head tilted to the right.

"Miss Flitter?"

"Please Sliver, just Flitter." She said softly.

"Oh, okay, I was wondering if you wanted to join me and the rest of your friends for some cookies."

Flitter's eyes lit up, she loved cookies and she needed something to get her mind off her thoughts.

"I'd be happy to." Sliver gave her a bright smile.

"Follow me."

Flitter did as she took in Silver's apparel; He wore a simple purple shirt with a red leather vest over top, a pair of black gloves with extra padding on the tops and a brown leather strap held with a metal ring around the wrist, a long scarf like his father's with an added pin in the shape of a dragon head around his waist, red pants with purple lengths of cloth over the top of his boots, his boots were black with brown leather straps with silver buckles around the ankles.

Flitter quite liked Silver, since coming aboard he had been very helpful and was very friendly, not to mention adorable. He had won over pretty much everyone from the Traveler currently aboard. She followed him into a small galley where the rest of the Traveler Ponies and the student six were. Cloudchaser looked up as they entered.

"Hey Silver, Hey Flitter."

"Hey, you guys just hanging about?"

"Yea, we were waiting to see if you would join us." State said.

"Silver said he made cookies and offered us some." Scootaloo said.

Flitter sat with the rest as Silver got the cookies, he set the tray down and asked, "Is chocolate chip okay?"

They all answer that yes it was, they each took a cookie which was quite large, like Silver had taken four or five and combined them together.

"Wow Silver you make these big." Smolder said flipping hers around.

"Yea, they were originally smaller but I had them too close and they merged." Silver rubbed the back of his neck with a sheepish smile.

Shrugging Thunderlane took a bite, and jerked his head back is surprise. His company looked at him with various looks while Silver looked worried.

"Thunder? You alright?" Soarin asked.

"Yea, this is among the best cookies I've ever tasted!" He answered after swallowing.

The others each took a bite, and gave similar reactions.

"Wow Silver your a really good baker."

"You could give Pinkie Pie a run for her bits."

"Were did you learn how to bake this well?"

"I didn't, dad thinks it might have come from my Grandmother."

Sounds of agreement followed, much to Silver's relief. After they all had their cookies they sat and talked, mainly asking Silver questions about himself and his life aboard the Dragon of the Depths. Silver knew some good jokes that send his company to the floor laughing so hard they thought their sides would split, they were surprised that, at his young age, he knew how to handle swords, work a ship's rigging and sails, and several other things aboard a ship.

"Dad thought those skill might be useful one day, but he wouldn't allow me to train with a gun til I'm a young adult, though I do know how to fire a cannon."

"How dose the rest of the crew treat you?" Dinky asked.

"Very well, they play with me when off-duty, greatly appreciate my cooking, and even see me as a mascot of sorts just to name a few things. They also say me cheerful demeanor really helps with morale."

"Well I do agree with them on the cooking." Soarin said causing the young Kirin/Changeling hybrid to blush.

"Of course you do Soarin, you're a well known big eater." Thunderlane said with a smile. Soarin just shrugged in response.

"Guilty as charged."

They continued talking for awhile on various topics into the night, before Atlas entered.

"I'd hate to break the bonding up, but it's Silver's bed time."

"But Mom, I'm not tir- *Thump*-zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz."

Silver just fell asleep right there on the table, much to the amusement of his mother and the Traveler group.




Later

The Dragon of the Depths had dropped anchor off of Fortune Rock, one thing the Dragon had as a flaw was it's size, besides being a large target (which was why there were many protection runes dotting the hull), was it's deep draft. The draft prevented it from traveling into areas were even Frigates and galleons could go. As a result, Razor, Snow, and Shadow had taken a longboat to the beach.

Fortune Rock was a islet that was mostly rock with a small beach on one side, most came here for one reason; to have their fortunes told by the islet's sole inhabitant, a male Zebra known as The Teller. This Zebra had lived on this islet for a long time and sailors of all kinds came here to have their next fortunes told.

The three pirates walked slowly towards the lit cave, every sailor would agree that there was something, unnatural, about this Zebra and many were creeped out by him. As they entered they heard the Zebra speaking.

"Storm..."

The three walked down the hall decorated with skills and bones with glowing carvings, potions and bottles filled with glowing bugs, and leaves and plants of many kinds.

"War..."

They entered the main chamber, it too was filled with the same things as the hallway but at it's center was a raised dais with a silk carpet with a unknowable pattern on it, on the carpet were several pieces of dried bark with strange markings.

"Conflict..."

And sitting on the carpet was The Teller himself, like all Zebras he wore several gold rings but was the only "normal" thing about him, his mane and the hair on his tail was far longer then one would expect and in dreadlocks, the thing that unnerved many was the thick, heavy strap of cloth over his eyes from which a ghostly green liquid run down under it like forever running tears.

"As it was... So shall it be again..."

Razor walked up and sat on a mat in front of the dais, coiling his tail around his legs. Snow and Shadow stayed standing and flanked him, Shadow on the left and Snow on the right.

"Why do you come..." His voice was deep, sounded like many voices, both male and female, whispering at once, and it sounded like it was everywhere.

"Is it for power to challenge the Rage of The Tides..."

'Even the most arrogant of creatures on this planet wouldn't dare to try that.' Razor thought.

"Do you want glory... To rival the greatest legends of these waters... with such I cannot help."

The Teller reached down and picked up the pieces of bark.

"Or is it something else..."

He dropped the bark which scattered like cards.

"Ahhh... Yes... Fortune."

He reached down and picked up the closest middle on."




Dragon of the Depths

Early Next Morning

The Dragon of the Depths had arrived close to the Caribou convoy route, staying in the cover of the island chains waiting to attack. Flyer scouts had been send out to watch for the fleet and had spread out to cover all directions. Razor stood at the railing to the right of the helm, their fortune the Teller had given had been in the Outcast's favor, the weather was perfect; calm water, favorable winds, and clear skies. The best weather for Caribou hunting.

Although the Dragon of the Depths had a lot of firepower and they had special enchanted shots for things like this, the Dragon was still a very large ship, the Caribou would see it coming and that meant that some could escape, something Razor wouldn't allow, every lost fleet weakened the Caribou that much.

Razor Tail however had ways to make sure the Caribou ship wouldn't escape, thanks to Gold Fire, and the Sea and Merponies.

He turned to one of his Merpony officers.

"Launch the subs." Was all he said, the officer saluted, turning about face, and walking below deck.

A few minutes later, eight large doors on the hull under the waterline open and out of each came small, completely enclosed craft. They were shaped like a cylinder with the front shaped into a dome which had four hatches on it, the back had two rudders with a propeller each and on top was a structure about ten feet high, on top of that was a pipe sticking up.

The Outcast's newest toys, designed and built by Gold Fire, the submarine, and you best hope, not hunting you.

The subs were crewed exclusively by Seapoines and Merponies, due to their ability to breath both in and out of water. The eight subs spread out, moving silently through the water to their positions to wait in ambush. Razor watched as they disappeared, a small, toothless smile appeared on his face.

"Once the scout report the convoy's route, the subs will attack followed by the Dragon." He looked up into the sky,

"It's a good day for a hunt."




About midday

Scout Team One

Scout Team One, consisting of the Pegasus Stallion Lightning Diver and the Thestral Mare Night Storm were atop one of the mountain peaks with a spyglass looking out over the water.

"Anything Storm?"

"Nothing so far Diver, just islands and open water. Wait... THERE!!"

Diver grabbed his own spyglass and looked where Storm was pointing. There they were, the Caribou fleet they had been waiting for. Diver grabbed his ear comm crystal.

"Scout Team One to Dragon of the Depths, we have confirmed sighting of our prey."

"Understood, how many ships?"

"Looks like we have about twenty treasure ships, thirdly sloops, nine brigantines, six frigates, four Men O' War, two ships-of-the-Line, and... A Caribou Titan!"

"Say again Scout Team One, a Caribou Titan?!"

"Aye! It looks like it's hanging back right now."

"Those treasure ships must be something important! All Scout Teams, return to the Dragon."

(All Scout Teams) "AYE!!"

"All subs, begin your attack, target the ships on the edges of the fleet first."

(All Subs) "AYE!!"




Dragon of the Depths

Razor turned towards his waiting crew who had heard the radio.

"That Caribou Titan has traveled far for the treasure ships cargo, it must be important for them to send one here. What are they hiding... All creatures, Battle Stations!"

"Who's ready for a hunt?!" Snow shouted pulling her sword out and thrusting it into the air, her answer was the crew cheering then rushing to their stations. Some crew members ring several bells who's sound echoed down through the ship's many decks, down below doors to ammo stores were opened and steam and magic power mechanisms came to life and began to ferry ammo to various areas. The massive steam engines came to life with a heavy rumble.

Crew rushed to the cannons and started to ready them.

Fire Gem: "Prepare to fire!"

An Outcast Officer: "Prepare to fire! Man those guns!"

The gun ports in the sides and at the front opened to allow the cannons to slide into they're firing positions. The Traveler group could only watch in amazement as the crew worked with smooth, practiced ease. Soon, the ship was ready. Razor took the helm with a predatory smile.

"Let the hunt begin."

He turned to Snowy, "Let's go."

Snow gave a smile that would make a Kirin proud and turned back to the crew.

"All anchors up, Full Speed!"

The Dragon shot forward out of her hiding place and turned to face the Caribou fleet head on. The fifteen Sloops at the front charged to meet her, only to be greeted with fire from the Dragon's bow cannons. Two sloops were blown in half from below, the subs had drawn first blood. The remain sloops spread out, the Dragon responded with rockets and mortars, hitting several and damaging they're hulls and sails.

As the sloops tried to flank the Dragon, one unlucky one was run through with the Dragon's front ram, splitting the sloop in two. The others didn't fare much better as they meet the Dragon's broadsides, though four manage to fire they're own. As the fifteen sloops when to the deeps, three brigantines meet they're end from below. Down below the subs moved from ship to ship firing cylinder shaped objects out of the now open hatches on they're fronts.

The object in question was about eleven feet long with the ends tapering to a point, at the back were four small rudders, two horizontal and two vertical in a cross shape, behind the rudders was a small propeller. At the front was some sort of cap, and dotting the body were several small runes.

This was the Outcast's newest weapon; the torpedo, a device designed along side the submarine. It was fitted with a small steam, magic boosted engine and one of two different warheads, the first was the standard high-explosive made from a gun powder barrel stuffed with as much powder as it could fit, the second was similar to the enchanted ammo the Outcasts used to disable and capture ships, and fitted with a modified tracking spell. The modified spell used the same basic principle in that it would track its target, but in this case the spell allowed the torpedo to home in on a target. This battle was its first real use, though tests had shown great promise.

Three more brigantines and six sloops fell victim to the torpedoes, looks like they be proving they're worth.

Sub One: Fire!

Sub Two: Bring them down!

Sub Three: Empty the tubes!

Sub Four: Sink them now!

The Sub crews were hitting the small ships with the regular torpedoes and saving the disabling ones for the treasure ships and the larger warships as per Razor's orders. The Caribou sloops and brigantines weren't really built to good quality and ships like that were rather cheap to build, The treasure ships were spared sinking so the Dragon's crew could loot them, both the ship and treasure, after they had been disabled. The larger warships, the frigates, Men O' War, ships-of-the-line, and the Titan were prizes in their own right, plus Razor felt why sink something that you can use, because for one of those four types the Outcasts "liberated", weakened the Caribou's Naval power by that much, especially the Titans.

Sure, the Caribou could just more, if their economy was not suffering right now. For the better part of a decade the Outcasts of the Abyss had been raiding their hold in the Sea of Legends, liberating slaves, and looting their more valuable ships from them. As it stood, the fleet the Dragon was raiding now was trying to leave the Sea of Legends, not enter it, as most of the Caribou's wreath and slave came from here. Now, the Caribou leaders firmly believed that the ships they lost over those years was due to the sea itself, not attacks by the Outcasts, and there was a reason for this: They had no idea the Outcasts of the Abyss were a faction.

While it was well known the the Outcasts were a faction, the largest in the Sea of Legends, the Caribou (expect the Rednose Clan, who hated the current Caribou ways and were on the Outcast's side) were very arrogant and had a very inflated ego. To them, the Outcast was just one ship, not a faction.

Which played into Razor's plans just fine.

Another reason was because no one outside of the Outcasts actually knew the true size of the faction, almost each and every ship belonging to the Outcasts was completely of custom make, with the only thing remaining stock was the ship's class. They also sailed under their very own custom flags and sails, only when needed to they fly the Outcast's colors which was what the Dragon of the Depths flew at all times.

The reason for this was two fold; to hide the true size of the Outcasts, and for each ship and her crew to build their own reputations.

Back with the battle the Dragon fired a broadside into the remaining three brigantines and nine of the sloops ending them to the abyss while the last three were sunk by the subs. The treasure ships were all disabled by this point along with the warships, and with they're crews knocked out for a good while the Dragon's own crew could take their time. However the subs had run out of torpedoes, and the Titan was coming forward.

Caribou Titans were massive ships, if you were to take two four gun deck ships-of-the-line, line them up end to end (not counting the bowsprit) double its beam, and add another four on top you would get the Caribou Titan; a eight hundred and four foot, eight gun deck monster carrying up to four hundred forty eight guns.

The Traveler group, who until today, had never seen one before. They could only stare with wide eyes and open mouths at the monster bearing down on them.

"So that's a Caribou Titan, I've heard the stories but they don't do it justice." Soarin said.

"Isn't that what they built to counter the Equestrian navies Juggernaut?" Thunderlane asked.

"Aye, that would be it." Apollo answered coming up behind them.

Razor's eyes narrowed, the Titan was a major prize to be had, worth more then its weight in treasure, but would not be easy prey, as they were crewed by an elite branch of the Caribou Navy. The Caribou had only been able to build twenty five Titans due to they're cost, fifteenth "liberated" by the Outcast, five lost to the deeps, and six still under Caribou control.

With the subs out of torpedoes they would have to capture it the old fashioned way, time to fall back to one of his oldest strategies; the old chain shot and board.

Razor: "We need more speed Miss Snowheart!"

"Go Go Go, Forward!"

The Dragon and the Titan moved towards each other, as if sizing their respective opponent up and daring them to make the first move. After several minutes, the Titan made the first move. The report of mortars sounded off as shots fired from the Titan's bow.

"Incoming!"

The Dragon responded with fire from its swivel guns and puckle guns, which acted like a point defense system and they manged to intercept the mortar shots. The Dragon then returned fire with its own mortars and rockets, the mortar shots hit the Titan's deck hard while the rockets detained in midair, spraying the deck with grape shot.

"Bow Cannons, fire when ready!" Razor shouted into the voice pipe that lead to the bow. The sound of the bow 68 pounder and 110 pounder cannons firing a storm of chain shot into the Titan's masts and sail was the answer. After taking the hit the Titan turned to port and fired it's own broadside.

"HIT THE DECK!!!"

The crew hit the deck as the ship's Unicorns cast magic shields and the protection rune lit up, blocking most of the shots while some got through dealing only minor damage. The Dragon pulled up next to the Titan, its own broadside ready.

Razor: "FIRE!"

Atlas: "FIRE ALL!"

A mix of solid shot, grape shot, and chain shot fired from the Dragon's starboard broadside cannons, the Caribou on the main deck dropped like flies. Snow left her spot next to Razor and called out,

"Swords, grenades at the ready, prepare to board!"

One of the broadside triple 24 pounders fired a chain shot in to one of the Titan's main masts, causing the surviving Caribou to fall screaming as the mast buckled and fell towards the Dragon's deck . The crew in the area saw it coming and ran for cover as Snow walked forward, the falling mast crashed onto the starboard deck wall and main deck dealing minor damage and landing right next to Snow, who just gave it a uninterested glare after it landed. Behind her the crew who dived for cover slowly got back up.

Snow thrusted her sword into the air.

"GIVE NO QUARTER!!!"

Snow lead the charge as the Dragon's boarding ramps lowed onto the Titan's deck and the cannons fired another barrage of grape shot. The second the remaining Caribou saw Snow, they began screaming in terror with a few diving off the side. Those that didn't, fell to her sword and those of her companions. The Titan's Captain tried to fight Snow but one hard swing from her sword destroyed his, he tried to fee but Snow grabbed his neck and ran her cutlass through his stomach, runes flaring white while the Caribou let out a silent scream of untold pain.

"Fell that," Snow hissed, "that's the pain of every. single. slave. your kind has ever taken, right from the very first one. All. AT. ONCE!"

The Caribou went limp and Snow pulled her sword out, throwing the body to the deck. She then reached down and ripped the medals off the Caribou's uniform as her companions finished off the rest with only minor injures. Snow turned and raised her sword.

"The ship is ours!!"

The crew cheered loudly in triumph.




Later

"Weigh heigh and up she raises, weigh heigh and up she raises, weigh heigh and up she raises, early in the morning."

The crew were happily singing as they took the very large amount of treasure off the former Caribou treasure ships, with the Traveler group helping out. As it turned out, there was something important that five of the treasure ships had been carrying; would-be Pony slaves. According to them and confirmed by the Titan's Captain's log the Caribou had hoped the Titan would have kept enemies away while they sailed back to Caribou water. On the way they had ran into an Outcast Anti-Slaver fleet which had given chase and had arrived soon after the Dragon's victory.

Though surprised by the Dragon of the Depths victory, they had taken the would-be slaves to bring them back to Imperator's Grave while an Outcast recovery fleet took the former Caribou ships to the nearest Outcast shipyard for proper repairs and customization to cleanse it of the Caribou ownership.

As they waited fr the recovery fleet Snow added her new medals to her coat, bring the number from eleven to fifteen. The other Head Officers went over the ship looking for any missed damage while the ship's medical personal tended to the minor injuries.

Razor himself was in his office going over the logs they had collected, apparently things were getting rather heated in the Caribou's territory with more and more of their ships being lost, ever increasing slave revolts, and collapsing economy an that was just the tip of the iceberg. Razor couldn't help but crack a smile at that.

"Looks like all that work is finally paying off, and the new torpedoes worked like a charm. Maybe we could get them installed on the rest of the fleet, though they still need further testing."

He then picked up the spice container that he picked up from Ashbone Spires, he did not understand why this was there when the Caribou hadn't been in that area in a hundred years.

"Could the two have some sort of deal? That doesn't make sense, the cannibals will attack anything not them that set foot on the island."

Shrugging he set it down and picked up a chest, it was shaped like two trapezoids stick together at the bottoms and was big enough that if the average human was to carry it they would have to grab the handles on the sides and the chest would cover their torso. The chest was made of purpleheart wood and had silver decorations along the edges, and over the body, on the front at the spot were the two trapezoids meet was a dragon head facing forward with the mouth wide open, to the sides of the head were two locks built into the chest, on the face of the lid above the head were three sapphires and a large emerald on top, and there was a red light emitting through the gaps and cracks in the wood, out of the key holes and dragon head eyes, and on certain spots on the silver along with glowing gold runes.

This was Razor's personal chest were he kept a number of important items that held great value from his adventures, and some of the items his mother had left him.

He set it on the table and pulled out two keys from an inner pocket of his coat, while he had a ring of keys on his belt ones like these were for things that were very personal for him. The keys resembled the one that his compass had for an arrow but had three sets of teeth shaped into a Y when viewed from the front and were gold in color.

He slipped one into the left slot and turned it clockwise, followed by the second one into the right one and turned it counter-clockwise. This was one of a number of tricks and fail-safes Razor had installed when he build this chest to keep intruders out, Only his wife and Head Officers knew of this trick. It wasn't just his personal items in there, there were important documents regarding his future plans for the outcasts, lists of all the agents in the coves set up around the world, and detailed papers on Kirin rune magic among others. Each in a hidden compartment of its own and further protected by rune magic and special keys.

When both the keys were turned the locks popped open with a hiss of air and light puff of smoke. He gripped the sides of the lid and slowly opened the chest. Pulling the crystal out of a pocket he placed it inside and closed the lid, the locks engaging and sealing the chest up.

"Better keep that in there safe and sound until we get the power ring."

He then stood up and walked over to his pipe organ.

"Time to play some music." He sat down and started to play, the sound traveling through the ship and into the ears of the crew, boosting their stamina.




Equestrian Fleet

The Alicorn of Freedom

The Equestrian fleet had entered the Sea of Legends and were slowly sailing through a thick fog. The Juggernaut, the Alicorn of Freedom, was at the front with the rest of the fleet close behind. The Alicorn of Freedom was a six hundred and three foot long, six gun deck ship with a total of three hundred and thirdly six guns painted in the Equestrian colors of white and dark blue. Prince Luna stood at the bow staring out, her, Celestia, Neighsay, and the five foreign leaders were on board heading into the Sea of Legends.

There had been fights with their voices between them from when the first set sail, until both Celestia and Luna had given them a double dose of the Royal Canterlot voice tell them to, to put it lightly, shut the buck up.

Things had been quiet since, likely because no one wanted to face off against two angry Alicorns with splitting headaches.

After they had entered the Sea of Legends, Luna had been amazed to see this place with her own eyes, having only read about it before. Still the reason they were here was something Luna wasn't too happy about, the fact that some of the foals from Ponyville, the SOFS students, and foreign students had been kidnapped by the pirate lord Archduke Razor Tail.

Luna was understandably quite angered by this.

"We'll find you knave, you wouldn't escape."

She was brought out of her thoughts when she saw some wreckage float, she watch it for a second and turned back, only to see a lone lifeboat with an unconscious young adult Earth Pony Stallion in it. Eyes wide Luna turned back to the ship's deck.

"In the Water!"

Celestia, with the ship's Captain, A Unicorn Admiral named Iron Waters, ran up to the sides followed by the others and looked over.

"PONY OVERBOARD!" Iron shouted then started giving orders.

"Man the ropes, bring him aboard!"

The ship's Pegasi crew members flew down and carried the lifeboat onto the deck. The crew carefully looked over the Stallion, he had a light green coat with a dark blue mane and tail, a cutie mark of a wave, and a damaged black collar around his neck. Luna saw it, tore it off, and incinerated it in a fit of rage.

That type of collar was only worn by Caribou slaves.

"His breathing is strong and the only injures are surface wounds."

The Earth Pony groaned as he came to and opened his eyes, which were a light blue, and looked into Celestia's worried eyes. He blinked, a light of hope in his eyes.

Prin... Princess Celestia?" He reached up with a shaky hoof and placed it onto her snout, the look on his face showing that he was praying this wasn't a dream.

"This is real my little Pony, this is not a dream, it's okay, your safe now." Celestia said gently running a hoof of her own through his wet mane. The Stallion was still for a second, then broke down crying with a relived smile and wrapped his forelegs around Celestia, who was at first surprised, but returned the hug, rubbing the sobbing Pony's back.

Thorax, who was standing off to the side, looked out over the water, then his eyes widened.

"Oh sweet First-Mother..."

Ahead was a fleet of totally wrecked and blazing ships, all of Caribou make. The other leaders had similar reactions.

"What happened here?" Ember asked.

"Looks like the powder magazines exploded, Caribou ship tend to run heavily armed." Seaspary answered.

Everyone looked at the Earth Pony who had fallen asleep in Celestia's forelegs.

"He might have the answers, but let him have some rest, food, and water before then." Iron said.




Later

The Stallion, who's name was Wave Surfer, had recovered and sat down to tell them what had happened.

"I was the, now former, personal slave of the admiral of this Caribou feet though he only used me as a punching bag, we had been sailing through a thick fog like this. I had just been getting up after he knocked me to the floor when I heard another Caribou shout "Steel Hull", which send the admiral running out with a look of panic. Next thing I knew a massive explosion ripped the Titan in half, I had manged to get free when what remained went under."

Everyone was shocked, but let him continue.

"After I swam back up I found an intact lifeboat and climbed aboard. As I did that, the bulk cargo ship in the fleet was suddenly attacked by some kind of sea creature, tentacles shot up, wrapped around the ship, and pulled it under, whole, crew, cargo, and all, along with some unlucky sloops. The rest were all destroyed in blasts of fire and water. I was the only slave, and now survivor, of the fleet."

There was silence, finally Luna spoke.

"Well Wave, your safe now. You don't have to worry about them anymore."

"A whole bulk cargo ship, a giant sea creature pulled a whole one down. I just don't have words." Seaspray said.

"Wave, what is this "Steel Hull" you mentioned?" Iron asked.

"I'm afraid I can't tell you much, only what I've heard."

"Beats the hay out of nothing."

"Well, from what I know, Steel Hulls are an unknown ship type that appeared about two years ago. From the stories, they can hit a ship from up to fifteen miles away, far out of retaliation reach of enemy ships. They are said to be invulnerable to all forms of weapons, and fast, very fast."

"Have you seen one?" Celestia asked.

"No, no one has ever seen one and lived, they only attack Caribou ships, and only when visibly is poor, such as in the dead of night or in thick fog. And that pretty much all I know about them."

Everyone looked at each other, it seemed pirates weren't the only thing in the Sea of Legends.

"Well thank you Wave, get some rest now, you've been through too much already." Iron said.

Some of the crew took Wave below deck to rest while Celestia, Luna, Iron, Neighsay, and the rest of the leaders looked at each other, things had just got more complicated.

Hopefully whatever the "Steel Hull" was would leave them along.
> Chapter 10: Parties, Findings and Advancements
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dragon of the Depths

Razor and Atlas' bedroom, the next morning

The morning sunlight entered Razor and Atlas' shared bedroom, where said creatures lay fast asleep on a massive nine feet by nine feet king sized bed. Razor slowly peeled his eyes open and stretched his wings and tail, he didn't want to get up, he just wanted to lay here in this warm bed and cuddle with his love.

He looked over to Atlas, watching as her chest slowly rose and fell with her breathing, her heavily disheveled mane, plus his own and the messed up sheets and blankets showing the two of them had a really fun night. He leaned over and gave Atlas a kiss on the cheek then carefully stood up and moved out of bed. He hadn't even gotten his rear half off the bed when he felt something, or rather, somebuggy, grab his tail.

Turning with a smile he saw Atlas holding his tail with her forehooves.

"Stay with me and cuddle, pppllleeeaaassseee." She said giving the eyes, Razor leaned over and nuzzled her horn followed by a quick lick, causing the Changeling Queen to shutter with delight.

"As much as I want to crawl back in with you love bug, and maybe have another round or two, we do have things to do today."

Atlas groaned and released his tail from its trap.

"Why is it work never seems to end."

"One of the more... unlikable, things about being leaders of a growing, and hidden, empire. Also, our work today isn't related to the Outcasts."

Atlas blinked, the confusion quite visible on her face.

"What do you mean?"

Razor gestured with his head to the wall above the bed's headboard, hanging on the was as a calendar. Atlas raised an eyebrow and looked over at it.

"What's different about toda-" She cut herself off when she saw the date, eyes going wide. She looked at Razor, who had a large smile on her face.

"That's right Atlas, today is our little hatchling's birthday. The others will be taking care of the work while we will be hanging out with Silver while they prepare the surprise party."

"Well we better get showered and dressed then."

They got up off the bed and walked into their private bathroom, Razor turned on the water and stepped in with Atlas behind him. As Razor put shampoo in his hair and went to work, Atlas couldn't help but stare at his back.

Razor had gained several scars over his life as a pirate but there were four that stood out; the most noticeable one was a rather large and ugly one that sat at the base of his left wing, a reminder of his own mortality, a reminder of the same wound that almost took him from her. Even to this day, it still caused him minor pain.

The second scar was one that was more of a mark, it looked like two very stretched teardrops with one horizontal and the other vertical on a 45 degree angle on his forehead, under the trinket made of a tooth of an unknown creature. He wouldn't say where he got this one, Atlas and the other Head Officers knew, because they had seen it, but wouldn't say anything on the matter.

The third one was the scar that ran down his face, he had gotten it from the same creature the tooth came from.

The fourth scar were a set of two that ran from were his tail tip and the tail blades meet and ran at least a foot down his tail. He had got this one in the same area he got the mark, tooth, and the scar on his face.

After they finished they dressed and went to get Silver.




Engineering

Shadow Fire stood up and stretched like a cat, then looked over to his brother, who was still asleep. An evil grin spread across his and he carefully walked over. Shadow slowly raised his tail, then smacked Gold Fire in the side with it, sending the Longma flying off his bed with a startled yelp and into a pile of loose gears and in-need-of-repair tools with the sound of  blowing pins being hit.

The Longma shot up out of the pile sending things flying, Gold stared at Shadow, then snapped his claws. Goggles with angry eyes on them appeared on his face, and a scary snarl appeared on his face.

"I'm gonna beat you like a hanging rug boy!"

"Now hold on a second, oh brother mine." Shadow walked over the chalkboard, pick up a piece of chalk, and drew something in a cloud of dust. Gold's face relaxed and he snapped his claws, the goggles disappearing.

"Okay, you have my attention."

Shadow stepped back when he finished. On the board were six pictures in two rows; the top row had the two dragon brothers, then a plus sign, then a collection of various tools, then an equal sign, and finally a barbecue grill. The bottom row had the grill, then another plus sign, today's date, a second equal sign, and finally a picture of Silver Moth's happy face among various party items.

Gold stared at it, then his eyes lit up.

"Of course! Its Silver's birthday today!" He slapped a hand against his head.

"Right, and we are going all out! Let's build it and grill it!"

"Heck Yes matey!"

"Arrr, and we'd better get to work, it takes at least forty-five minutes to heat up a charcoal grill!"




Main Tavern

Fire Gem walked in looking like a zombie, both in posture and color, causing the newcomers to look at him with various expressions ranging from surprise to concern while the crew seemed mostly indifferent. Thunderlane asked,

"What's with him?"

"Fire Gem can't function at all in the mornings without his coffee." One of the crew answered.

Fire Gem reached the counter, grabbed the pitcher and drink the whole thing, much to the surprise of the newcomers. The Pegasus Mare behind the counter didn't even blink, instead she started counting down in a deadpan tone.

"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one,"

Fire Gem's body began to shake like a pebble in an earthquake.

"ignition,"

Fire Gem stopped shaking and let out a happy sign.

"We have lift off." The Mare finished, setting up a kettle and a mug with hot chocolate powder.

"What's with the hot chocolate?" Summer asked.

"Snowheart cannot stand coffee, so the cooks make hot chocolate for her instead."

"And trust us on this, she is terrifying some mornings before she's had some." Everyone besides the newcomers shuttered.

KA-BOOM

All heads in the room snapped around to look at the door.

"Oh this is bad."

CRASH

"Oh no."

SMASH

"Uh oh."

BASH

"Ah crap."

Sounds of panicked yelps

"Not good."

Sound of glass breaking

"Oooohhhhh that sounded expensive."

"What's going on?" Applebloom asked.

"Snow just woke up on rage level ten."

The doors were smashed open as a very messy and very peeved snow-white Pegasus Mare making heavy breathing sounds that sound like enraged grows walked towards the counter were Fire Gem got out of the way while the increasingly panicking Mare at the counter went between looking at Snow, shouting at the kettle to hurry up and pop, and back again.

"Hurry up and pop! This is a matter of life and death here!!"

The kettle, as if realizing Snow was having one of those mornings, went from cold to hot in an instant, much to the Mare's relief. Snow grabbed the kettle, poured it into her mug filled with powder, mixed it, and drank the boiling hot hot chocolate in one go.

Snow let out a happy sign.

"Okay I'm good."

Everyone was silent, finally Fire Gem spoke.

"Morning Snowy."

"Morning Gem, you ready for to today?"

"No, what's so important today?"

Snow looked at him like he had just insulted her family, she then smacked him hard across the jaw which send him off the stool he was sitting on. Thankfully his mug was on the counter and not in his hand.

"OW! What the feathers was that for?!"

Snow grabbed a calendar off the counter and tapped the date. Rubbing his jaw, Gem looked at it, then his eyes widened.

"Oh..."

"Yes ya lizard! Today. Is. Silver's. Birthday! You forgot that Razor asked you, me, and Zenith to make a cake didn't you."

Not wanting to anger the Mare further, Gem squeaked "Yes..."

Snow's good eye narrowed.

"Then finish your coffee, get you gear, and haul you tail into the kitchen while I get Zenith, if your not in there when I get back..." That wasn't a threat, it was a promise.

"YES MA'AM!" Gem saluted, finished his coffee, and bolted out of the room. Snow followed soon after to get Zenith. The newcomers picked up their jaws off their table.

"Dang that Mare's scary." Sky said.

"She could give Spitfire a run for her bits." Soarin said.

"You should see her on a bad day." A crewmember said.

"Remind me never to get on her bad side." Smolder said, Gallus nodded in agreement.

"Why did she act like that though? Don't get me wrong, forgetting a birthday is bad but..." Sandbar asked.

"Well lad, Snow has a very strong bond with Silver, she took the most time raising him when his parents were busy." One crewmate said.

"Strong enough that Razor, should anything happen to him and Atlas, made Snowheart Silver's Guardian."

"Snowy did have three foals, but they were taken from her by the Caribou."

"So in a way, raising Silver was a chance for her to have that joy, after it was ripped from her."

"What happen to her foals?" Angel asked.

"No one knows, the ship they and Snow's husband were on disappeared at sea."

"At least they didn't suffer the seven years Snow did."

There was a long pause as the newcomers processed this, finally Vapor said,

"Silver's birthday is today?"

"Aye, we're going to surprise him later today. For now let's keep quiet on it, Razor and Atlas are going to be with him while the rest of us prepare for the party."

"Is there anything we could do to help?" Silverstream asked excitedly.

"Actually, there are a few things."




Silver's Room

The door slowly opened as Razor and Atlas quietly stepped inside. Silver's room was one might expect a young kid's room would be, only he slept on a king size bed and the wall to its left was filled with pictures of the crew. The two adults slowly walked up to the bed were the Kirin/Changeling hybrid lay asleep with his tail coiled around him, the bladed tip twitching a bit.

"He looks so cute like that, shame we have to wake him." Atlas said walking to the beds left side.

"As much as I don't want to wake him either, it is his special day." Razor leaned down and started nudging Silver who let out a light groan.

"Silver, Silver, Sssiiillvver, time to get up." Razor said nudging him.

"I don't wanna get up. I wanna stay in bed." Silver squeaked and dug his head deeper into his tail.

Atlas chuckled, Just like his father. "Silver, you remember what today is."

Silver lifted his head tiredly and looked a his own calendar with half closed eyes. "It's my birthday today." He laid back down, Atlas and Razor looked at each other with smiles.

"Three, two, one," They counted together.

Silver's head shot back up, now fully awake, as a huge smile appeared on his face.

"Happy Birthday Silver!!" Razor and Atlas said together scooping their son up in a two-way hug, nuzzling him while the youngster laughed happily.

"Now the others will be busy until later today, but in the meantime the of three us will be spending time together." Razor said tickling Silver's belly, sending him giggling.

"Which we haven't been able to do lately, so what would you like to do first Silver?" Atlas asked rubbing son's head.

Silver thought for a minute, then said, "How about hide n' seek?"

"Sounds good to me." Razor said, Atlas nodding her head in agreement.




Main Tavern

"Fire Gem... What are you doing?"

"Making Chocolate pudding."

"We were asked to bake a cake, and you're making pudding!"

"Add to the fact your using not just powder, but solid chocolate bars of different kinds and candies!"

"What, you two never had pudding cake?"

"Razor asked us to make an ICE CREAM cake!"

"A multi-layered and multi-flavored ice cream sandwich cake filled with candies and big enough for the entire crew."

"So just mix the two together."

"...."

".... Can... we even do that?"

*Sound of a hoof meeting face*

Snow had facehoofed, not believing what was going on.

"Fire Gem... Do you remember the giant sausage?"

"The one from that cooking challenge? Yes, could really smell it cooking."

Zenith groaned.

"Everything within a one thousand mile radius with a sense of smell could smell it cooking."

"Everyone thought Mount Dreadfire had awoken from it's four thousand year slumber." Snow removed her hoof.

"I remember poking one end and it going off like a firework."

"More like a Germane V5 Cruise Missile!"

"We Still have no idea were it landed."

"Then the Chili, oh dear Faust the chili."

"Turned out right for me."

"You used GUN POWDER instead of CHILI POWDER!! Not to mention blowing up part of the Main Tavern!"

"I have never seen Razor that peeved."

"So it was a minor setback."

"Oh for the love of... Just continue with your pudding, we can serve it alongside the cake."

Later

The sound of an explosion went off followed bay smoke.

"Well that one went up in smoke."

Beat

"Maybe we should use more ice cream."

Later Still

"FIRE GEM THAT'S GUN POWDER!!! DON'T POUR THA-"

KA BOOM

*Sounds of Snow raging*

*Snowheart -Frying Pan- Fire Gem*

"I didn't know you played Team Fortress 2 Snowy."

"I find it helps vent some of my inner rage, I play as Engineer."

"Really, That class can be quite stressful at times. I play as Spy."

"Do you? I thought you would have played as either Demostallion or Heavy."

*Fire Gem Respawns, with a sour look*

Still Later

"Okay... We got the cake made and its safe to eat." 

"But we also look like cakes."

"I really hope Razor doesn't notice the peanut butter on the ceiling."

"Okay let's act causal and get ourselves cleaned up."

The three of them moved passed several pirates who stared at them with dropped jaws. Steel Mass, Apollo, Thunderlane, and several Serpents were carrying some crates filled with party supplies when the three passed.

"What..."

"The..."

"Hay?"

Even the serpents jaws fell open.

"Don't ask."




Main Deck

"Ninety seven, ninety eight, ninety nine, one hundred. Ready of not Silver here we come."

Razor and Atlas spread out to find their son, the rules were he could not go inside the ship and that he had to stay on the main deck. Razor moved over some barrels and started lifting the lids up peeking inside while Atlas looked over the deck, the entire time the crewmembers not doing anything at the moment watched with amused looks.

After searching for several minutes and not finding Silver, Razor took his hat off and fan himself with it, not noticing Silver was sitting on his head.

"Were is that little tyke?"

"I don't know Razor, He's- Found him." Atlas said with an amused smile.

"Huh?" He then felt something tap his head.

"Right here Dad." Razor looked up, and saw his upside down son's smiling face.

"Why you little sneak," He reached up with his wing hands and picked Silver off his head. "Were did you learn that?"

"From you and mom."

Both adults smiled, glanced at each other, then slowly nodded. Silver own eyes went wide.

"Oh no not that!"

Too late, Silver found himself being tickled mercilessly by his parents with the onlookers joining in once in a while, the tickling only paused to allow Silver to catch his breath. After some time passed with Silver and his parents having fun A Unicorn Mare by the name Of Rose Fire came up to Razor and whispered something into his ear.

"Okay Rose. Silver, The three of us need to head down to the Main Tavern for a few minutes."

"Okay dad, work or something?"

"Kind of."

They walked down to the Main Tavern doorway.

"You head in first Silver."

Silver walked in, noticing the dark.

"Hey dad, why is the room?"

"SURPRISE!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SILVER!!"

Silver let out a yelp and jumped six feet as the lights suddenly came on and everyone on the Dragon of the Depths jump up and shouted surprise. Silver sat there shocked for a second, then a huge smile appeared on his face. The entire room was decorated with various party decorations, food was laid out on several tables while the rest were pushed to the sides, a large charcoal grill, and in the center was a truly massive ice cream cake with quite a few pudding cakes around it.

"You guys did all of this for me?" Silver asked taking in the sight.

"You bet we did lad."

"Was quite a lot of work."

"And a number of shenanigans."

"But you're worth all of it Silver."

"You always cheered us up when any of us were down."

"So we wanted to return it somehow."

Silver's smile was glowing, then tears of joy ran down his face.

"Thank you, all of you." Snow walked up and hugged him, Silver happily returning it.

"Sorry we couldn't get you any peasants." She said.

"I don't need them, you guys, my family, are far more then enough."

Razor walked up and leaned his head down.

"Well son, shall we start this party?"

"YES!!"

And so it started, The ship's band started Playing. Games had been set up and played while the cakes were eaten. The party lasted long into the night, it was sometime after midnight that it finally end. Atlas gently picked up the fast asleep Silver Moth and set him on her back.

"I'll put this little tyke to bed." Razor nodded.

"And the rest of us will handle the clean-up."

Everyone cleaned up the Main Tavern and put the remaining treats away for later. Apollo looked at the remains of the ice cream cake, which despite having had the entire crew at it had a lot remaining.

"Well, we wouldn't have need for sweets for a long while."

"Yea no kidding." Steel said.




Twilight and co's schooner

A loud, long and pained howl ring out throughout the air. Pinkie Pie was sitting on the deck like a dog or wolf and was howling into the air.

"Pinkie? What in tarnation are ya doing?" Applejack asked.

"I can't help it. My Pinkie Sense is reacting." She said, her mane and legs vibrating.

"And what does that one mean?" Rarity asked, finding the howling to be a bit weird even for Pinkie. They had dropped anchor among a series of tall rocks to sleep and had been getting ready to set sail when she had started howling like a wolf.

"It means there's a really big and fun party happening right now, and we. Are. Missing. IT!" Pinkie shouted stamping her hooves like a Filly have a temper tantrum, then started howling again with added tears.

"Oh my... It does sound like a wolf crying." Fluttershy said rubbing Pinkie's back.

"I know! As a Pony who loves to throw parties, missing out on this one hurts! I can sense a giant multi-layered and multi-flavored ice cream sandwich cake filled with candies surrounded by many pudding cakes! WHY! IT HURTS MISSING A PARTY LIKE THAT!"

Pinkie let out another long howl as waterfalls of tears fell, those around her beginning to worry about her sanity. Velvet walked up and pulled the crying party Pony into a hug.

"There there dear," She said rubbing Pinkie's back. "Its alright."

Rainbow flew down and laid a hoof on Pinkie's back.

"Look at it this was Pinkie, when we find our missing friends and be the snot out of those pirates you can throw a massive party of your own."

Pinkie wiped her tears, nodded and smiled. Night Light then spoke up.

"Pinkie Sense?"

"Trust me on this dad, don't question it. I learned that the hard way." Twilight said rubbing her neck.

"Hey a, guys."

"Yea Spike?" Flare Warden asked.

"Is that the ship we're looking for?" He asked pointing out over the water on the port side. The Ponies ran up to the side and saw a massive ship sail past them in the distance, it was the Dragon of the Depths!

"Yes that's the ship we're looking for!" Flash Sentry said.

"Quick! Follow that ship!"

"HOLD IT!" Night Light shouted, everyone looked at him.

"What Mr. Light?" Rarity asked.

"Ya, we have the ship in sight, we could totally go get our missing friends!"

"Rainbow, that ship is far big and carries a lot more firepower than our ship, plus those pirates did hand our tails to us last time. We need to follow it at a distance and wait for the right time. We can't take on that many pirates at once."

"I agree with Twilight's dad." Flash Sentry said, the other agreeing so after. Once the raised anchor they followed the Dragon from afar as she sailed into the setting sun towards Blackcap Peaks.




Dragon of the Depths

Two Days Later

Gold Fire's and Shadow Fire's Workshop

Razor walked into the workshop of his two Fleet Engineers, earlier that morning he had been told that they had wanted to show him a few things they had come up with.

"Alright you two, I'm here so what is it you wanted to show me?"

Gold walked up holding a G82 bolt-action rifle.

"Well Razor, you know how this rifle and later its upgraded repeater version are the standard weapons of our infantry who carry rifles?"

"Yes, and..."

"Well Shadow and I have made two different modifications to some of the G82s." Gold walked up to a table were Shadow was waiting with two G82s; one had some sort of... thing... mounted on its left side while the other had the bolt replaced with some sort of device. Gold picked up the one with the side-mount thing and handed it over to Razor.

"This is the first one."

Razor examined the rifle; it was a standard G82 with eight changes: The first, and most obvious, was a tube mounted on the right side by three mounting brackets and the object at the front next to the barrel with a metal piston within and a... thing, at the end. This metal piece was curved and had the blot handle (which had the ball at the end cut off) in a track of sorts that traveled up the curved piece. The second was a magazine fitted under the rifle right in front of the trigger guard, magazines were not a new concept, the Outcast's G82s and their later repeater variant the G82/95.

The former was single shot but with the first shipment sent by the cove in Germaney had come with several U-shaped magazines that after some testing didn't work to well so they were reshaped into straight magazines that were mounted on the side of the rifle which had been modified to take it. The latter had in internal tube magazine under the barrel, it was modified to also take the side mount. Each magazine held eight rounds, add a round in the chamber and the rifle had a total of nineteen rounds before needing to reload, the side one could be reloaded quickly but the tube took longer.

This magazine was slightly curved towards the bottom and was noticeably longer then the side-mounted one. Within the trigger guard, in front and above the trigger was a small lever. Curious, Razor pressed it and the magazine loosened, he grabbed it with a wing hand and it came out easily. He then slid the magazine back in, the level snapping up and locking it in place.

The third was the trigger itself, it was shaped like a hook and had an extra piece of metal added to the back of it. The fourth was what looked like the hand grip of a percussion cap revolver that had somewhat reshaped fitted behind the trigger guard, the fifth was a two-sided metal tap-like object shaped like half a square just behind the hand grip sticking out the top of the stock with one side facing to the left and the other facing backwards.

The sixth was a oddly shaped metal hand guard-like thing on the left side of the rifle, the seventh was both the front and rear sights had been moved to the left side, the rear was a flat piece of metal with a notch cut into it and the front was a bent L shaped piece of metal. The eighth and final change was the front end had been modified with a metal nose cap.

Razor looked up from the rifle back to Gold with a look that clearly said 'please explain'.

"Well Razor, we've been looking for ways to improve the firearms the Outcasts use and we came up this this," he gestured to the rifle in Razor's hands, "You know how with a bolt-action after firing a shot the user grabs the bolt handle, lifts it up, and pulls the bolt back to eject the spent cartridge and load the next one in the magazine."

Razor nodded.

"Well this thing here," he tapped the tube, "and the thing on the end does that for the user." Razor's eyebrows shot up then he looked back at the rifle.

"Okay Gold, you had my curiosity, now you have my attention."

Gold tapped the tube again.

"Well Razor, you know that when the rifle is fired the round releases a lot of gas alongside the smoke, this tube takes some of that gas, which pushes against this piston in the tube, forcing it back. When that happens, this cam the bolt handle is in, with the way its shaped, forces the bolt to rotate open when not traveling backward, just like if you were doing it by hand."

Gold took the rifle, grabbed the cam and pulled it back.

"The piston continues traveling backwards, pulling the bolt all the way back and cycling it open. This ejects the empty case then a spring built into the tube pulls the bolt forward, loading the next round, the cam track at the end of travel then forces the bolt handle down into a locked position, cocking the striker and then its ready to fire."

He then pointed to the trigger.

"As you can see the trigger has been redesigned, this is an added disconnecter safety to keep it from firing out of battery."

Gold next when over the other changes.

"The magazine is something Shadow came up with, it combines the two magazines from our standard rifles into one, less hassle that way and it holds twenty rounds in one. The lever in front of the trigger here is the release lever for it, it locks the magazine in place so it doesn't move around or fall out when in use. The other changes are there as workarounds for the action; If you fired this weapon with the same grip as a normal rifle it wound hit you in three different places."

He tapped the pistol grip, the metal thing sticking up,.

"This grip keeps you hand, hoof or whatever else your firing the rifle with, out of the way of the bolt when it moves back. This piece of metal here is to protect your face from the bolt when it moves back."

Gold grabbed the cam and pulled it back all the way, the back end of the bolt resting against the metal tap. Razor could diffidently understand the need for it, after all no one would want to lose their face when they fired it.

"This hand guard is here not because of any gas leak issues, and believe me we heavily tested that, its there to keep your hand from moving up and in the way of the cam."

"Which would damage your hand and hurt like heck." Shadow added.

"Makes sense." Razor said.

Gold moved to the sights.

"You noticed the sights are moved out to the left side, because of everything happening at the back I think the user would not want there face looking down that bolt. So having their cheek and face off to the side a bit would help with that, the rear sight lifts up and flips around like this."

He lifted the rear sights which were like a hinge and flipped the metal piece (which Razor noticed it was held on by a simple screw) over and let the sights down.

"This keeps them from getting caught on anything when its not in use, and the front sight simply flips down." He pushed the front sight down and it folded down into the nose guard.

"And finally the nose cap want modified to handle the whole action of the gas tube and bolt."

Razor took the rifle back and looked it over again, after about a minute he looked at Gold.

"Do you have a range set up? I want to test this myself."

Gold lead Razor over to a home-made firing range he and Shadow had set up for tests like this. Razor set the rifle on a stand to help stabilize it, was handed a magazine with five rounds and placed it in after taking the empty one out. He pulled the cam back which loaded the round as intended, after that he braced himself and aimed down the range.

He then slowly squeezed the trigger and fired, he heard the distinctive "crack" Germane rifles were famous, or infamous depending on you you talk to, for and felt the action of the modification work. The first thing he noticed was the trigger reset; counting in his head it took at least two seconds to fire between shots and that was with pushing the trigger all the way forward. Razor assumed this was deliberate, to keep troops from trying to fire it faster then it actually could.

The second thing was the fact that with the sights set up he didn't actually get a check wield on the stock, so the sight of the bolt coming towards the user was more or less off to the side so if something went wrong it might skin the user's cheek but it wouldn't kill them. Add to that the fact that after firing the rifle enough times the bolt flying back lost its scare factor.

The third thing was the recoil impulse, Razor was quite used to the kick the G82 and its repeater variant had and had grown to love it. After all, he carried one as a personal weapon. He liked the range it had over is pistols and the fact that it hit hard. 11x60mm wasn't something to sniff at after all and that same rifle had saved his life move times then he would admit. The Recoil impulse was odd, because of the large piston Razor could feel it move back and forth. The trigger rest set was also long but beyond that, he was very impressed.

After he loaded a full magazine and fired it he turned back to the two Dragons.

"Well you two, I'm very impressed by this modification, see what you can do to improve it and," he pulled the magazine out and held it up, "I want this standard ASAP. I've heard more then enough complaints from the troops about the awkward handling the side and tube magazines give."

The two Dragons nodded with happy smiles. "Aye sir!" They both said.

"And what is that other thing on the second rifle?"

"That's the second modification, its not ready yet as it needs more testing, but the idea of it is to increase the troop's firepower with a simple attachment they could swap with the bolt in fifteen seconds." Shadow answered.

"Let me know when its ready." Razor said as he stood up. "If there's nothing else I leave you two to you work."

"I don't think there's anything else, is there brother?" Gold asked.

"I don't think so."

"Alright, I talk to you guys later." Razor said then walked out. This new advancement would give the Outcast a major advantage in upcoming battles when it was fully ready, he just hoped it wouldn't have to be used in a nation-to-nation war.

Razor let out a sigh, he had been asked why, despite the Outcasts being an established nation of its own for the last three years. The answer was simple; he wanted to be ready, for he feared that the other factions would all attack the Outcasts when they finally showed themselves.

Razor wanted to make sure the Outcast could hold their ground against their enemies, both old, and new.

"If you want peace, prepare for war."
> Chapter 11: Blackcap Peaks Part 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dragon of the Depths

It had been mostly an uneventful trip the rest of the way to Blackcap Peaks, expect for two incidents; the first happened about three days away from the island, a strong heatwave had fallen. The Traveler Group noted it was rather odd to see pirates, who would wear clothes almost all the time, to not. The heat had gotten to the point that quite a few of the crew had taken to sitting in the large freezers below deck to to cool off, others had set up spare sails as some form of tents, the Main Tavern looked like a warzone as heat-crazed creatures wanting something cool fought the staff for ice cream.

It was hot enough to literary fry eggs on the deck, the hot deck leading to some rather funny dance moves. At least, it would have been funny if everyone wasn't sweating lakes.

One Tatzlpony made the mistake of stepping onto the main deck with a ice cream cone held in one of his four tongues, the second he did all heads of everyone on the deck of the time had shot to look at him. He would describe it as being a prey animal in a room full of starving predators who hadn't eaten in a mouth. The Tatzlpony stood there with a slowly growing look of understandable worry as the others looked at him with growing, and rather scary, wide smiles.

"Now look lads, I already had a few licks."

He was preaching to the choir, and the choir was driven by the need for something, anything, to cool off even slightly.

"ICE CREAM!!"

"HAVE AT THEM LADS!!!"

Like sharks to blood in the water, they came at the Tatzlpony who turned and ran like his tail was on fire. Speaking of tails on fire, a number of Pony crewmates, both old and new, had their tails somehow light up which were put out by nearby bucks of water set up for just that reason.

Razor Looked at Atlas, "Next time we dock at Imperator's Grave, remind me to have air conditioning installed."

Thankfully for everyone's sanity the heatwave only lasted one day.

The second happen late the night before they arrived at Blackcap Peaks, Everyone but the nightwatch was fast asleep when a loud, ear shattering scream of terror rent the air. Razor had shot out of his bed and ran through the halls in the quarterdeck while the sleeping crewmembers fell out of their hammocks. The Traveler group shot up in surprise as everyone them picked themselves up.

"What going on?! Are we under attack?!" Silversteam asked in a panic.

"No! Snowheart's having one of her nightmares again!"

Razor crashed through the door to Snow's room where the Mare shot up awake and flew into the Kirin's spread arms, wrapping her forelegs around his neck and burying her head into his chest as deep as she could sobbing heavily. Razor held her in his arms and wrapped his wings around her, shielding the Mare from the outside world.

"It's okay Snowy, it's okay I'm here, you safe now, it was only a nightmare." He whispered softly to her.

Snow just continued to sob into Razor's chest, the Kirin rubbed her back to show her that she wasn't alone. They sat there for a few minutes when Razor felt himself and Snow picked up.

"You know the drill Steel." Razor said.

"I know."

Steel carried the two into the Main Tavern where the rest of the crew were waiting, the only ones not there were the nightwatch but after their shift was over they would join in. Steel set Razor down then the Kirin slowly opened his wings, revealing Snow who was still hugging him tightly. The first one to hug her was Silver, who nuzzled her neck and head. He was was followed by the rest of the crew one by one, with the Traveler group joining in.

They all ended up sleeping the rest of the night like that, all cuddled together around the Pegasus Mare, sharing their body heat and taking comfort in each other's presence.




The Next Morning

The Dragon had dropped anchor as close as it could to its destination, Razor and the Head Officers expect Atlas and Snow stood next to the helm.

"There it is, Blackcap Peaks."

Blackcap cap Peaks had been named so because of its tar topped mountains, it was a fairly large island that was mostly covered with small alpines and thick jungle, with seven of the mountains towering high above the rest. There was the remains of a port here from long ago, but only the lighthouse and bits of the docks remained now.

Razor walked over to a large crate that had been set up as a table and called his crew over, just as they did Atlas joined them.

"How's Snowy doing?"

"Better, Silver's with her now as well as her personal guard. But she wouldn't be joining us right now."

"Best to let her recover, Atlas. Can you stay here for her?"

"Of course Honey, I'd be glad to."

Razor nodded and turned to his crew.

"Alright everyone, now that we have arrived here's the plan. Apollo, Zenith and I will take a landing party and get what we came for. But then that would be to easy, as this book-" Razor picked up the book detailing the Power Ring "- said. As it turns out, there are two pieces to the Power Ring, look here."

He opened the book to a page that showed the Ring, with a much smaller one next to it. This ring was cover in markings that the crew recognized as ancient Kirin runes and six slots. Looking closer at the main ring they saw the smaller ring fitted in between were the diamond was placed and the rest of the body, the slots lining up with six arms the the main ring."

"This smaller ring is, for lack of a better word, the power source of the Power ring. Without it the main ring is just a shell and the small one is just a hunk of rock. From what I read this was done as a failsafe of some sort as this smaller ring is in fact an old Kirin artifact."

"How do you know that last part sir?"

"I sent a picture of it to the Runesmiths at the Kirin Mountains a few days ago and I got a response this morning confirming it is in fact one, the runes are ones no Kirin uses anymore and in this case were used to power the ring."

Razor then pulled out a map of the island and laid it for them to see.

"I also found out this morning that a massive storm is headed for this region, it will hit in about twelve hours, maybe less, so we want to get what we came for and get out before then, savvy?"

There was a chorus of Ayes.

"Good, so when Apollo, Zenith and I reach this point-" He tapped a spot on the map which showed a small canyon, "-we'll slip up; Apollo, you will take your group here to were the old cave system is." Razor tapped the spot on the map, Apollo nodded his head. "While Zenith, you will take your group to the ruins of the fortress." He tapped another spot, Zenith smiled.

"As for me, I will search for the wreck of the Explorer here," He tapped an area of small mountains closer to the north side of the island.

"That a bit of a big area to search, how are you going to find it before the storm hits?" Fire Gem asked.

"With this," He showed his magic compass, "and these." He flared his wings. "I'll be taking to the air to search for it."

Razor then turned serious.

"Now remember everyone, just because we were very thorough the last time we were here doesn't mean we missed any twelve years ago and just because this island is uninhabited doesn't its empty, so be on you guard."

Everyone nodded.

"Okay, also remember this map is twelve years old so be ready for anything, select those for your groups and we'll get going."

After Apollo and Zenith did so five lifeboats were lowered and they moved to the island. Apollo's group included Thunderlane while Zenith took Soarin and Sky, much to the three's surprise.

After they landed they carefully hip the boats and walked inland, unknown to them, they were not alone.




Twilight's Group

Twilight and co had been following the Dragon for a number of days and had followed them to Blackcap Peaks.

"Are we there yet?"

"No Pinkie we're not." Flash said.

"Oh, how about now?"

"No Pinkie." Flare said.

There was silence for a moment, then...

"Are we there ye-"

"PINKIE! If you asked that one more time!" Rainbow shouted in rage.

Since they had started following the Dragon Pinkie had kept asking "are we there yet" which had driven the others to the end of their sanity.

"Pinkie, you are walking on a really thin line here. If you do not stop with the "are we there yets" we are going to muzzle you and lock you in the brig for the rest of this trip. Do you get me?" Night Light asked in a tone that very clearly said he was not joking.

Pinkie, noticing that and the fact that the others, even Fluttershy, were staring at her with angry glares, nodded her head with a sheepish smile and did a zipping motion along her lips. Just then Twilight said,

"Look! There they are!"

Everyone looked over and sure enough, they saw the Dragon drop anchor. After dropping their own at a hidden cove the Mane Six went after the pirate's landing party while the others stayed at their ship, but before they left Night Light stopped them.

"Twilight, girls, listen to me very carefully. I known you all want to beat the snot out of them, but that wouldn't be a good idea."

"Why wouldn't it? We've faced worse in the past."

"RD's right, we can handle a few pirates." Applejack said. Night facehoofed, then looked at Twilight.

"Twi, remember those shows you and Shining used to watch on weekend mornings?"

She nodded, confused at the question.

"Well these pirates, are not like those show bad guys, these pirates wouldn't hold back because you Mares. They. Could. Kill. You if given the chance." Night said in a completely serious tone.

"And don't give me the "You have worst" thing, Nightmare Moon was hammy and acted all high and mighty, Discord liked his games, Chrysalis wasted time by gloating and had her Changeling backing her up. These pirates have to fight and kill to survive!"

He then looked Rainbow and Applejack in the eyes.

"Have you two ever faced, or even seen, a Kirin before this one? I have."

The two Mares shook their heads. 

"You faced a Kirin Dad?"

"Not so much as faced, but watched. It was when I was still a Colonel"

Flashback

Canterlot

Royal Guard Training Ground, Years ago

We had set up a training scene where some of our more experienced Guards would face off against a powerful opponent. I was sitting with others who would watch the fight while the squad facing the opponent got ready. They were sure they would win, the General said the squad was ready, then the doors opened. Up until that day I'd never encountered a Kirin, only heard the stories.

In the doorway was a Unicorn-born Kirin if the horn protruding out of his head was anything to go by, he wore red, gold-trimmed armor that was very heavily scared and worn by battle. The same armor worn by their elite guard.

The Kirin walked to his starting spot opposite of the squad, who believed they were ready, with a highly disciplined calmness that seemed almost unnatural. One of the guard said a taunt to the Kirin when the General started the fight, the Kirin merely arched his back, and flared his wings while releasing a roar that shook the room. I learned my first thing about Kirin at that moment.

(Rarity) "And that was?"

That Kirin deliberately damage their wing membrane if the scars were any indication.

(Rainbow) Why would anypony deliberately damage their wings?!

And destroy their own natural beauty with scars?

Kirin have never found a way to armor their wings without weighing them down to much so they damage the membrane, though not enough to do permanent damage, to strengthen it.

(Applejack) How does that work?

(Twilight) Its called scarification, if I remember right Kirin see scars as a sign of respect and experience. In fact, the more scars and the nastier they appear, the more attractive they are in the eyes of a Kirin mate. And to answer you question Rarity, Kirins live in a very harsh land, one that makes the worst parts of the Everfree look like a foals playground. It has creatures that would devour things like Timber Wolves, Hydras, and even Ursa Minors like they were hayfries. I once meet a Kirin ambassador but I'll save that story for later.

Thank you Twilight, but save anymore question until after I finish. Were was I, oh right...

The fight wasn't long, the Kirin up the squad down like it was nothing. Two of them ended up in the hosptial, after the Kirin won he looked at us then removed his helmet. I will never forget it as long as I live; his face was heavily scared which included what I think was an acid burn, visible skin grafts, and he was blind in his right eye.

He looked right at us then said: "Remember... little Ponies, it does not matter how strong, skilled or lucky you are, if you make a mistake in a life or death situation then you could very well be dead. Also, there is always someone better, always.

I swear to Celestia, Luna, and Faust he looked right through us as he said that.

Flashback Ends

Night Light shuddered at the memory.

"Since then I've held a very healthy respect for Kirin, and something to note girls. Male Kirin might be formidable fighters, but the females are just as fearsome. So, only follow the pirates and don't engage them, alright."

"Yes dad." Twilight squeaked, her friends nodding their agreement.

"Alright, 

Rarity asked, "So to them things like fashion is very low on their priority list?"

"Yes, to be honest they see fashion as a waste of resources."

"That line of thinking is because their land is so dangerous things that just make you look you best is, to them, useless as the creatures don't care." Twilight added.

"In all honesty their idea of fashion is how well their armor, which is hand-crafted by each Kirin, protects the. Okay girls, now get going, they have quite the head start."

The Main Six ran down the path as Night Light watched them, Spike walked next to him.

"Um... dad?"

"Yes son?"

"Is what you said about Kirin true?"

"Yes Spike, it is."

"... You going to follow them, like at a distance?"

"Yes, while I do trust them, they have made some rather... questionable choices in the past. So they might very well fight the pirates or their Kirin leader. I need to be there to help if that happens."

"We'll hold the fort sir, you go ahead." Flare said. Night nodded and followed the girls down the path.




The Pirates

Razor held his halberd in one wing hand and his compass in the other as he chopped his way through the underbrush, twelve years had really caused the local plants to grow over the paths. Nothing his halberd and fire couldn't take care of. He cut more shrub down and stepped into the open, next to the canyon. Razor looked over it, and found that the bridge was gone.

"Not surprising since this island has been abandoned for twelve years." He muttered, he then turned to look behind him at the others.

"Slight problem guys."

"What's wron-oh..." Apollo said.

"That does complicate things." Zenth said with a frown.

"Why?" Sky asked as he walked up yo them. "Most of us can fly, and the ones who can't... we can just carry them."

"But we still need to find the second half," Razor reminded him. "And its a further walk to the other spot."

"Oh, okay." Sky said.

As the group took a rest the three leaders went over the plan.

"So it looks like you two will have to circle around the canyon, that will take longer but we still have time before storm hits, think you guys can get there and search before then?"

"We think so Razor but, what do we do if the storm hits and we're still here?" Apollo asked.

"We won't, if you see the storm come too close to the island leave immediately and haul tail back to the Dragon, we can always come back after the storm passes."

Both nodded their heads.

"Um... Razor?" Sky asked, "Why can't we fly over to the areas? As I mentioned most of us can fly and we can carry the ones who can't"

"Well Sky the two locations are in thick jungle which limits flying, and the Explorer is likely very unstable so it's better if I go alone so as not to risk anyone else." Razor explained.

"Oh, I get it." Sky nodded.

"Alright, we'd better get moving, that storm is bearing down on us and I want to be out of here before it hits. Good luck to you all and remember, just because this island was abandoned does not mean it's empty. I'll see you guys later."

Razor slipped his halberd into a holster next to his rifle's before walking to the cliff edge, looking over below for a minute, then spreading his massive wings. He then pulled out a pair of goggles, slipped them over his eyes, then dived off the cliff. After falling half way his wings spread again, catching with air with ease and sending him soaring through the air.




Mane Six

"Look! There goes the Kirin!"

The Mane Six had being walking for a short while and had reached the end of a canyon leading out to sea when Applejack called out and pointed with a hoof. Sure enough, there was the Kirin pirate flying off in the distance.

"Quick! Follow him!" Rainbow said and spread her wings then picked up Pinkie while Twilight picked up Rarity and Applejack as she and Fluttershy spread their wings then took off after him. Night Light appeared soon after, looking worried as he saw them fly off. He knew it would take some time for him to catch up.

"Please girls, don't do anything rash."




With Razor

Razor loved flying, the wind in his face, the pleasant feeling of it moving against his wing membrane, and the feeling of freedom. Razor loved these moments when he could leave his duties as a pirate lord for a short time and just lose himself in the soothing feeling of freedom. Pulling himself out of his thoughts he scanned the ground below; the jungle had ended a short time ago and gave way to short mountains.

He frowned, there were thick spires of smoke and steam ahead. While he could just fly through them, Razor hated flying blind and it was the same thing at night; too hard to see things before you crashed into them. Spotting a clear landing point he dived folding his wings against his sides, then flared them to slow his landing, which he did with practiced ease and grace, the wind kicking up small amounts of dust and sand.

Removing his goggles he pulled out his compass, opening it he saw the needle was pointing into a cave.

"Tunnels, of course."

He then pulled out a large lantern, it was red in color with emerald and gold trimming. It was shaped like two four-sided triangles attached together at the bottom with a four-sided rectangle in between, in the center of the rectangle sides was a circle. One circle had a dome while the other three held a ruby skull each, the glass was green, the handle was metal with two silver chains attaching it to the lantern, at the base of the chains was what looked like a small ship wheel, and within were large crystals.

Grabbing a small dial at the base of the chains Razor turned it and bright light emitted from the lantern with the dome projecting a beam like a flashlight. He walked into the cave, only to find it went straight down. Shaking his head he reattached the lantern to his belt, pulled out his sword and carefully started to climb down.

Unknown to him, he had some company; the Mane Six saw him enter the cave. They had landed further back and had stuck to the brush just out of eye and earshot.

"Don't lose him!" Rainbow said.

Dash, are you and Applejack sure you want to actually fight him? You heard what my dad said."

"He's just trying to scare us Twi, we've handled worst."

"Besides Twilight, there's six of us and only one of him. We faced an army of Changelings and won."

Twilight was about to say something but was cutoff when both Pinkie and Rarity agreed with RD and AJ. Fluttershy walked next to her.

"If it makes you feel any better Twilight, I agree with you." Twi gave her a smile in thanks. They then started carefuly climbing down the shaft with Twilight hovering and ready to catch any that lost their footing.

Meanwhile Razor reached the bottom of the shaft, took his lantern off his belt and held it in his right wing claw.

"...Wow..."

The area ahead was a massive cavern, with a thin layer of mist throughout it.

"Better tread carefully."

Razor slowly walked forward, taking careful steps. The cavern had many side tunnels, ridges, and pathways, it was easy to get lost here. As he walked he took note of many wall paintings scattered across the cavern.

"Shame I can't study them right now, maybe later after the storm has passed... and why am I talking to myself? Whatever, its helping me think."

After some time Razor finally found an exit and stepped onto a sandy, sunlit beach.

"Ahhh fresh air."

Putting his lantern away after turning it off he pulled out his compass, following it he soon came up to a cliff wall, with the needle pointing right at it.

"...What?"

Looking at the compass in confusion he brought it up to his face.

"There's a wall in front of me and there's no way around it. Is this thing broken or... wait,"

Razor was holding the compass vertically to his face with the key-shaped needle pointing upwards, he eyes slowly widened.

"Not in front of me, above me."

Looking up he spotted something, moving around the cliff base he saw the remains of a ship, the same one he was looking for.

"The Explorer."

Putting his compass back on his belt Razor crouched down like a cat readying to pounce, then leaped onto some outcropping, leaping up again to more that were higher.

"Good thing for that parkour training.

Razor had started learning how to parkour early in his pirate career, using the masts of his ship for practice, drove the crew up there crazy, which for him just added to the fun. Finally he reached the ship which sat on thirdly stories, give or take, worth of rocky cliff. How it got there was a mystery, Razor's best guess was a giant wave had carried the ship and set it down here.

He reached the top and pulled himself over. There in front of him, was the wreck of the Explorer. Time hadn't been kind to the ship; while the hull was mostly intact, all traces of its paint and other markings were long gone. The masts and bowsprit were almost completely destroyed, the quarterdeck was cover with debris, meaning he could enter the Captain's Cabin that way, and there was a large torn section of hull under the rear of the quarterdeck with only the remains of the support ribs remaining.

"Well, that's not scary."

Below the Mane Six saw the tri-bladed tail tip disappear over the edge, Rainbow made to follow when Twilight stopped her.

"Wait Dash, he will have the advantage up there, plus that wreck doesn't look very stable."

"Twi's right RD, even if that wreck was stable, I reckon that pirate will have experience in fightin' in close-quarters like that.' Applejack said.

"So, what do you two think?" RD asked.

"We ambush him in the cave, he doesn't know we're following him so we can catch him by surprise." Twilight said.

"How do we know he wouldn't simply fly over the mountains?" Rarity asked."

"The smoke and steam cover, to many things to crash into."

The six Mares nodded in agreement and went back into the cave, unaware they had left clear prints int the sand.

Up above Razor reached the hole as with the quarterdeck blocked by debris he would have to go another way. Carefully, he reached out with his tail and gently pressed some of the beams. There was a creaking but the boards held, it seemed stable. Razor slowly climbed on and entered the ship, it took some time to reach the floor of the Captain's Cabin but he would much rather take it slowly as moving through the old ship was risky enough, it was sitting on an unstable surface and even the slightest shift could sent it falling, with him in it. Razor knew that, while Kirins were able to take an incredible beating, they were far from invulnerable, as the scar at the base of his wing would say. They could still very well die from a broken neck or spine, at least the former was instant.

Razor finally reached the floor under the cabin and pushed some loose boards out of the way, after that he lifted himself up into the room. It was clear he was the only one to enter this room in a long time if the thick layer of dust was anything to go by, the room was filled to the seems in treasure, so filled that Razor couldn't walk without stepping on coins or other items. While other pirates would be drooling at the amount, Razor was only after one item; the Power Ring.

He found it after a minute of searching, it was resting in the grip of the remains of the Captain who was laying in a large king-sized bed. Razor reached forward, grabbed the ring, whispered an apology, and slowly pulled. No sooner had the ring moved a bit that the head of skeleton of the captain moved! Razor looked at the head which stared back at him as if saying "excuse me".

Razor's ears fold against his head, as much as he wanted to deny it, this wasn't the first time he had encountered moving skeletons like this.

"I know the ring is valuable, but I need it for something very important to me. Would you be willing to trade?"

The skeleton's head tilted slightly to the right, signaling it was curious. Razor let go of the ring and reached into one of his chest-like saddlebags, he pulled out a large, diamond-shaped blue gem the size of his head. The skeleton's head moved back very slightly, as if in surprise.

"Yes, this is exactly what you think it is; a Seapony Gem, one of the rarest treasures in the Sea of Legends."

Razor wasn't kidding, a Seapony Gem was so rare it was up to half a continent worth of bits.

The skeleton stared at the gem, then slightly nodded. Razor smiled and placed the gem on the bed in the skeleton's hoof, which released the Power Ring body which Razor took.

"I'll leave you to rest in piece now." He said with a tip of his hat as the skeleton laid it's head back down on the bed and Razor moved to the hole he came in. Razor moved through the ship and exited out the way he came back into sunlight. He walked to the edge of the cliff and used his wings as a parachute.

After he landed he looked at the Power Ring body.

"One step at a time, we will find the Lost Tombs."

His smiled happily, but that smile faded when he spotted something, hoofprints, and not his own. They came from the cave, then looped back, and they were fresh. Leaning down Razor took a sniff.

"Mmmm... Lavender, with the smell of books. Perfumes and makeup with fabrics of various types. Apples, vanilla with the different scents of animals, outdoor workouts with a blend of berries, and the nice smell of cotton candy and baked goods. The Mane Six!"

Looking at the cave entrance with a narrowed-eye glare, Razor let out a low growl.

"So you want to hunt and ambush me huh? Well Mares, let me show you how much a Kirin loves the hunt."
> Chapter 12: Blackcap Peaks part 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blackcap Peaks

With Razor

Razor glared at the cave entrance, now he knew he was not alone. After making sure he was alone and the Mares weren't going to jump him out here he reached back and took the chest off his right flank and set it down in front of him. The chests, besides having the symbol on the front, were actually fairly large, not enough to be a huge problem a him but still quite big. The chests were shaped like normal at the bottom halves but the top halves widened towards the top of the lids, had designs showing Kirins all over it, a large ring-shaped handle on each side, and a very large key hole.

Razor took a large, white key with a Kirin skull shaped end and slid it into the hole, then turned it clockwise than counter-clockwise. The chest let out a hiss of air and steam while claw shaped latches on the outside snapped open. He opened the lid and reached in, pulling out several items: The first were grenades like the ones he had used on Ashbone Spires with two key differences; the first was instead of a metal cap and ring was a handle with a metal cap akin to one on a water bottle and a icon showing a silhouette of a Pony in a field of some sort.

This was a grenade of Germane design, and the icon was the symbol for magic capture fields. This type of field was used in various items with the intent to capture living (or non-living) targets in a magic field that locked their bodies up keeping them from moving yet allowing them to be aware of their surrounds, breath, and talk. The same type of magic used on the Traveler.

The next items were six cap and ball (or percussion cap) revolvers the same make as the ones he already had, he then pulled out twelve cylinders, each with the same symbol as the grenades. He laid out a sheet of cloth over the sand and laid his twelve revolvers, he picked one up and very carefully detached the cylinder and swapped it for the capture one. He did this with all twelve.

With that done he put everything he didn't need back in the chest and closed it, then slipped it back into place on his flank. Razor stood up and looked back at the cave.

"Okay Mares, time for a hunt."

Razor slowly walked to the cave and started sniffing the air while his ears perked up, listening for anything out of place. It wasn't long before he picked up the sound of voices not to far ahead, down the main path covered in mist. He stopped and listened for a minute.

"Are you sure he will come this way Twilight daring?" A voice that reminded him a little to much of the late Royals asked.

"Yes, the book I read on pirates said they tend to let their guard down if they are carrying treasure and think they are alone, so ambushing him will be easy."

Those books are outdated Miss Sparkle. And you really need to learn to keep your voices down if you want to spring an ambush. Razor thought to himself shaking his head.

"Come on y'all, there's six of us and only one of him." A voice with a southern accent said.

A larger force doesn't always mean victory.

"Yea, we've faced down Nightmare Moon, Discord, and many others and we won." A certain rainbow-haired Pony said. "He's only a pirate, we'll have no trouble with him."

Razor wasn't sure if he should be feeling insulted or not.

"Um... Rainbow, that pirate is a Kirin. You have heard the stories about they combat abilities right." A barely audible voice said.

"Come on Fluttershy, those are just stories. There's no way they could handle the fastest Pegasus in the Equestria, I'll take him down with old lefty and righty."

Now Razor was insulted.

Well, ain't you an arrogant one Miss Dash, time to knock that ego down a few levels.

Razor looked around, found a path that led to a spot over looking the six Mares, and pulled out a grenade. He activated it and tossed it into them. The Mane six saw the grenade land among them cutting off their plan with shrieks of surprise and fear. Rainbow, due to being in the air, escaped the blast, her friends weren't as lucky. Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie, and Fluttershy found themselves entrapped in a magic field that left them unable to move.

Rainbow landed in front of them.

"Girls! You okay?!"

"Rainbow behind you!" Twilight shouted.

A loud and heavy thump filled the air of the cavern as Dash spun around, standing there was Archduke Razor Tail, and he looked ready for a fight.

"The pirate lord." Rainbow said with a growl, puffs of steam coming out her nose.

"The fastest Pegasus in Equestria."

"What did you do to my friends?!"

"Your friends will be okay, that field fades after some time and they'll be right as rain." Razor said slowly spreading his wings, showing the heavily scared and burned membrane.

"How did you even know we were here?!"

"First rule of hunting; Never let the prey know you are there waiting for it."

"Be careful Dashie! Those claws, teeth, and tail blades ain't for show!" Pinkie said, uncharacteristically serious.

The two stared each other down as the they began to circle one another. Rainbow had speed and her smaller size on her side, but Razor had a Kirin's durability, size, and combat experience on his. After a few times Razor stopped and let out a low roar, challenging the Pegasus. Rainbow answered the challenge by giving a flap of her wings and charged the Kirin. Razor meet the charge by moving forward and shoulder-charged Dash, forcing her to the cave floor on her back, He then quickly raised a fist and brought it down to her face. She dodged it at the last second, grabbed a small rock and slammed it into the side of the Kirin's face, knock him off her.

Rainbow quickly rolled onto her stomach and stood up, Razor doing the same. The two stared each other circling again, the Kirin let out a growl, Dash doing the same. Razor roared again and charged with Rainbow also charging, they meet at the middle and locked each other. Unfortunately for the Pegasus the Kirin's greater strength and size allowed him to push her back, sending her onto her back again but she managed to use her back hooves to push him off to the side, followed by rolling to the right herself. Razor got up and swing his tail at her, Dash dodged it and gave it a kick. Razor let out a growl of slight pain and anger.

This Mare does know how to fight, seems Spitfire did give her some proper training.

Razor was impressed, He had thought Dash wouldn't know how to actually fight smart with her track record and all. Clearly he was wrong, he stared at her and let out a low growl.

Rainbow glared back at him, then charged. Razor blocked her first swing but missed her second, Dash manged to get three hits along with a buck from her hind leg to his face but Razor retaliated with his own punches. Rainbow did her best to block them but Razor landed one on to stomach followed by grabbing her mane and throwing her across the cavern where she rolled to a stop next to her frozen friends.

"Rainbow are you alright?!" Rarity asked.

Rainbow knew she wasn't; her body was covered in bruises from the hits Razor had landed, although she did get a few good hits in herself, Razor had recovered faster then she would think. While Rainbow was the fastest Pegasus in Equestria, she wasn't the most durable and while she did have some close-combat training from the Wonderbolts, she didn't have much actual experience.

Razor flared his wings, let out a roar, and charged. Dash shakily stood up and tried to block his attack, but he knocked her down with a headbutt, stunning the Pegasus and knocking her against a rock. Razor grabbed her mane and lifted her head so she was looking into his eyes. Rainbow, at that moment, realized she had greatly underestimated him, and she was scared.

Razor moved his tail blades forward till the edge of the largest one was pressed against her throat, all Razor had to do was pull the blade across and she was done for. Rainbow closed her eyes, her friends were shouting her name in fear for her, and waited for the end, a single tear fell down her face.

Scootaloo, I'm sorry.

She felt the blade move, away from her neck, and felt the grip on her mane release. She slowly opened her eyes and saw Razor walking away from them, before he jumped up the shaft they came down and his tail disappear up it. A few moments later the field holding her friends faded and they were released. They rushed over to her.

Twilight carefully checked her over, thankfully her injures weren't as bad as they looked. Rainbow rubbed her throat, both surprised and relieved. The others wrapped her in a group hug, then helped her out of the cavern, AJ and Pinkie carrying her on their backs. No sooner had they stepped into the sunlight that a yellow flash appeared, reveling Night Light, and he wasn't happy. 

"Girls, back to the boat, now."

The girls nodded and started walking with Night follow behind, a single thought going through their minds; Why did the pirate spare Rainbow?

Above them on the rock wall Razor watched them disappear into the jungle.

"I hope you learned something today Mane Six, I'm not like the ones you faced in the past. Unlike Nightmare Moon I don't need magic to be a threat, unlike Discord I don't play games like that or think I'm untouchable. The scar at the base of my wing is proof of that. I know you're worried your friends but as long as they are part of my crew they will be safe, till next time we meet." He said quietly.

Razor spread his wings and took to the air, flying towards the fortress ruins.

"Wait, Zenith, are you... oh you're doing that without me now?! Well here I come!"

Razor gave a powerful flap of his wings and shot forward.




With Apollo's Group

At the same time

Thunderlane walked along the path next to Apollo as their group moved towards the old cave system. He was wearing a vest the same color as the Wonderbolt's uniform with a yellow belt and baldric, both with silver buckles, and had a sheathed cutlass under his left wing.

"Something on your mind lad?"

Blinking, Thunderlane looked over to see Apollo looking at him with a curious expression.

"A number of things actually, even though me and my friends have been aboard the Dragon for some time now, I'm still amazed by the members of the crew."

"Oh? How so?"

"Well... the fact that so many different species are able to work together peacefully is a bit jarring, I mean almost every time we've meet a new species they've been, for lack of a better word, jerks."

Apollo let out a light laugh.

"You wouldn't be the first to point that out lad, quite a few new members do the same."

"Really?"

"Aye, and its not surprising considering the different reputations. Now, I personally have nothing against the Yaks but... Rutherfold isn't his father. And my own kind is a disgrace to what we once were."

"I've heard the stories, is it really that bad."

"Aye... That's why I came to the Sea of Legends, sought Razor out and joined the Outcasts. I wasn't the first or the last, heck look how many Griffins live in Equestria now. The Griffins once had powerful empire but when the Idol was lost, we caved-in on ourselves due to our own greed an infighting. In a way that was a good thing, the leaders at the time were warmongers."

They stayed silent for a few minutes, then Thunder asked.

"What's your story Apollo? If you don't mind me asking."

"Well Thunderlane, I was born to a Noble family but my parents died when I was six, leaving me to the care of my Grandfather, who was not a nice guy even by Griffin standards and even greedier the others. Sure he gave me anything I wanted, but there was always a price, the only thing he cared about was his legacy. I escaped and fled to the Sea of Legends, and joined the Outcasts after hearing about them and meeting Razor. My Grandfather did come looking for me, to "reclaim his property"."

Apollo snarled at the last line.

"I'm sure he was behind my parent's dead, thankfully I didn't have to deal with him for long when he came after me."

"How so?"

"Razor put a bullet through his head and cast him to the abyss, good feathering riddance I say."

Thunderlane didn't say anything else for a short while, once some time had passed he asked.

"What did Razor mean by "very thorough the last time we were here and doesn't mean we missed any twelve years ago"? The Outcasts were here once before?"

"Indeed we were, have you ever heard of the legend of the "Fountain of Youth"?"

"Yes, a magic fountain that gives whoever drinks from it eternal life but that's just a story."

Apollo gave him a look that said, "Guess again lad." Thunder's eyes widened.

"It's REAL?!!"

"Was real, twelve years ago. To tell that tale you will need to hear another; Many years ago this island was ruled by a pirate lord know as "The Unicorn of Death" or The UOD for short. He was a Unicorn Stallion with a black coat and white mane that ruled a small empire from this very island with an iron hoof. From this island he would launch raids at various port towns, cities, and fleets, looting and enslaving everything and everyone in his path."

"One of the threats Razor had to destroy... How does he tie into the fountain?"

"It was the reason for the Unicorns power, he used it to live far passed his own lifespan. You see, the fountain didn't actually grant eternal life. Two gold, jewel encrusted chalices were filled with water from the fountain, then..." Apollo paused looking at the wall of vines in front of them.

"Lad, you're about to see one of the Unicorn's worst crimes."

Apollo laid a wing on Thunderlane's back and gently pushed him through the vines, Thunder was horrified at the sight awaiting him.

Merpony corpses, hundreds of them, both Mare and Stallion, all hanging by their tails which had large meat hooks through them attached to heavy, spiked chains, hanging above small pools of water, just barely out of reach of their hooves. A number of them were just skeletons, others were in various levels of decay, dark streaks ran from were the hooks were impaled which Thunderlane knew full well was blood.

But by far the worst part was the faces of the not-as-decayed ones; their faces were frozen in what seem to be absolute horror and untold pain, and their eyes or rather, lack of! Their eyes and eyelids were gone, just the holes remained with dried blood streaks running down their faces.

Thunderlane could only stare, eyes wide, ears pinned back and mouth dropped open, unable to believe the terror he was seeing. This looked like something out of a horror movie, but this was way, way too real.

"And this was only one of his many crimes." Apollo said walking up to the Pegasus.

"What kind of monster was that Unicorn?!"

"One that had at least five hundred years of life in him. The fountain needed the tears of a Merpony to work, the chalices were filled with the fountain's water and a Merpony tear was added to one. The Unicorn would drink the one with the tear and force a Merpony or a unlucky prisoner to drink the other. The fountain required a sacrifice, it would give the Unicorn his full life span back on top of what he had already lived, and the full lifespan of the sacrifice."

Apollo looked at the hanging corpses with heavy sorrow.

"This was just one way of gathering those tears, another one was... doing something unspeakable to both Mares and Stallions."

Thunderlane had no words, finally after ten minutes he said,

"No wonder Razor wanted to take that Unicorn down, not even Princess Celestia would let a monster like that live."

"Indeed, and it turned out taking him down was much easier then we had thought."

"Huh?"

"The Unicorn was very skilled in magic, living five hundred years gave him time to study after all, and could even best an Alicorn if a magic duel. But for all that power, he had one fatal flaw."

"And that was?"

"He had forgotten how to fight without magic, his men and slaves were terrified of him so he never had anyone try to overthrow him, for that would have lead to a fate worse the death. When the Outcasts attacked, we blasted through his forces like they were nothing, they had gotten to use to attacking and raiding weakly defended or defenseless enemies."

"Which meant they could not fight against one that was very strong and knew how to fight."

"Aye, there's also the facts that most of his forces, who were badly mistreated, surrendered to us and turned on their master and his own "Elite Guard" barely had any training and their gear was subpar at best. Razor and the Unicorn faced each other, the latter making threats of different sorts of things he would do after he had won as he always had before. The Unicorn hit Razor with a powerful blast of magic, laughing in triumph thinking he had won, only for that same to cut off as he saw the magic simply flow over Razor as if he'b only been hit by a watery mist."

"How was Razor not effected? A blast like that should... have..." Thunderlane's eyes widened, "Razor Tail is a Kirin! And Kirins are immune to magic!"

"Right you are lad, the Unicorn was to shocked to try and defend himself as Razor beat the living crap out of him. I remember it well..."



Flashback

Twelve years ago

The top of the Unicorn's fortress

"You don't even deserve to be called a monster... Filth!"

The Unicorn went flying from a kick from Razor, landing and sliding over the flat roof.

"You are weak, undisciplined, and you have forgotten the fear of death. Allow me to reacquaint you."

Razor wracked the Unicorn in the head with the hammer part of his halberd, sending the Unicorn sliding over the edge. The Unicorn grabbed hold of the edge, down below Razor's Outcast army and the remains of the Unicorn's own army fought his loyal elite guards, who were falling fast to the overwhelming numbers, better training, and superior weapons.

"I am Archduke Razor Tail, and you empire, your wreath, your now former slaves... are the Outcast's of the Abyss."

Razor swing his halberd, runes flaring white, the scythe tip hitting the neck of the Unicorn. For a moment, the Unicorn hung there, then he fell to the ground below. His body hit the top area of the stairs leading into the fortress, the head detached and rolled down the stairs and came to a rest among the bodies of the Unicorns elite guard, the head's face in untold pain. Above Razor flared his wings, arched his back, and released a thundering roar into the sky, joined the the cheers of victory from his forces, both old and newly added, the former slaves holding up the head and body of their late former master.




Flashback ends

"Wow..." Was all Thunderlane could say.

"After that battle we went to the fountain, and set about getting ready to destroy it. As we were doing that a Panish Noble with his men appeared, having come to do the same thing, Razor talked to him for a few minutes, explaining that he saw the fountain as too tainted to be left standing while the Panish Noble wanted to destroy as it was an affront to their beliefs. Razor told the Noble all he wanted were the chalices and even offered the Noble the fuse for when the explosives were ready. The Noble thought about it and agreed, and in the end the fountain was destroyed without any fights and we went on our separate ways. After that we hunted down the remaining loyalists and destroyed them, leaving nothing left of that small empire."

"Razor thinks there may be survivors?"

"Aye, possibly."

Thunderlane nodded and the group continued on, leaving the hanging bodies in piece. They didn't find any trace of the ring after a very thorough search and they moved towards the fort to regroup with Zenith. As they walked the saw a large, skull-shaped cloud over it.

"Oh boy." Apollo said.

"What's wrong?" Thunder asked.

"Zenith and her group doing a fortress raid, without us. Razor's gonna be cheesed."

"A what?"

Thunder didn't get an answer as Apollo shot forward in a run, the group joining him, Thunderlane took to the air to keep up.




With Zenith's Group

At the same time, again

Zenith and her group had just stepped into the ruins of the fortress when a loud but at the same time deep horn went off and a large skull-shaped cloud formed above. She and the pirates quickly pulled out their weapons while Soarin and Sky, who were wearing similar outfits to Thunderlane's, looked surprised then pulled out their own weapons.

No sooner had they done that when many clouds of sand and dust burst up ten meters ahead, followed by hooves, hands, and other limbs.

Skeleton limbs.

From the ground many skeletons of various creatures emerged holding rusted swords, axes, polearms and other melee weapons.

"What the hay?!"

"Are we actually seeing this?!"

Both Soarin and Sky could only stare in disbelief, the two of them couldn't believe that in front of them were moving skeletons.

"This is real lads, meet one of the most common threats of the Sea of Legends." Zenith said. "Gunners, get ready!"

The Gunners with the rifles lined up, aimed, and fired a barrage of bullets into the skeleton horde, taking a large number down. But more arose, ready to attack. From what the two Traveler Ponies could see there were two types; The first was your standard skeletons with nothing else on them and the second type wore pieces of cloth in various colors. most of them wore random articles of sea damaged clothing while others didn't, most had various melee weapons though some were unarmed and a few even had damaged matchlock, wheellock and flintlock firearms.

The Skeletons charged while the ones with firearms fired, they all missed and at least two had their weapons detonate in their hands. The Outcast Gunners fired again while another Outcast pirate, an Earth Pony Stallion, walked up behind them. He was wearing a black, gold edged bicorne, a white scarf tucked into a white shirt, a dark blue navy coat, a brown leather belt, black pants and gray boots.

A cap and ball revolver was stuffed into his belt and a cutlass hung at his side, along with a large trumpet. The latter he took off his belt and blew into it, a gold colored energy emerged from it and spread to the Gunners, covering them in the energy and their weapons in lightning of the same color.

The Gunners fired another barrage, bringing even more down, Soarin swore he saw the words "Critical Hit" in green on each hit.

The Marauders took drinks of their potions and letting out a loud battlecry clashed with the waves of skeletons while the Brawlers pounded their drums. A Deck Swabber hefted his Gatling gun and opened fire mowing many down. Soarin ducked a sword and brought the attacking skeleton down with his own, Sky was next to him.

"You doing okay Sky?"

"So far, though I think for the future anything we see in the Sea of Legends that shouldn't be, don't question it."

"Like Pinkie and her, odd abilities."

"Yea."

The first wave of skeletons went down easy enough, the next wave included a new variant that was covered in plants but were otherwise the same as before. At this point the Outcasts had reached the remains of the inner courtyard and encountered another variant. 

"OH THESE ARE IRON! swords wouldn't do anything to them!"

"How do you damage them then?" Sky asked.

"Water or explosives, Grenadiers get over here and take them down!" Zenith shouted.

A group of pirates wearing brown coats, pants, boots, and bags, tan shirts, belts and sashes, bandoleers with grenades, some sort of tribal shield on their backs, an explosive plunger with sticks of dynamite and various types of hats with slow-burning fuses stuffed under them and tied into the hair charged forward.

Some had swords in one hand and grenades in the other while others had cap and ball Hand Mortars. As the grenadiers took down the Iron skeletons another pirate suddenly shouted,

"Oh we have metal and Ghost!"

"Metal ghost dear Faust, does anyone have a psychic type?"

The "Ghost" skeletons had black-as-night bones, eyes moonlight white and wisps of black fog emitting from them. A new group of Outcast pirates engaged the ghost skeletons.

This group wore brown tricornes, sea green waistcoats with brown belts around the stomach over white silk shirts, armore plating on the shoulders and torso, black gloves and pants, brown belts with steel buckles, brown bags and sea green silk sashes, brown knee-high boots, and shields on their backs. Their hats, waistcoats, belts, bags, gloves, pants and boots were all leather.

They were duel-wielding Pinfire 20-shot pinfire revolvers with more stuffed through their belts.

They pulled out their pistols and opened fire. The battle lasted for some time as waves of skeletons emerged from the ground, Soarin and some other pirates did receive injures but a group of Outcasts; ones that wore white hooded robes, blue waistcoats, white shirts and pants, and blue bags and boots moved around healing the injured with potions, spells and the like. Finally a skeleton wearing attire normally worn by captains appeared, and after a long fight Sky landed the finishing blow. He picked up a disk with a skull missing the lower jaw and glowing green eyes, he looked at the others. 

"What is this?"

"That's the vault key, follow us."

They walked through the ruins till they reached a large, rounded door.

"This is it, place the key in that slot Sky." Zenith said. Sky walked forward and did so, a heavy rumble shook the ruins a bit as the door retreated under ground, revealing a large vault filled with treasure. The pirates eyes and smiles went very wide and bright as they laid eyes on the loot, six years worth.

"Wow..." Sky breath out in awe, Soarin's jaw had dropped to the floor. After the pirates checked over the loot, and finding the smaller ring they all gathered it and (with Sky carrying one of the labeled "Fortress Chests" as per Outcast tradition) exited the ruins just as Apollo and his group arrived.

"Crap we missed it?" He asked.

"Sorry Apollo, but yes." Zenith said with a smirk.

"Dang it!" Apollo said with a pout.

Around them the two groups told each other about what they had found.

"Are you serious Thunderlane?!" Sky said.

"Believe me I wish I wasn't."

"That's horrible! Not even Princess Celestia would let a monster like that live." Soarin said in shock. Thunderlane nodded grimly, he had also been quite surprised about the skeletons. He looked up, and his eyes slightly widened.

"Ah... Zenith,  you may want to take cover."

Said Zebra looked over with a confused look.

"Why? What's wrong?" she asked.

The answer came as a wall blew apart with a loud crash, revealing a very angry Kirin.

"ZZZZZZZZZZZZZEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNNNNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Said Zebra's ears folded back.

"Oh Scheisse,"

"Hey that's my line! You did a Fortress raid without me!?" Razor bellowed.

"Razor calm down, you were busy with the Explorer. If it makes you feel and better Apollo and his group missed the raid to, and we did get the smaller ring."

Razor opened his mouth to shout something else, but closed it and took a few calming breaths.

"You right, sorry about flying of the handle like that."

"Ah it's alright ya big lizard," Zenith patted Razor on the shoulder, "we still love ya all the same." Razor just smiled and let out a laugh.

After going over what they all had found they made their way back to the longboats and back to their ship, on another part of the island Twilight and her group left in their ship but lost track of the Dragon as the storm hit the island. Rainbow and Applejack both got a pretty nasty tongue lashing from Night Light. Both ships went different ways and disappeared into the coming night.
> Chapter 13: Tales to Tell
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Equestrian Fleet

The Alicorn of Freedom

Celestia, Luna, Iron Waters, Neighsay, and the five foreign leaders were gathered in the captain's cabin with Wave Surfer who had agreed to tell them what he knew as a native to the Sea of Legends. Joining them were Starswirl and the other Pillars along with the Captain of the Royal Guards; a light blue Earth Pony Mare with a darker blue mane and tail with a white streak, ice blue eyes, and a cutie mark of two crossed halberds with a third one behind the cross. Two things that stood out was her size; she was easily a good head taller then most Stallions, and the large silver halberd clipped to her armor. The same halberd used by Kirin Soldiers.

The Mare's name was Blade Wind, an Earth Pony of Kirin descent.

"So Wave, what can you tell us about the Sea of Legends?" Iron asked.

Wave looked up from the tea he'd been drinking. "Not as much as you'd probably like since most of what I know comes from the legends and tales I've heard over the years."

"As I said before, it sure beats the hay out of nothing."

"Okay, sooo... where would you like me to start?"

"How about with what you know about the Sea of Legends itself." Luna said.

"Well the Sea of Legends is a massive ocean dotted with many islands through some areas are just open water with many secrets and legends. From what I know magic is quite rich in the water but so far one one has found any way to wield it, and many things outsiders thing is just old Pony tales, is very real out here."

"Like what?" Starswirl asked.

"Sea and Merponies for one, giant sea creatures, and other such tales. One of the most common threats sailors face are walking Skeletons brought to life by magic. At least, that's one belief."

The others looked at him in disbelief.

"That's impossible!" Neighsay said. "How could Skeletons possibly be able to move and be a threat. No magic can do that!"

Wave rather calmly answered, "Don't be so quick to dismiss it, the Sea of Legends holds many secrets, some more dangerous then others. This place can either be one's beginning... or their end."

Picking up his tea cup he continued.

"The Sea of Legends is still largely unexplored, and "living Skeletons are only one of many threats here. The Sea is to be respected, for she takes all those who do not."

Things were quiet for a few minutes, then Blade asked.

"What are the other threats in this sea?"

"Too many for me to list; besides the Skeletons you have massive uncontrollable storms that can cover large areas for even months, to the forever feared Imperator Leviathan: The apex predator of the Sea of Legends, very few have ever faced one, and lived to tell the tale."

He suddenly shuttered.

"But... the most feared creature of the Sea, is a female Imperator Leviathan know by a large number of names; The Tidemaker, The Terror of the Sea, and the most well known, The Rage of the Tides."

Wave looked at his company with a haunted look, freaking them out slightly.

"She is a six mile long creature with a mane of hundreds of tentacles, half ending in three-jawed mouths filled with teeth that suck a victim into a horrible death of literary being shredded alive, and a mouth big enough to swallow a mountain whole. She has roamed the Sea of Legends for thousands of years, and only one has ever survived challenging her."

He paused, letting what he said sink in.

"Two thousand years ago there was a Pirate Lord named Wolfgang Harpoon. He spend many, many years of his life chasing the creature, seeking fame and glory for killing the Leviathan. To do this he designed a weapon, a special harpoon enchanted with untold power, to kill the otherwise unkillable creature."

"How would it be unkillable?" Starswirl asked, the looks on the others asking the same thing.

"Many years of exposure to the magic-rich waters of the Sea of Legends has hardened it's hide to near-invulnerability, it's hide is covered in many scars it has gained over it's very long life."

Wave drew in a deep breath.

"Wolfgang faced the Rage of the Tides in it's territory with the harpoon, ready to end the creature, he failed. All but one of his crew was lost that day, along with the only weapon capable of killing the Leviathan. The sole survivor spread the tale, writing many books about that day."

There was a very long pause, everyone taking all this in. While some were skeptic, others looked worried, if the Sea of Legends was that dangerous. Finally after a short while Ember asked.

"Is the Sea ruled by anyone?"

Thankful for the change in subject, Wave answered.

"Up until about fifteen years or so ago the Sea was ruled by mix of Pirate Lords and Royals, most through an iron grip and were, for a lack of a better word, tyrants who only felt greed and only cared about power. They did things best left unsaid to those who live here, all I can say is that it was really bad. Until fifteen years ago they were unchallenged and fought never ending wars with each other, that all changed when the Outcasts of the Abyss showed up."

The gathered creatures looked at each other, then Celestia asked.

"How did things change?"

"When they first showed up the Outcasts were ignored, the Royals and Lords thinking they were not worth the time to hunt them down. That was a fatal mistake. The Outcasts of the Abyss, lead by the Kirin Archduke Razor Tail, lead a campaign that slowly took them all down, by the time the "Rulers" realized how much of a threat the Outcasts were to them, only two Royals remained."

Wave paused to take a breath, then continued.

"They joined forces and attacked the Outcast's base, an area known as Ironclads Rest, an area said to be a massive ship graveyard and hidden by a maelstrom of untold magic power. It was there they faced against the now massive Outcast armada, and where the last two Royals were taken by the sea. The massive power vacuum left by the deaths of the Royals allowed Archduke Razor Tail and the three remaining pirate Lords to take the Sea of Legend for themselves."

"So now they rule the sea. Though how did these "Outcasts of the Abyss gain so much power?" Ember asked.

"When you've been oppressed for a long time owning nothing, not your lands or even your shelter. Having no rights in the eyes of rulers who simply don't give a flying feather, what happens when an unknown outsider takes down one down."

"You see a spark of hope for a better life..." Flash started,

"and hang onto it with everything you have." Somnambula finished.

"Once word of the first Royal's fall reached them, did they ever. At the time Razor's forces were few, but after taking down the first the ranks of the Outcasts swelled like balloon but I'll get to that later, right now I believe you want to know more the remaining Pirate Lords right?"

"Yes, what can you tell us about them?" Luna asked.

"Well, the four Lords are Blackmane, perhaps you're familiar with him, though to my knowledge he's now semi-retired and has given most of his turf over to the Outcasts. Iron Horn, a powerful Unicorn Archmage and Razor Tail's arch rival. The Giant Earth Pony and Cave Thestral hybrid named Blood Fang. And finally the most powerful of all, Archduke Razor Tail himself."

"Blackmane? One of the most feared pirates to sail the seas, lives in the Sea of Legends?" Iron asked.

"Yes, though he's left his days of pirating behind him."

"What about the other Lords?" Thorax asked.

"Iron Horn, as I said before, is a powerful Archmage, possibly as power as Starswirl here. He rules a small but very well defended area filled with rocks, shipwrecks and bones. From what I've heard he's been studying magic since his was very young, although not at the cost of casting off bonds he has with others. His ship is a former Caribou Titan named the "Steel Phoenix" and his flag is a tome with two crossed wands behind it."

"Magic wouldn't help him against Razor Tail, Kirins are immune to magic." Mage Meadowbrook said.

"Doesn't mean it wouldn't be useful elsewhere." Celestia said.

"The rivalry between Razor and Iron Horn seems to be more of the friendly kind," Wave continued, "and they only act nasty to each other. At least, that is as far as I know."

He took a sip of his tea, finishing it off.

"The pirate Lord Blood Fang is perhaps the biggest Pony I have ever seen, he would tower over even Princess Celestia."

Said Alicorn, along with everyone else looked surprised.

"Your kidding."

"No I'm not kidding, I've seen him up close, and his is called the Giant for a very good reason. Blood Fang and his faction, the "War Pirates", rule from a large, somewhat barren and hash island chain far to the west in an area filled with dangerous creatures. Unlike other pirates he's not just motivated by loot, but also by a good fight, he lives for the thrill of combat and these days he leads constant raids on Caribou shipping, freeing slaves and giving them to the Outcasts as part of their deal. His ship is a massive hulk of steel named "The Beast" that was formerly a Juggernaut that had grown as more and more metal was added to it and his flag is a Thestral skull with a battleaxe clutched in its teeth and dripping fangs."

"Sounds like we wouldn't want to cross paths with them then." Meadow said.

"What would Razor's ship be and what was the deal between Blood Fang and Razor Tail?" Luna asked.

"Razor's ship is called the "Dragon of the Depths" but I don't know what kind of ship it is, only that its massive. His flag I'm sure you already know and from what I know, every time Blood Fang hit Caribou fleets, He would take the ships and loot while Razor would take the then freed slaves."

"What happens to the freed slaves?"

"They are sent to Imperator's Grave, the main trade hub of the Sea of Legends, some either live there or leave to get back their families while most join the Outcasts of the Abyss."

"And what can you tell us about these "Outcasts of the abyss"?" Mistmane, who hadn't spoke the entire time, asked.

"The're the largest and most powerful faction in the Sea of Legends, lead by Archduke Razor Tail they rule from Imperator's Grave. No one knows just how large and powerful the faction due to them keeping all that hidden, and continuing from earlier; had devices and such that put them way ahead of everyone else."

"Like what?" Luna asked.

"Unlike other pirates, the Outcasts somehow have access to cap and ball revolvers and bolt-action rifles."

That shocked everyone.

"How would pirates have access to those weapons?!" Iron shouted.

"I don't know, but somehow they do. I've even heard rumors of them slowly replacing the cap and ball with cartridge revolvers but I don't know that for certain."

"What I want to know is how they got the weapons in the first place." Blade said. "Match, Flint and Wheellocks I would understand, those are easy enough to make. Bolt-action rifles... okay I don't see those being to hard if you know what your doing, same with the percussion cap weapons. But... Wave, what bolt-action rifles do they use?"

"The Germane G82s or at least ones based on it, the distinctive "crack" gives them away."

"Germane G82s!?" Blade stammered, quite shocked, she wasn't the only one.

"How?! If my memory is right doesn't Germaney have agreements not to let their weapons leave their home country." Iron said.

"While that is true, by current Germane standards the G82s are very outdated." Celestia said in thought.

"These "Outcasts" must have somehow gotten hold of the rifles but how would they get them out of the country? As my studies since my return, Germaney keeps their borders on lockdown for things like this." Luna said rubbing her chin.

Everyone looked down at the table for a short bit in thought, then Thorax slowly raised a hoof.

"Something you want to say Thorax?" Luna asked.

"Yes but before I do... Wave, what species does the Outcast have in their ranks?"

"Pretty much every know sentient ones, even Caribou, though mostly female or Red-nose."

"Then... could Razor Tail have infiltrators in areas like that? Similar to how my hive once worked?"

Everyone looked at each other, that was a very good question.

"Princesses, you did tell us that Razor has the drive, the ambition, and the resources to unite the various pirate gangs, smuggler rings, privateer fleets, Merchant armadas, and other sailors of any kind that live here under his banner. Which could make the Outcasts a world power in their own right." Thorax continued.

"I get where Thorax is going," Ember spoke up, "Razor might believe that the other nations would all attack him and his faction on reveal."

"Which would mean that by have infiltrators in every nation would allow him to prepare his faction for that and keep up to date on the outside world." Seaspray added.

"That... makes sense. But, the only nations, no offence to anycreature here, that would be an actual threat to these Outcast would be Equestia and the Caribou." Luna said.

That was true, only those two powers had the naval capacity to be a threat to the Outcast of the Abyss, and the Caribou had been suffering a mysterious decline in their own navy as more and more of their ships disappeared.

Whoever that Steel Hull belonged to was most likely one of the major reasons.

"There's something else I want to say, I had a full encounter once with the Archduke." Wave said.

"You did?!" was the response. Wave nodded.

"Yes, but I'm not sure I can put it into words alone."

I may be able to help there." Celestia said as she stood up. "I know a spell that allows others to see the memories of an individual. With your permission Wave I'll cast it so we all can see that encounter."

"Go ahead Princess, just be warned, it wasn't pleasant for a few in that encounter."

Celestia nodded, lit her horn up, and gently pressed the tip on Wave's forehead. A white light filled with vision of everyone in the room, when it cleared they found themselves within a medium-sized, somewhat dark, room with little in it. Everyone looked around while Wave had a look of sadness.

"This room... brings back some memories I'd rather forget."

"Why's that Wave?" Mage put her hoof on the Stallion's back.

"I was a slave at the time, me and thirty others. We were brought here by our Griffin "master"," Wave spat out the word like a poison. "Razor Tail had made a deal with him to hand our group over for a large sum of gold."

As Wave said this, the memory played showing the very smug Griffin along with four guards bring the Pony slaves, a mix of Mares, Stallions, and even some foals, into the room.  Celestia, Luna, and the other Ponies felt a powerful rage flow through them upon seeing this. A few minutes later another group enter from the other side, facing the Griffin.

"Wave, is that..." Iron asked.

"That's him, Archduke Razor Tail."

The Kirin, followed by eight Ponies wearing silver, full body plate and chain mail armor with black trim and gold runes, on each of their flanks was a length of red cloth with black edge stripes with the same design as the banners used by the Outcasts. The armor had been designed to invoke the appearance of a dragon version of a Pony Alicorn, complete with wings and tails, both of which were moving as if they were a natural part of the wearer's body, and horns with magic, all of which made it hard to tell what races they were or if they actuary were Alicorns. they were all armed with silver Halberds, and a white Pegasus Mare and a Changeling Queen followed behind them.

"Razor's personal bodyguards, along with two of his Head Officers." Wave said.

The group fanned out with Razor facing the Griffin, his guards on either side, and the two Officers behind him.

"They spend a bit of time talking, then the Griffin asked for his payment."

The memory showed Razor flicking his tail, which was answered by three Thestrals entering with a large chest on their backs. Luna's eyes widened upon seeing them.

"I know those Thestrals!"

Everyone turned to her in surprise.

"You do Luna?" Celestia asked.

"Yes, their names are White Fang and his two brothers, Night Mist and Dark Rock. White Fang is an albino and was one of my best guards, until he murdered four Ponies in cold blood. It wasn't until much later that I found out those four were loan sharks and wanted outlaws, by then White and his brothers had long since fled Equestria and disappeared." She looked back at the memory as the three Thestrals set the chest down.

"It seems they've thrown their lot in with this Razor Tail."

In the memory the Griffin handed over the slaves, one of which was a Pony that looked like Wave Surfer, just younger and not grown into his longer then normal legs yet.

"That's me." Wave said. "We were handed over, we thought that was it then... something happened that I will never forget."

The others were wondering what he was talking about when they heard sounds from the memory.

"I see you kept you word." Razor was saying.

"It's bad for business if I don't give my wares to the buyers don't get what they're paying for. So were is my payment?" the Griffin said with a smug tone and look getting eve worse (if that was possible). Razor merely raised an eyebrow, while the Ponies watch the memory looked like they all really wanted a piece of the Griffin.

Razor stood stoic for a minute, then a smile that sent chills down the watchers backs appeared on the Kirin's face. The Kirin hunting smile. The Griffin apparently didn't know the smile as he still had that smug look that grinded the nerves of the Ponies watching.

"About you payment, Tide Gunners, FEUER!"

The second the last word left his mouth, the four slaver guards hit the ground, dead from gunshots to the backs of their heads. The Griffin had no time to react as Razor's own guards shot forward and grabbed him, followed by breaking the Griffin's limbs as he screamed in surprise and pain. The slaves, and the watchers expect for Wave, were taken aback by this sudden move.

Four Mares, one Earth Pony, one Pegasus, and two Unicorns, stepped out of the shadows from where the Griffin and his guards had come in.

"Stelle den Topf auf und giesse das Gold hinein, Schnell!"

Razor walked over to a large pot White had brought and his and his brothers opened the full chest, and poured the gold into it. As this was happening the Griffin in panic looked over at his former property, seeing the Changeling walk up to them as the Pegasus Mare removed their collars.

"Look away young ones." The Changeling said.

"No." Was the response, "We want to watch our "Master" get what he deserves." A Unicorn Mare said, spitting as she said master, her fellows nodding their agreement. After the gold had been poured Razor drew in a breath and released a thin stream of fire onto the pot, the blue and purple fire looked like it was almost alive as it moved to the top and into the gold like water, melting the gold quickly as the Changeling picked up the slave collars and tossed them into the pot as well.

The Griffin, held by the guard's magic and smug look gone, begged for mercy, but he was shown none. The freed slaves just watched, some with satisfied looks and smirks. The Pegasus Mare had a smirk of her own as if she was going to enjoy what was coming, her one eye gleamed in anticipation while the Changeling simply looked on with no emotion. After a few minutes Razor stopped blowing fire and dropped a small crystal in the molten gold. After which he picked up the hot pot with his wing hands. He walked over to the Griffin and stood in front of him.

"Here, is you payment."

Razor then lifted the pot up, and poured the molten gold. The watchers could only stare in shock and horror, the hot, magic infused gold spread across the screaming Griffin's body, Razor looking him in the eyes after the Kirin finished pouring. It was over in only a few seconds, but it seemed like a thousand years, until finally the Griffin finally stopped screaming, the gold covering most of his head and shoulders.

Razor merely huffed.

"And this is your fate, killed by the very thing you wanted."

He stood to his full height while his guards let the body drop with a heavy thud, the freed Ponies kicked, punched, and even spat on the body.

"Change is coming to the Sea of Legends, and the slave trade will be one of the first things to go, along with the slavers. Those who take freedom from others, do not deserve it themselves."

He then turned to look at the freed Ponies after they finished venting.

"What happens to you now is your choice, as it always should have been. I have no use for those forced into this against their will, I only lead those that chose to follow. If you wish to get back to your homes, then we will take you to them, no strings attached. I give you my word, not as a pirate, but as a Kirin."

Wave drew in a breath. "And that was the beginning of the end for the Slave trade in the Sea of Legends, only the Caribou still try. The rest either fled never to return, or fell to the Outcasts. Razor kept his word, though the most of us joined the Outcasts that day. I wish I did."

The others had various reactions; Celestia, Neighsay, Thorax, Seaspray, Mage, Mistmane, Somnambula, and Rockhoof were horrified at what happened. Luna, Flash Magnus, Starswirl, and Ember were also shocked but at the same time glad to see a Slaver get what he deserved.

Grandpa Gruff and Rutherford were indifferent, while Iron and Blade both actually looked satisfied at the death of the Slaver.

"A burtal, but not undeserved fate. That Slaver did things, thing I wouldn't say, to those he didn't sell." Wave said as they were brought back to the real world.

"Was the molten gold really necessary, why not just run him through?" Celestia asked.

"Creatures of that type only respond to messages like that Princess, Razor Tail was sending a message doing that. One that would mean that neither he nor his followers would show any mercy to any Slavers they got." Iron said.

"And I'm glad for that." Wave said shutting his eyes as tears started to fall. "That Griffin, that monster, when I was in his grasp, killed my two sisters, after he... did things to them, Right. In. Front. Of me! He forced me to watch!"

Wave, unable to hold it back anymore, buried his face into his hooves and let the tears flow.

"I was only a young colt back then." He cried into his hooves.

He was then pulled into a hug by Blade Wind, who held him tightly.

"I know how you feel Wave, let it out." A single tear fell down her face. "I lost my mother to slavers long ago, thankful she only died rather then being taken. My father, along with his clan, hunted down those slavers, and were not merciful. That was also the day I first spilled blood, using my father's halberd, the very same one I'm carrying now. I was only a preteen foal at the time."

Both stayed in each other's embrace, sharing their pain and comfort. No one moved to break it up, instead waiting for it to pass. After some time passed the two Earth Ponies lifted their heads up, and accidentally booped each other's snouts. Wave and Blade sat there in surprise for a few seconds(but long enough), staring into each other's eyes, before pulling away fully with large and very visible blushes.

The others had looks ranging from indifferent to amused, and in the case of one sunny Alicorn, a small plot in mind. Iron was about to say something when the door to the cabin burst open, a Pegasus guard entering the room in a sprint.

"Admiral! Princesses! Several ships have been spotted off our port bow."

"Colors?" Iron asked.

"They're not flying any."

Iron's eyes widened. "Pirates..."

"Or worse." Wave said, his voice a bit panicky.

They rushed out onto the deck, in the distance was a small fleet of eight ships; five sloops, two brigantines, and a frigate. The ships looked like they had been in the water for a long time as various sea plant life and small creatures could be seen all over the hulls and sails, the latter of which were badly tattered. One thing all of them had was a large skull of a serpent under the bowsprit.

"Oh no..." Wave's eyes widened.

"You know those ships Wave?" Luna asked.

"Yes, remember how I said that moving skeletons were real here?"

"Yes, why?"

"Those are skeleton ships, a common threat on the waters. They shouldn't be too much of a problem, their cannons are of very poor quality, so they might just explode instead of fire or fail to fire at all. But..."

"But what?" Blade asked.

"There should be a-"

Wave was interrupted as a skeleton Man O' War burst from below, it righted itself and it's gunports opened, the damaged cannons moving into firing position.

"-flagship." Wave finished.

"So, hostile?" Iron asked.

"Yes, hostile."

"Got it, ALL HOOVES BATTLE STATIONS!!!"

The Equestrian fleet readied themselves as the skeleton fleet moved towards them, once they were in range the skeleton ships fired, the Equestrian fleet responding with their own cannon fire and magic blasts.




Dragon of the Depths

Razor's Office

"Wow Razor, you've been through a lot in you time here."

"Aye I have Thunderlane, more then enough for three lifetimes."

Razor had been studying charts when Thunderlane had entered want to talk, happy for the break Razor oftered the Pegasus some tea and the two talked for awhile with Razor telling Thunder about some of his adventures.

"Quite the life but... was pouring molten gold on that one slaver's head really necessary?"

"Maybe, maybe not, but a message need to be sent so they would know I was not playing around."

"Did it work?"

"It did, better then I expected."

As Razor took a sip of his tea Thunderlane couldn't help but stare at the long scar on Razor's face.

"Admiring my "medals"?"

Thunderlane jumped slightly, brought out of his thoughts he saw Razor looking at him with a light, but warm, smile.

"Sorry... I was just curious." The Kirin just lightly chuckled.

"Its okay lad, you not the first one to ask. Everyone on this ship before you and your companions have asked."

"Oh, alright. So..."

"This scar on my face came from a dangerous creature, one that would make Hydras quake in their skin. This tooth came from that same creature, after I shot it out with old reliable here." Razor tapped the tooth after taking his hat off and setting it on the table, then tapped his rifle which sat in front of him on the table.

"Wow..."

"Aye, even their blood was dangerous."

"And the other scars?"

"I've gained many scars over my life as a pirate, including this one. Hold on one second." Razor took of his cape, coat, waistcoat, armor, and shirt off, he then turned showing Thunderlane the large and ugly scar at the base of his left wing. Thunderlane recoiled seeing it.

"Oh sweet Celestia! How did you get that?!"

After redressing Razor let out a heavy sigh and stared into his tea.

"I was full of myself at the time, all enemies the Outcasts had faced before were too incompetent, arrogant, or cowardly. I let it go to my head, and it came back to haunt me."

He lifted his head and gazed at a picture on the pipe organ, Thunderlane following his gaze. The picture had a younger Razor Tail along with younger versions of his Head Officers. Also in the picture were a number of creatures he didn't know and hadn't seen on the ship, including a Tatzlpony Stallion who had his foreleg around Razor who in turn has his left wing around the Tatzlpony.

"Who are they and who's Tatzlpony? I haven't seen him before."

"They were my original crew of my first ship the "Black Dragon". The Tatzlpony was my best friend, and you wouldn't, for he's no longer among us." Razor said with sorrow and pain in his voice. "His name was Silver Tail, my closest friend next to Atlas and the other Head officers."

"What happened?"

"During the final years of the Royal's hold of the Sea of Legends, me, Silver Tail, my original crew and an Outcast army of a hundred thousand strong battled his smaller army on a large island known as "Fallen Rest". To make a long story short, I allowed my pride to blind me, and I payed for it dearly. The Royal, for how incompetent he was, he was still a capable fighter. In the end he manged to thrust his sword into my back and would have ended me right there if Silver Hadn't shielded me, at the cost of his own life."

Tears flowed from Razor's eyes as the memories came back.

"He died in my arms telling me to live for him and the fallen. My own wounds were bad, the Healer did what they could there but I was out of it for a good amount of time. That scar is from the wound that almost killed me, and it later nearly took my wing. That was the day I was woken up."

Taking a calming breath Razor wiped his tears and continued.

"I was told later that the battle was a victory for the Outcasts, but we lost ninety-five percent of our forces."

"NINETY-FIVE PERCENT!!!"

"Aye, including almost all of the original crew. Zenith, Steel Mass, Gold Fire, Shadow Fire, White Fang, Night Mist, Dark Rock, Fire Gem, Apollo, Snowheart, Atlas and I were the only survivors. And the Black Dragon had been so badly damaged our only choice was to sink her. We placed the crew's bodies in the ship, and lit her up. We then just watched as she burned, and sank into the abyss, our tears following her."

Placing his face into his palm he let the tears flown.

"That was my greatest failure, and a reminder of my own mortality, and the lose of my closest friend. None of the Outcasts who survived that battle consider it a victory, at all"

Thunderlane had been letting his own tears fall as Razor told the tale, He knew of a similar pain to that of the Kirin.

"I'm sorry..."

"Thanks, even though we've mourned and accepted it, that day will forever haunt us."

"I... know at least somewhat of how you feel. I lost my parents long ago."

"How so?"

"At the weather factory in Cloudsdale, something went very wrong. I don't have any details on what but... it would have been very bad for Equestria. My parents worked at the factory on that day, you could probably guess the shock and sadness me and my brother Rumble went through when we were told the news: both had died saving the factory."

Thunderlane wiped his own tears.

"I was only a preteen and Rumble was just a baby."

"I'm sorry to hear that Thunder, that must have been really hard on you two."

"It was, but that wasn't the worst. Foal Protection Services wanted to separate me and Rumble. I wasn't about to have that, so I shelved my dreams of joining the Wonderbolts to get a job to prove I could take care of myself and Rumble."

Razor smiled with approval.

"You did the right thing Thunderlane. I honestly don't trust Foal Protection Services at all, not with so many slipping through the cracks."

"Many?"

"Yes, while they do generally help many, many more still slip past them and into a hard life."

"So the Outcasts keep their eyes open and help them."

"Aye."

The two sat there drinking their tea went Thunderlane gazed at the medal on the center of Razor's bandanna.

"What's the tale behind gold star of the Prench Legion of Honor Order of merit?"

"The first time me crew and I took down a Prench Juggernaut, adding the ship to our growing fleet."

"Seems you've collected quite the number of trophies for your adventures here huh Razor." Thunderlane said with a smile.

"I have, some of them have quite the tales. Like thi-"

Razor cut himself off when his ears perked and he turned to the door.

"Come in Atlas."

The door opened and there was the said Changeling with her hoof raised to knock.

"How do you do that?!"

"My secret my love."

Atlas sighed while lowering her hoof.

"You drive me crazy sometimes, you know that."

"But you love me all the same."

"That's true, anyway we're having something odd going on with some of the protection runes. Their flickering on and off and it has some of the crew a bit freaked out."

"I'll take a look," Razor turned to Thunderlane, "guess we'll have to finish this talk later."

"Seems that way."

The two stood up and walked with Atlas out of the room, as they left Thunderlane took one last glance at the picture of Razor's original crew.

'I hope you found piece, you earned it long ago. The Sea of Legends, though still dangerous, is safer because of you efforts. Rest in piece.'

He turned his head forward as the door closed, not noticing a light shimmer travel across the picture.




Codex: Outcast Coves

Very early in the Outcast's history, soon after it formation, Razor realized he would need to know what was happening in the wider world if his grander plans were to bear fruit. So after some time he and his officers came up with the coves, a way to learn of and keep up with events of the outside world while staying hidden in the Sea of Legends.

Outcast Coves are locations set up in every known city and town throughout the know world, often take forms ranging from simple homes, various businesses, and even abandoned structures and staffed by both Changelings and creatures the same as the town or city's inhabitants. The number of the Coves heavily depends on the size of their location, for example a town like Ponyville would only have one while a city like Canterlot would have several,

The Coves serve numerous roles, including but not limited to;

Spying: Depending on where the Cove's agents are, they work in various jobs such as servants, waiters, and even soldiers. All this allows them to gather information and (as in Canterlot) because the Nobles and other "important" creatures see them as beneath them, they often gossip and talk without care (especially when drunk), allowing the hidden agents to get anything of use. (Though understandably they take the gossip and drunk talk with a grain of salt, preferring more reliable sources.) Even some Nobles are Outcast agents.

An example of agents in the military would be the Unicorn Flame Shield, a high-ranking Royal Guard who has access to information that other agents wouldn't.

Keep in mind that although the Outcast agents, being essentially sleeper agents, could do massive damage to an enemy nation, Razor and the Outcasts do not want to actually conquer other nations. They have the massive and still largely unexplored Sea of Legends for that.

Keeping track of events, both important and seemly less so: Tying into a Cove's Spy network, the agents keep track of events around them to keep their Outcast brothers and sisters updated and ready should anything happen that threatens the Outcasts.

Recruitment: Perhaps one of the most important roles, the Outcasts and their agents are always on the lookout for the unfortunate, the poor, the unwanted, the outcasts, the down on their luck, the forgotten, the orphans, and those who have nothing else, and bring them into the Outcasts for a better life and swell the ranks. This sometimes ties into the Spy network as some of the recruits stay and provide information of their own.

These are just three of the roles a Cove serves.

The agents are well equipped for their jobs, carrying hidden weapons, magic-boosters, anti-magic objects and other items along with years of combat training and experience. They generally pool what they gather at the Cove they are working out of then end it to the Archduke via messagefire lighters but if the situation requires it the agents all carry special Changeling comm beetles allowing them to contact Razor directly, though they only do so when they know for sure that they are alone. If the trash hits the fan and they can't use these two methods they fall back on the hive mind of Atlas' hive.

The Cove agents are very careful and take as many precautions to avoid being discovered as they possibly can, including agents meeting in dark alleys,  or even outside town/city limits and then scanning themselves or each other if in a team for any methods of tracking before heading to the Cove after making sure they are not being followed.
> Chapter 14: Findings
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight's Group

It had been two days since the group had lost the Dragon of the Depth's trail in the storm that hit Blackcap Peaks. Twilight was in the captain's cabin with her parents tying to figure out its course but so far had no luck. Rainbow was still recovering with Applejack and Pinkie helping her out, through she would be out of bed soon though. The others were just hanging about.

Twilight let a frustrated growl as she set the book she was holding down on the table.

"It's no good, none of us are navigators and we have no idea were they could have gone." She set her head down on the table with a loud thump. Velvet reached or and rubbed her back.

"There there dear, it'll be alright."

"Will it Mom?" Twilight lifted her head. "I promised the student's parents and guardians that they would be safe, and look what happened. Its bad enough with Chancellor Neighsay always on my tail trying to shut the school down, this fully gives him the right too."

Night Light reached over and placed a hoof on her shoulder.

"I know you're worried Twi, we would too if we were in your position. We will find them again and get them back, and the ones captured are smart, they might find a way back to us."

"I hope you're right Dad."

All of a sudden the three heard the bell in the crow's next ring, they quickly got up and rushed onto the deck where they met the others.




A few minutes earlier

Flare Warden was in the crow's nest, bored out of her mind. she picked up her spyglass to her eye hoping to spot something to take her mind off her boredom.

She found it.

Pulling the glass away she blinked a few times then raised the glass again to make sure she wasn't seeing things, she wasn't. Flare reached over and rang the bell next to her. Once everyone had gathered on deck Flash asked the question.

"What is it Sis?"

"That." She said pointing off the starboard bow.

in the distance they saw a fleet of ships sailing past, a fleet of ten sloops, ten schooners, nine brigantines, eight frigates, eight galleons, six men O' war, four ships of the line, two juggernauts, two ironclads, and the eye catcher; a massive, 458,45 meter long ship in the center of the fleet. All flying a red flag with a black quadruped Dragon in flight above a maelstrom, clutched in it's claws was a small chest.

The colors of the Outcasts of the Abyss.

The group could only stare, finally Dash said, "What is that large ship? I've never something like that before."

The large ship was perhaps one of the largest they had ever seen, around the size of the Dragon of the Depths. Only one tall mast sat at the front of the ship with a glowing blue crystal at the top above the flag, at the back was a very large smoke stack with eight much smaller stacks on the back half of the ship towards the center.

"I don't know Dash, but with a fleet like that around it, it must be important." Flash said. Everyone else spoke their agreement.

They tailed the fleet, keeping out of sight until nightfall where the fleet spread out around the center ship and dropped anchor. The Mane Six took a lifeboat and very carefully rowed up to it, Twilight and Rainbow climbing aboard while others stayed to guard the lifeboat. Carefully the two Mares stuck their heads over the side and looked about the deck.

The deck had various Pony-head high structures spread about though what their role was unknown, the mast at the bow was as all as the main mast on a ship of the line with a Unicorn in the crow's next looking out over the waters. The two Mares could see several Outcast Abyss Guard patrols walking about the deck in groups of four, the two ducked as one such patrol pasted.

"Okay Rainbow, follow me, stay close and keep down, we're in enemy territory now."

"Got it Twi."

"Okay... let's go."

The two quickly but carefully and quietly moved in between the structures, barrels, crates and other odds and ends as the moved towards an open door way with two Swashbucklers stood guard.

"How do we get past them Twi?"

"I know a spell that can turn us invisible for a brief time but we'll have to move fast."

Twilight slowly cast the spell, keeping the light as low as she could to not alert the two guards, after the two Ponies were invisible they moved to the door. The two guards were standing far enough apart for them to slip by and down a set of stairs, all went well till Dash tripped and hit the floor with a small but audible crash. The two Mares dove for cover as both their invisibly wore off and the two guards looked down the stairs.

"What was that?"

"I don't know."

The first guard waved one of the patrols and told them about what they heard. The four Pony guards entered the room, Twilight and Rainbow were right next to each other behind a crate. They spoke in a whisper.

"Dash, we have four guards."

"I know, if they catch us we're dead."

The four guards slit up, fanning about the room on alert.

"Dash, follow me."

The two Mares got down on their bellies and moved, weaving between the barrels and crates. One guard lean over a row of crates but didn't see the girls before moving back. As Twilight pasted one crate lightly lit up by a crystal lantern she noticed a symbol on the crate; a black silhouette of a Germane G82 bolt-action rifle viewed from the side. Twilight and Dash both raised an eyebrow then looked at each other.

Moving along Rainbow brushed a loose piece of metal which hit the deck with an audible thump. The four guards head shot up and swiveled like machines at the sound. Both girls moved to an empty crate and climbed in, shutting the lid. They stayed in the crate for awhile, even after the guards left thinking it was a few rats that made the sounds. After a short amount of time pasted the two Mares left the crate and continued onward. They passed by many crates with the same symbol as well as others with different ones, including a very large one but due to the very low amount of light and Twilight not wanting to draw unwanted attention by lighting her horn they couldn't make out its symbol.

Twilight and Rainbow walked slowly through the halls avoiding patrols until their ears caught something.

"Twi... do you hear machines or is that just me?"

"I do hear machines Rainbow, come on."

They moved down the hall then entered a massive room on a high catwalk. Twilight's and Rainbow's jaws fell open at the sight below them.

Assembly lines, a lot of them.

The room below them was very large, as long as three of Canterlot Castle's throne room and just as wide. Lines of conveyor belts ran from one end which had a large number of forges to the other which had stations where crew members were packing crates. On each line was a different item, mostly weapons and ammo, ranging from melee like daggers and polearms to firearms of various types. On each side of the belts were small stations were crew members sat working the lines, the items would start on the lines at the forges, move to each station, stop so the ones at each station could work, then move to the next one.

This repeated with each belt until the completed item reached the other end were it was taken off the belt by the waiting crew members who then packed them in the crates.

"Wow..." Twilight said in awe.

"It looks like they're gearing up for war." Dash said.

"This ship... its some sort of weapons factory."

"How could Pirates of all factions out there have things like this? Even Equestria's and the Caribou's own navies doesn't have things like this."

"Let's keep looking around."

They carefully made their way from the catwalk and moved to other areas, encountering much of the same on most of the decks. One area looked like a garage of some sort. The two Mares couldn't get a good look as this area was heavily guarded but they saw a Unicorn Stallion and a male Diamond Dog working on what appeared to be a large engine.

The Unicorn lifted the welding mask off his face and turned to the Dog who was standing next to a button.

"Alright I think I got it, try it."

The Dog gave a thumbs up and pressed the button, immediately sparks and smoke began to spew out off the engine.

"OH TURN IT OFF! TURN IT OFF! TURN IT OFF!!"

The Unicorn yelled, jumping in panic while the Dog was rapidly pressing the button, restarting and turning off the engine repeatedly.

The two watching Mares held their hooves over their mouths to keep from laughing.

After having to climb into the vents to avoid patrols they eventually came across what appeared to be the Captain's Office. Twilight and Rainbow watch as the Captain (judging from his outfit), a Pegasus Stallion, was taking to three of the ship's Officers: A Pegasus Mare, a male Minotaur, and a Thestral Stallion. All sitting at a round table.

"How have things been coming along since the last shipment?" The Captain asked. 

"Great, the next one will be ready ahead of schedule." The Mare said in a cheerful tone.

"I've also gotten word that more weapon smiths skilled in firearms have joined." The Thestral said with a bright smile.

"We have two more factory ships due to launch soon as well." The Minotaur said leaning back.

"Razor's going to be very happy when he gets the news then." The Captain said.

The four of them continued to chat for awhile as Twilight and Dash watched and listened, until Rainbow's leg twitched and bumped the side of the vent, both Mares froze as the four below stopped talking and looked towards the vent.

"What was that?" The Mare asked.

"The Head of Maintenance swore he got rid of the giant rat problem." The Captain got up and walked over to a speaking tube with a lever attached to the side with some kind of panel marked with symbols. He flipped the lever to the symbol of a cog.

"Maintenance, this is the Captain." A voice came through.

"What up Cap?"

"Those rats are back."

"What?! I though for sure they wouldn't be back. I'll take care of them."

"Understood, out."




Factory Ship

Head of Maintenance Office

A Unicorn Stallion was swearing up a storm, much to the confusion of those around him. He picked up some canisters and pulled a ring with a pin on it, smoke coming out as soon as the pin was out.

"CRAP! Crap crap CRAP!!!"




Vent above the Captain's Office

Twi and Dash were watching the four officers below when they heard something clatter towards them. 

"What was that?" Twilight asked.

Rainbow reached behind her with a wing and pulled a canister over.

"It was this."

Smoke started coming out of a hole on top, both Mares screamed.

"Smoke Bomb!!"

The four officers heard the scream and looked up, only for a the canister Dash has holding to drop onto the table they were sitting at. All four yelled.

"Smoke Bomb!!"

They tried to get up but the bomb exploded, filling the room with black smoke and the sound of coughing. The two Mares about were also coughing as they tired to get clear. Finally Twilight lit her horn and the two of them vanished, reappearing among their surprised friends. 

"Twi? Rainbow? What in the name of..." AJ began.

"No time, they might have seen that flash!" Twilight said grabbing an oar with her hooves and started paddling. The six of them moved as spotlight lit up and began sweeping the water. Somehow the Mane Six got away and back to their own ship.

A few minutes later, after getting out of range of the pirate fleet

"A Factory Ship?! Are you sure?!" Flash asked.

"Sure as Pinkie's love of parties." Rainbow said.

Understandably, the reaction of the others had been shock.

"How could pirates build, let alone even have the ability to build, factory ships." Flare asked.

"Either these pirates are far larger and richer then we first thought, or someone is funding them." Spike said.

"What makes you say that Spike?" Applejack asked.

"Well, that Kirin Archduke, Razor Tail, leading a large faction, its possible he could have connections with powerful individuals who in turn give funding for whatever reason."

The Ponies around the young Dragon looked at each other then at the deck in thought.

"That... makes some sense, but who could be giving the funding? It would take more the one to give enough to build something like a factory ship, even with treasure gathering it would take years." Rarity said.

"Why would pirates even build ships like that?" Pinkie asked, "I mean, sure they could build more thing like me with more stoves to bake more cupcakes, and cakes, and pies and..."

"Okay we get the idea Pinkie, but why have factory ships? Why not just build the factory on land?" Twilight asked.

"Because they couldn't." Night Light said.

Everyone looked at him, wanting him to explain, he continued.

"From what we've seen from the maps and heard about, most of the islands in this region aren't suitable for factories of any size. And those that are already have something built on them, so by building factory ships like the one we saw, the Outcasts of the Abyss could have an industry to build their empire. And I fully believe the Outcasts are no pirate gang, even the largest pirate gangs didn't have things like that."

He took a breath.

"Which begs the question; where are they getting the bits they would need?"

That was a good question.




Shining Armor's Group

Unknown very large island

Shining's group had found nothing for the first few days when they had spotted a small Outcast fleet escorting a bulk cargo ship to the island they had dropped anchor at, away from the port to avoid being spotted.

The island's port was seeing heavy traffic so Dark Moon had volunteered to scout ahead and see what was going on. After walking about for a bit they came across a small tunnel leading into the island, Dark Moon looked over the entrance for a few minutes.

"So, into the dark huh? Well, nothing ventured nothing gained."

Thankful the tunnel was wide enough for him to not get stuck, but he had to crawl on his belly. Lighting his horn Dark Moon moved through the tunnel eventually entered a very large cavern, one that was filled to the brim with gems, the light from his horn reflecting off them.

"Wow... the gems here would easily make Ponyville one of the richest towns in Equestia, Spike would love this."

Moving through the tunnel he came across a much small cavern when a rumbling sound, which was slowly getting louder.

"What is that?"

The sound continued to get louder until the far wall burst open as a very large machine came through, Dark Moon's jaw dropped as he got a good look at the machine.

It was massive, easily able to fit in the Canterlot Castle Throne Room and leave about ten feet to the side walls and fifteen feet to the front and back. On the front of the machine was a large cockpit with a heavily reinforced canopy , the cockpit was large enough that without the controls it would easily fit at least six full-sized Yaks, on each side of the cockpit was a massive drill that looked like it could mine Canterlot mountain with no effort, the body was utilitarian with what Dark Moon could only guess was a cargo bed, just behind the cockpit on each side was a large headlight and four large wheels heavy-duty tires.

The machine rolled forward a few feet then stopped as a group of ten creatures entered the small cavern, the group consisted of four Diamond Dogs and six Earth Ponies, they walked up to the machine and stood next to it as one of the Earth Ponies pulled out some sort of pad.

Dark Moon turned off his horn light so they would spot him, looking at the group closer he noticed they were all wearing orange miner uniforms complete with miner helmets. The Earth Pony Stallion with the pad held it up and moved it from side to side until he centered it on the wall in front of them. He smiled and nodded to the driver of the drilling machine, a Diamond Dog who gave a smile and a thumbs up.

The machine lurched forward, smoke blowing out of the back pipes as it's drills spun up and it began digging into the wall. But after a few seconds sparks and smoke came out of the control panel with the driver shielding his face with his arms and flames shot out of the back pipes. The Pilot coughed, grabbed a lever rocking it back and forth, then faceplanted into the steering wheel, sounding off the machine's horn.

One Earth Pony Mare let out a very frustrated yell.

"What's the matter with this machine now!! I just tuned it up this morning!"

She and another Stallion climbed up into the machine's cargo bed and opened a panel.

"Did the rotor jam? Or is it the power cables."

The Stallion tipped her shoulder.

"Let me try."

He reached down and turned two values, then lifted a hammer and slammed it against am engine drum. Immediately the machine started up. The Diamond Dog driver shouted,

"SHE LIVES!!"

The Mare looked at the smiling Stallion with a surprised look.

"How did you do that?!"

"Well the boiler in this baby is an Amac thirteen, at my old workplace we had an Amac fourteen, the heating course on the entire Amac line has always been a little temperamental so sometime you have to give it a good whack."

"Yea yea, thank you very much shut up." The Mare said with an annoyed tone as she shut the lid, she looked up and the Stallion flinched at the glare the Mare had.

"Two for flinching."

The Mare gave the Stallion two light and quick punches to the Stallion's foreleg then hopped off, the Stallion rubbing his foreleg with a smile following. The Machine began digging again and went into the gem filled cavern. Dark Moon watched as the group moved into it, after they had moved on he continued down his tunnel. As he traveled down he came across numerous areas that clearly showed that this island had some sort of large mining operation going on. After sometime the Unicorn finally made it back out onto the surface, he moved into some brush and found himself looking out over the port.

It looked like what one would expect from a busy port, but this one had mining equipment all over the place and at the docks was a docked bulk cargo ship. Dark Moon pulled out a spyglass and looked towards the ship, seeing crates been loaded onto the ship, shifting his view he found himself looking at the mine entrance, seeing crates filled with gem being brought up, closed up and set on conveyor belts leading to the docks. He could also see other buildings ranging from what he guessed were houses to storage buildings to the center structure, a tall building on a scaffolding-like stand producing smoke out of the top and glowing orange tubes going into the ground from the base.

To Dark it reminded him of a generator of some type.

Looking over the port his eyes widened as he spotted a familiar flag; the flag of the Outcasts of the Abyss.

He decided he had seen enough and started making his way back to his ship, after an hour or so avoiding patrols he had it back and explained his findings.

After Dark Moon explains his findings

"A gem mining operation? Are you sure?" Shining Asked.

"Positive, and from the looks of things they been here awhile."

"How could a pirate gang afford to run a gem mine?

"Either they're being funded by an outside source, or the the Outcasts are far larger then we think." Mayor Mare said.

"Considering they have heavy duty mining equipment, this operation could be only one of a bunch." Cadance said rubbing her chin.

"Still, this is worrying information. But best we leave before we are found out." Shining said.

They set sail and left the island behind.




Later, after everypony had gone to bed

Shining's group had dropped anchor in a hidden cove on a small island, hoping no one would see them as they slept. Most of the group were below deck fast asleep in hammocks while the others including Shining and Cadance were in the captain's cabin.

One of the Ponies, a Pegasus Stallion, slowly peeled an eye open and looked around, he was the only one awake. He carefully climbed out of his hammock and tipped-hoofed towards the stairs leading down, as he passed through a beam of moonlight his features were revealed for a second.

He had a dark blue coat with lighter blue mane, tail and eyes, and a cutie mark of a white Orion constellation. This Pegasus, named Star Hunter, had moved to Ponyville many years back and a constellation observator by trade. Unknown to others however, he was also the Outcast's cove agent in Ponyville.

Star Hunter let out a soft sigh, "Never thought I'd come back."

Star had been born in the Sea of Legends and lived with his family, under one of the Royals. He was a preteen colt when the Royal's guards had come to his home and had attacked as the family had "committed" treason, which was a flat out lie. Star closed his eyes as a tear fell down his cheek, he was the only one to survive. His mother had told he to run, so he did, eventually running into the then small Outcasts of the Abyss who had taken him in. After some years had passed he became a cove agent and had moved to Ponyville.

Star didn't have to send reports very often for a number of reasons, but tonight he had to send an important one. He reached the lowest level, after making sure he wasn't followed he pulled out a scroll then reached into his tail and pulled out a lighter made from the ammo of the G82. Grabbing it with his right wing he picked the scroll, did a quick check of his surroundings, and lit the lighter. Touching the scroll with the green flame he watched as the fire burned it and the smoke sped out of the ship through a small hole and into the night sky.

Star placed the lighter back into his tail and when back to bed, like nothing happened.




Dragon of the Depths

Razor's Office

Razor finished reading the scroll that just came in, he frowned slightly as he set it down.

"So they found one of the gem mines, that could lead to problems later. I'd better send an alert to the others to keep their eyes open."

Pausing he looked out the window.

"Be careful Star Hunter, remember to keep you head down."
> Chapter 15: Aboard the Dragon of the Depths #2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dragon of the Depths

Two weeks into the voyage

Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were walking through one of the ship's halls chatting when they heard a voice finish saying something, walking to were the voice came from they walked through a door and into a large room. The room was easily the size of the throne room of Twilight's castle and had eight Outcast banners on the walls hanging from the ceiling, these banners were badly damaged in various ways, with some missing large sections. The walls had many small famed pictures of various creatures with names and tiny yellow glowing crystals under them in between each banner, on the wall across from the door was a another banner that was larger then the others and more or less intact.

The most eye catching was the large and damaged figurehead in the shape of a black dragon roaring in flight with glowing red fire coming out of its mouth and a small chest clutched in it's claws was hanging by a set of heavy chains from the ceiling. A closer look at the figurehead showed that the fire's glow was very dim and what appeared to be lighter areas under the eyes, almost as if the dragon was or had been crying.

Sitting in the center of the room under the figurehead was Razor Tail with his head lowered and his hat over his chest, the CMC slowly approached as he lifted his head and opened his eyes, dried tears stains visible.

"Hello Crusaders." He said in a quiet tone.

"Hello... sir, whats this room?" Sweetie asked as the other two looked around. Razor placed his hat back on his head, wiped his eyes and stood up.

"This is the memorial, every Outcast we have lost from the beginning and since has their picture placed here so the ones still alive remember their sacrifice, the crystals under each picture tell a bit about them and their final words, you just tip a crystal and it will show you. All Outcast bases have memorials like this one."

Razor then looked at the hanging figurehead.

"And for some of us, to remember not to let our own pride blind us."

The CMC followed his gaze, after a few minutes had pasted Scootaloo spoke, pointing at the hanging figurehead.

"If you don't mind us asking, what's the story behind that figurehead."

"It looks like the Dragon in your faction's flags and banners." Sweetie Belle added.

Razor glanced at them out of the corner of his eye, then gestured for the three to follow with his tail. They walked to the wall with the larger banner which had a small counter the CMC had missed before, on the counter was a large book with a picture of a large ship that bore a close resemblance to the Dragon on the cover with the words "The Black Dragon and her Crew" under it. He picked up the book and showed it to the three fillies.

"It was once part of the Outcast's very first ship; a former Caribou ship known as a Leviathan, that we named the Black Dragon."

"Leviathan?" Applebloom asked.

"Aye, you're on board one now. The Dragon of the Depths is a Leviathan, which is a upgraded version of her sister ship. Leviathans are perhaps the rarest type of ship to ever sail for several reasons, among them being cost."

Razor let out a sigh as a small smile came over his face. "Aye, The Black Dragon, toughest warship to ever sail these water, tough enough to face multiple ironclads at once and win. But she wasn't always that way. From we we know, she was a prototype was to be delivered to the Caribou lands when she was caught in a storm and sank, the same storm also sending the shipyard where she was build to the sea as well. She somehow ended up on Ironclads Rest, where we had set up base. When we found her she was nothing but a wreck."

Razor's smile grew

"Even so, we knew she was no regular ship. We used parts of the many wrecks in Ironclads Rest to fix her up and we sailed her for a long time. Until the Battle of Fallen Rest, were she was lost along with so many Outcasts. She fought well, taking down many enemy ships, ironclads included, but even she couldn't hold forever. By the time the battle was over, she was far beyond repair and all but me and my Head Officers were dead. We placed the bodies on the Black Dragon and set her aflame. She finally sank ablaze, slipping below the waters to her final resting place, our tears following her." 

Razor closed his eyes as as his smile turned into a sad frown and tears fell.

"She and the lost crew earned their peace, that figurehead hanging there and this banner here are the only surviving pieces of the ship. In fact, there is a story that the lighter areas under the figurehead's are tears from it mourning the ones who died aboard the Black Dragon."

The CMC stared at the figurehead, looking even closer the three swore the actually saw tears falling from the dragon's eyes. They then looked over to the banner.

The banner in question was the same as the other banners, but instead of a black quadruped Dragon in flight above a maelstrom with a small chest with clutched in it's claws, it was two crossed halberds behind a forward facing dragon head.

The three fillies stared at the banner, then looked at Razor who had his eyes closed and lost in his memories. Razor suddenly felt the Crusaders, who had started crying themselves, wrap around him in a hug which he returned with his wings.

"Thanks you three, even though we've moved on it still hurts, its a wound that will never heal for any of us as along as I and the other survivors live."

They stayed there for awhile, after which they left the room and moved back onto the deck.




15 days

Angel Wings was walking through the Dragon's lower halls deep in thought when she bumped into something hard, which let out an "Oooff!" in surprise. Looking up she found herself looking into White Fang's pink eyes, a large mug held in his right wing "thumb".

"Oh, I'm sorry White. I didn't see you there." Angel stammered. White held up a hood with a gentle smile trying to calm her down.

"Its okay Angel, bumping into each other is more common on board then one would think, and you didn't spill my hot chocolate, so its okay."

He then tapped the mug with a hoof.

"Also helps that Razor had the glasses, mugs, and other cups enchanted to avoid breaking and spilling. Snowy came up with the idea after Fire Gem spilled his boiling hot coffee on his lap." White and Angel both winced.

"That most likely wasn't very comfortable for him I'm guessing." Angel asked.

"Ohhh, it wasn't. It does not help that I was sitting next to him and got splashed by some of that coffee, good thing I had a blanket on. Anyway, what were you doing lass?"

"Just wandering, since work is done for the day I don't really have much to do."

White paused for a minute, then asked.

"Well, if you want, I could make you some hot chocolate and give you some company."

Angel looked away thinking about his offer, then looked at him with a small smile.

"I'd like that White. I do enjoy our talks." White and Angel, since soon after the latter came aboard, had started to hang out over drinks and just talking.

"Then follow me." The two trotted down the hall, Angel not noticing the light blush on White's face. They walked into the area of the Quarterdeck where the Head Officers had their rooms, White unlocked the door to his and opened it to allow Angel in first.

"Wow..." She said as she took in the room. 

The room was the same 15 by 15 foot room each the Head Officers had with an attached bathroom, the wall opposite of the door held a mannequin with a full set of Night Guard armor with a small banner on each side. The wall on the right held a king-sized bed and a dresser with what looked like a small memorial with pictures and small glowing yellow crystals, the wall on the left was covered in weapons of various types ranging from daggers to some firearms. The wall with the door held a small kitchen with a counter-mounded stove and some other common kitchen items.

White followed Angel in and shut the door behind him.

"Like it?"

"Yes, first time I've seen your room. We usually meet in the Main Tavern or on the deck."

"Usually during dinner, I'm glad we have some time together alone... I might have worded that wrong."

"No I understand, from what I've heard despite having left the guard, you still hold onto your honor."

"That's true Angel, very true." 

Once White made a hot chocolate for Angel they sat down at the table and just sat for several minutes enjoying their drinks. After drink about half the cups the two started talking.

"So Angel, how life on board been treating you so far?"

"Well the work can be hard at times but the crew has been really friendly and helpful, which makes it easier."

"We've all been there Angel, it became a sort of tradition for us to help out new members, even if they're only with us for a short time."

"Seems like this voyage is going to be a long one though."

"I get that, the Sea of Legends sticks to no time so short voyages can becomes long. It doesn't help that the storm system is out of control."

"I take it the Sea of Legends has no Weather Teams?"

"None what so ever, the weather here is just too unstable and unpredictable."

"Must be quite scary."

"At first, once you get used to it, not so much as fear but respect. Still, would be nice to have some warning. I've seen storms of incredible power just appear out of nowhere. Like the ever feared Hyper Maelstrom for example and rogue waves."

White paused for a second, "Come to think of it, I think the Everfree has storms that are more controllable, though not by much."

"Is it really that bad?"

"It can be, but it really depends on the area. Some areas heave relatively clear weather most of the time, others have out-of-control storms, like the area that boarders the Steel Yard."

"The Steel Yard" Angel asked tilting her head and raising an eyebrow.

"One moment please."

White stood up and walked over to a small chest that was sitting on the dresser and opened it, he searched for a minute then pulled out an old looking scroll. White then walked back over and set the scroll on the table.

"Here, take a look."

Angel opened the scroll, it showed a map with two marked areas; A smaller one marked with grey storm clouds with blue/white lightning bolts, the other made up the rest of the map. It had many, many reddish brown ship-like shapes, if Angel has to guess, she would say about ten thousand, maybe more. These shapes were all set on a ocean colored red with the words: "Waring, No Sail Zone!" marked in black.

"This is the Steel Yard?" Angel asked looking up.

"Aye, the Steel Yard is an area of open water filled with steel-hulled ships of unknown origin, no one knows where they came from or who built them. To my knowledge, some of those ships have been there for a long time, hundreds of years if not more."

"That long? shouldn't at least some of them have sunk by now."

"You'd think so but no, there are many theories on why however; some believe it's due to the ships being made from steel while others think it's due to the heavy magic in the waters around that area."

Angel thought on that for a few minutes, then asked.

"What kind of ships are they? From what you know." White rested his chin on his hoof.

"It's a bit hard to say for sure, most of them don't really have any set type. Some are cargo ships while others are clearly warships due to both the weapons and the damage on them, heck one of them, a large ship of some sort, looks like it was split into several sections yet it still floats. Why I have know idea." White said shrugging.

Angel looked back at the map, then back at White.

"Has... anyone been on them?"

"Only Razor, and he made it clear that he wouldn't go back onto those ships unless given a very good reason."

Angel moved her head back a bit with a worried look, form what she had seen, Razor was a Kirin that very rarely let fear get to him, if something in the Steel Yard that made Razor not want to go aboard the ships there then...

"Why?" She asked slowly.

"From what Razor told us, he found bodies, a lot of bodies, of an unknown creature. Funny thing is, they weren't from any creature we know of."

"Really?"

"Yea, Razor said they were bipedal but not as big as Yetis or the like. Most looked like they died from combat wounds but others looked like they died of fright. Razor also told us the bodies were heavily decayed, and that he started seeing things."

"Seeing things? How so?"

"I can't answer that Angel, and Razor refuses to talk about it. He even when as far to have the Healers look over him both physically and mentally, something there effected his mind and he wanted it out. But I don't know anymore details on that."

Angel looked a bit creeped out, if the area was that dangerous.

"I'm starting to see why the Steel Yard is marked as a "No Sail Zone"."

"There's also the fact that some of the ships have highly unstable ordnance that could go off at any time."

Angel rolled the map back up and gave it to White who set it back in the dresser chest, than the two of them sat down and finished their hot chocolate. After they finished Angel looked up at White looked back with a curious expression, he noticed and looked at her.

"Yes Angel?"

"White, I'm just wondering..." She trailed off, seemly reluctant to continue.

"Wondering how I joined the Outcasts?"

"Yea. How did you..."

"You wouldn't be the first to ask. It started years ago, back when I was still a guard. I had just finished my shift and was on my way home when Dark suddenly ran up to me crying in terror, he told me that our family had been attacked by loan sharks even though we never took anything like a loan, my guard salary was more then enough. By the time I got there, it was too late, we found Night crying over our dying parents. Mom held us the best she could with dad while he told us to get out of Canterlot, for those hitponies could come back at any time. Once the two of them passed, I told Night and Dark to say put, while I went after those Ponies."

White let out a breath, tears falling slowly from his good eye.

"After I left I soon found them, they had been coming back to finish the job. I waited for them to pass, then attack from behind. The two at the back were dead before they knew what hit them, the other two manged to attack but one of them fell quickly while the last one put up a fight. I did finally end him but he manged to damage my eye enough that I had to run to the hospital after. Long story short, it had to be removed." He reached up and rubbed his false eye.

Angel had her mouth covered with her hooves, her own eyes wide and tears lightly falling.

"Once I got out, I learned that the four bodies had been found and that some blood that was not theirs was also found. I knew that it was only a matter of time before they traced the blood back to me, so I rushed home, told my brothers to pack everything important, then we buried our parents and got the hay out of Canterlot, leaving the life we once had behind. We ended up here in the Sea of Legends, living on Imperator's Grave. We lived there for a few years, learning about what was going on. The Outcasts at the time were still a young faction, one that was gaining ground in the war with the Royals. When they docked at Imperator's Grave to resupply I approached Razor Tail and explained my wish to join, he accepted due to needing combat veterans at the time and even told me to bring my brothers along with me.

"The three of joined that day and have been with them since."

Angel wiped her eyes, stood up, and walked up to White, giving him a hug which he returned, not noticing the bush that appeared on his face.

"I'm sorry about your parents White, I know that feeling, my own parents die when I was just out of my teens. My father by cancer and mom by a heart attack." She shook a bit, White carefully tightened the hug, rubbing her back as she cried into his chest, being mindful of her wings. After a bit Angel pulled back out of the hug wiping her eyes.

"Sorry about that."

"It's okay Angel, that wouldn't be the first, and most likely not the last time, I've held somebody like that. Even Razor had cried into my chest at some point."

Angel looked back at White, then said, "What did you leave behind if you don't mind me asking?"

White gave her a soft smile. "I don't mind at all. Before that night I was a high ranking guard, in fact I was in Princess Luna's personal guard."

Angel looked surprised. "Really? Then why did you flee? You could have told her what happened."

"Looking back on it I should have, but I don't think it would have mattered. Albino Thestrals weren't... well liked by others. The reasons escape me but I knew that once they found out I would be thrown in prison at best, and my brothers, only Faust knows what would have happened to them. I couldn't take that, so that's why the three of us fled."

He looked up at the set of armor, Angel followed his gaze.

"That's your original armor?" She asked.

"Yes, after what happened I felt that I was no longer worthy of wearing it so I had it set up like this and had this armor that I'm now wearing forged."

Angel and White stayed quite for some time mulling over their thoughts, then she asked about White's new eye.

"Mind if I see your eye?"

"Sure, one sec.."

He reached up and thumped the back of his head, his false eye popping out into his waiting hoof. He gave it to Angel who looked it over, it was one of the most well crafted false eyes she had seen. Despite been made from quartz it looked like a real eye, turning it over she saw some small runes marked on the back. 

"What are these runes White?"

"When the eye was made Razor cast those runes so I could see out of it like my real eye, and even when it's out of the socket."

"You can see out of this eye when it's out of your head?" The surprise in her voice spoke volumes, there was also some awe and a tiny bit of creeped out in it as well.

"Aye, works very well for looking into tighter areas, it is something that takes time to get used to, being able to see like normal out of one eye and the images of in this case you holding the eye, not having it blink when I do and seeing it roll across the deck among other things. Speaking of that, Angel could you turn the eye around, right now it pointing towards something I probably shouldn't be looking at." White said looking very embarrassed all of a sudden.

Angel looked at the eye in confusion, then it clicked on what exactly the eye in her hooves was pointing at. She let out an eep while turning every shade of red, giving the eye back to White who popped it back into its place. The following silence was heavy as the heavily embarrassed Angel Wings tried to calm herself while White put a wing between them to give her some privacy.

After several minutes Angel gave the okay, White pulled his wing back and saw her with a sheepish smile. White decided to change the subject.

"So what is it you do Angel."

Angel, glad for the chance, smiled and pulled out a flyer from somewhere behind her back, she gave it to White who read it.

"The Grant a Wish Foundation?" He asked looking up.

A proud and fond smile spread over Angel's face. "A organization that reaches out to and helps those with disabilities, special talents that are not very common or not really in use anymore, and others along those lines. The Grant a Wish Foundation, or GAWF for short, reaches out a helping hoof to them, to let them know thy are not alone."

"A noble thing to do Angel, kind of reminds me of the Outcasts in a way." White said with a smile giving Angel the flyer back.

Taking the flyer back Angel continued, "Me and my friend Stellar Eclipse are the co-founders of the GAWF."

"Stellar Eclipse?"

"A Pegasus Stallion who has spinal muscular atrophy type III, he will live a full life and can walk on all four hooves for brief periods but most of the time he moves around with a wheelchair cart. He's a very good friend of mine and we've known each other since Flight School."

"As for you?"

"I have both a congenital heart defect and connective tissue disease, thankfully either are too serious and I will live a full life."

"Sounds like you two became very close." White said, Angel not noticing the very slight sad tone as he said that.

"We are, we did date for awhile but we never really... clicked in that way, for lack of a better word. We see and think of each other more as brother and sister."

White's ears slightly perked, which Angel didn't notice as well, after she said that. They spent the rest of their time together talking until Angel had to head to bed, he walked with her and wish her a good night. After that he walked to Atlas' door.

I hope she's in and not with Razor doing some of their "Cuddle Time".

White shuddered, remembering the time he walked in on them. The less said about that the better. He reached up and knocked.

"Atlas, you in?"

"Sure White, come in."

White opened the door and did so, shutting the door behind him. Atlas was sitting at the table with Snowheart, playing what looked to be poker due to the plies of what were known as betting coins, small coins made of metal scraps that would have otherwise be discarded. Both Mares looked up at White as he entered.

"Hey White, would you like to join us? Snow and I are almost done with this round." Atlas asked cheerfully.

"Actually this round is over." Snow said laying down her cards, Atlas looked at them, then her own, before groaning and laying her's down.

"How do you do that Snow." Said Mare just smiled. White smiled than shook his head.

"Thanks for the offer girls but I'm headed to bed soon, I came in because I want to ask you something."

"Oh? What did you want to know Whitey?" Snow asked.

"Well, how to proceed."

"Proceed? With What?" Atlas asked tilting her head.

"You know our new crewmates, well... I think I'm in love with one of them." White said rubbing a foreleg nervously.

Both Mares' eyes went so wide they almost popped out of their sockets while the pupils shrank down to almost nothing, White telling them that he was in love with someone was a huge shock because of his past... "loves". White Fang had three Marefriends in the past, all of which did not end well at all. The first one was a gold digger who tried to leech off his guard job, the second cheated on him, and the third humiliated him in ways best left unsaid. The poor Stallion hadn't even shared a bed with a Mare yet, even after White joined the Outcast due to him closing his heart to that kind of love.

So the fact that he was willing to open his heart to love again caught Atlas and Snow completely off guard.

"White Fang... Did, did we hear that right?" Atlas started.

"You've fallen in love with one of the new Mares?" Snow finished.

"Yes, the Pegasus Mare Angel Wings."

The two Mares were silent for several minutes as their minds tried to process this, finally Atlas spoke.

"Well what do you want to know?"

After they talked for a bit about how White should move forward he left and when to bed, Atlas and Snow looked at each other.

"He is opening his heart again, after all these years." Snow said.

"I never though he would after the last heart break." Atlas said shuffling the cards.

"Do you think Angel Wings will be the one for him?"

"I think so, while we were talking I did a scan and he has a faint but growing love bond with her, one she returns as well."

"I hope it will work, poor White has been through enough heart break already."

"Agreed, while I normally don't stick my nose in this sort of thing I'm going to talk to Angel tomorrow, see what her feelings are."

"Going to ship them are you if she feels the same?"

"Like you wouldn't as well."

Both Mares laughed and went back to their game, with some plans for tomorrow.
> Chapter 16: Aboard the Dragon of the Depths #3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dragon of the Depths

The Next Day

Angel Wings was walking towards the Main Tavern when Atlas stopped her, saying they needed to talk. Atlas brought Angel to a more private area where they sat down.

"Am I in trouble?" Angel asked, looking nervous.

"No Angel, I just need to talk to you. I'm going to you a question and I want an honest answer."

"Okay, what's the question?"

"Well, you know how you and White have been hanging around together." -Angel nods yes.- "Do you have a crush on him?" Atlas' voice was soft, but serious. Angel thought for a minute, then answered.

"I think so, he treats me very well, he makes me laugh, comforts me when I'm sad, and the list goes on." A light blush colored her cheeks. "And he is cute." Angel finished quietly.

Atlas smiled.

"Good to know, and yea, he is a cutie." Her face turned serious again. "Now Angel, I wouldn't normally stick my nose in this but since it involves White Fang, I feel like I need to clear somethings up." Angel looked worried for a second before Atlas continued.

"It's okay Angel, I have nothing against you having a crush on him. In fact, I encourage it."

"Then what do you need to clear up?"

"White has had very bad luck with love, White has had three Marefriends in the past, all of which did not end well at all. The first one was a gold digger who tried to leech off his guard job, the second cheated on him, and the third humiliated him in ways best left unsaid. The poor Stallion hasn't even shared a bed with a Mare yet, even after White joined the Outcast due to him closing his heart to that kind of love."

"Really?! Poor guy. but then... why would he have a crush on me if he closed his heart?"

"Because somehow, someway, you got through that lock. Which means he is opening his heart again, if only a little bit. When White told me and Snowy last night it shocked us both speechless, it's been at least nineteen years since White closed his heart, so him willing to open it again after so long is nothing short of a miracle."

Angel sat there processing this, she must have did something right for White to open his heart again. But the question was, what?"

"So what must I do?"

"Well Angel, just keep being yourself with him, if he's opening his heart to you, it must mean he thinks you're the one. Its you choice whether or not you return those feelings, but please be gentle with him, he's suffered far too much heartache already."

"I understand Atlas, I really do think I return those feeling. I'll just see where it goes."

"And that's all I ask, I see White as a brother and I do not want him to suffer more."

Angel nodded and stood up with Atlas, they went their separate ways with the latter walking to meet up with Razor while the former when into the Main Tavern thinking over what Atlas told her. As she entered the Main Tavern she looked around, soon spotting the Albino Thestral sitting by himself drinking some coffee and reading a book.

After thinking for a minute she walked over to him.

White was too focused on his book as he jumped when he felt someone sit next to him, looking over he saw Angel next to him smiling in that cute way he liked.

"Hey Angel, you got me there. Just don't tell Razor, he'd kick my tail for not being aware of my surroundings." He said with a light chuckle, Angel giggled as well.

"Don't worry I wouldn't," She than let out a breath, "White, I want to talk to you about something."

White looked a bit surprised but closed his book after marking his place and fully turned to her.

"Go ahead Angel."

"Is it true you have a crush on me?" She asked as gently as she good.

White startled a bit, as a very visible blush formed over his face. As he tried to stammer out a response Angel just smiled softly and placed a hoof over his mouth.

"White, relax and breath."

He did and after taking a calming breath his answered.

"Yes Angel... I do, I understand if you're not in-" He was cut off when Angel placed her hoof over his mouth again. White looked at the hoof in surprise before looking at its owner, Angel had a soft smile across her face as she lowered her hoof.

"White, I am interested. True be told I have a crush on you too and I think you're cute." She shifted over and leaned against his chest, both her and White blushing at the contact. "Atlas told me about your history with love, and I want to help you. Even if it doesn't work out I'm willing to try, and I promise I will not hurt you like those other three. My question is," -she looks him in the eye- "are you willing to at least give it a try?"

White was frozen of a minute as he tried to process what she had said, but after he recovered a small but happy smile appeared and he wrapped his forelegs and wings around the Pegasus Mare as he closed his eyes, nuzzling her head and taking in the scent of her mane. Angel closed her eyes and breathed softly, relaxing into White's embrace.

They hadn't noticed the room going quite as the others took notice, the crew all had smiles while Angel's friends looked surprised at the scene, Atlas entered the room and saw it as well, a huge smile appearing on her face.

'Looks like the S.S. WhiteWing is a go, now to get the S.S. SkyTrail launched.'





Snowheart's Quarters

Snowy was writing in her "dream journal" as the crew had come to call it. She had started this to keep track of her nightmares and to see how well she was recovering, so far it seemed she was doing well, she had recovered faster than the last time she had one and they were starting to get fewer and fewer as time went on. Snow couldn't help but feel proud of herself, she had come a long way from the broken shell she once was. The nightmares were also becoming more faded and less real as well, once in a while a nasty one hit but those were few and far in between.

She set her quill down and turned to one of the pictures hanging on the wall, this was her "Wall of Memories", were every picture that held a treasured memory for her sat. The one she was looking at show a group photo of her and the other Head Officers, all with big smiles and cuddled around her, with Silver laying down on her head wearing her hat.

She lifted a hoof and gently ran it along the frame.

"Words will never describe how much you guys mean to me, you found me a broken shell of a Mare who had just escaped from seven long years of pain, pulled me aboard and over time healed me. That is something I can never repay, you give me something to fight for. Now... hundreds of thousands of slaves, former or otherwise, rise up against their "masters" and free themselves from that life because of me, I became a symbol of freedom to them, I can't thank you guys enough for you companionship. Especially you Silver, you gave me one of the things I truly desire; to be a mother, after it was ripped from me all those years ago. Thank you, and thank you Razor and Atlas for naming me as Silver's Godmother if anything happens to you two. That for me, is among the greatest honors."

Snow's smile faded as she looked away from the wall to a picture frame sitting on the table, in the picture was a younger Snowheart with both eyes intact, and her family. Her husband, a Unicorn named Dusk Light with a dark charcoal coat, blue eyes, mane and tail of orange and red like a sunset, and a Cutie Mark of a bass lantern giving off the glow of a setting sun. And her three foals; Storm Runner, a Pegasus Colt with a snow white coat, a mane and tail of ice blue and red, and blue eyes. Wisp Light, a Unicorn Filly with a blue coat, red mane and tail, and orange eyes. And finally Sparkle Field, a Unicorn Filly with a orange coat, ice blue mane and tail, and red eyes. As the picture had been taken before everything when down years ago none of the foals had their Cutie Marks at the time.

Snow let out a shuttering breath as she picked up the picture and gently ran a hoof over it, even after so many years had passed she still remembered that horrible day and likely would for the rest of her life, when her husband and Foals were taken from her by the Caribou. Dusk and Storm have put up a very good fight trying to protect her and the Fillies, even if it was futile. Snow allowed a tiny smile as she remembered how proud of Storm she had been as he tried his hardest, though it faded again as she remembered kicking and screaming as she was taken from them.

She set down the picture and carefully pulled the diamond ring off her eyepatch, Dusk had hoof-crafted this ring for months before he proposed to her. Snow had tackled him shouting yes over and over as she nuzzled his neck, when the Caribou had taken them they had also taken her ring. Years later she would kill her "master" and reclaim her ring, she remembered it like it was yesterday.





Flashback

Fourteen Years Ago

The Outcast invasion of the Caribou base had gone off far better than anyone thought, the Caribou were caught completely by surprise and fell like cheap walls. The leader had tried to escape only to run right into Snowheart, as it turned out this Caribou was her former "master", and she had a murderous look in her eye. She showed him no mercy and each of her blows was fueled by years of pain and rage. By the time the others had reached her Snow had pretty much turned the head, neck, and another lower part into hamburger with her sword and she was still attacking even though the Caribou was long dead by that point.

"SNOWHEART STOP THAT'S ENOUGH!!!" Razor grabbed her and pulled her back, the Pegasus Mare dropping her sword with a clatter as she buried her head into the Kirin's chest, sobbing heavily.

"It's okay Snowy, it's over now, he can't hurt anyone else again." Razor said rubbing her back. As he did this Fire Gem noticed something in the late Caribou's pocket, he pulled it out to reveal a diamond engagement ring in his claws. Snowheart, as if something told her, lifted her head as Fire Gem examined it, the second she saw it her eye widen as a gasp left her mouth. Fire Gem turned to her, "Snow?"

"Fire Gem, please let me see that ring." She said, he gave it to her and she flipped it over to look at the bottom. After a few seconds Snow got a look best described as pained relief.

"Snow?" White Fang asked.

"What's wrong?" Apollo Asked. Snow flipped the ring over and showed them the bottom, there was a set of five words, no names, on it; Snowheart, Dusk Light, Storm Runner, Wisp Light, and Sparkle Field. They looked at Snow who answered their unspoken question.

"It's my engagement ring, the same one my husband gave me when he proposed so long ago. The two of us craved our names into the ring, adding the kids names after they were born, to seal the bond we had with each other. I though it was gone for good when they took me."

Her friends looked at her with sympathy, than each one hugged her one by one.

"At least you have it back now Snowy, do you want to go back to the ship?" Razor asked, Snow nodded yes. Atlas gently put her hoof around the Pegasus's back and led her out of the room as Razor burned the remains of the Caribou.

"I hope your black soul rots in the deepest parts of the abyss, you filth." He snarled at the ashes.





Snow let out a sad sigh as she rubbed the ring, as far as she knew her husband and Foals were dead, in all the years that had passed none of her contacts in the NTU or Caribou areas had seen anyone who looked like them, she knew that they had been placed on a ship bond to Caribou waters. She later found out that the ship had vanished during a large storm and hadn't been seen since, while she had accepted that they were most likely dead a small part of her refused to let go of the hope that they were still alive and out there. After all, just because the ship disappeared didn't mean it sink. So there was a chance, however slim it was, that they were alive somewhere.

"At least the four of you didn't suffer the same seven years of pain I did, and Dusk, if you are alive out there, please have the kids with you and that you are okay."

She let out a shuttering sigh as she almost had a breakdown as she shoved the horrible memories back into the deepest and darkest parts of her mind, Snow knew that even if she was getting better, it would still be a long time before she fully recovered. She placed the ring back in it's place on her eyepatch, while she might never see them again she held onto the ring to keep them close.

"Even if I never see my family again, I at least hope I can get closure for all that pain."

She picked up her hat and walked to her door, opening it to find Fire Gem with his fist raised to knock. He lowered it and spoke.

"Hey Snowy, I was wondering if you wanted to- are you okay Snow?" He started asking before he noticed her eye was red from crying, his face going from relaxed to concerned.

"I'm okay Fire Gem, just remembering things."

Fire Gem pulled her into a hug which she nuzzled into.

"Thank you."

"You looked like you really needed it."

"I did, now what were asking?"

"Oh right, I wanted to know if you wanted to join us for poker night tonight?"

"I think I am, I could us the company right now."

They pulled out of the hug, Snow closed her door and walked with Fire Gem down to the game room, the latter had his wing over the former's back the entire way.





Razor's Office

Razor had just finished writing in his log book and was going over the latest reports from Outcast scouts and spies, the Equestrian fleet had arrived several days ago and was on the move. They had ran into a small Skeleton Fleet but defeated it with only minor damage to their own ships and no losses, still Razor was a tad bit worried. The Equestrian flagship, the Ailcorn of Freedom, carried the Ailcorn Sisters and other important creatures. Razor wondered just how this would effect things, while so far they hadn't moved towards Outcast waters and he had send the message for Outcast pirates to stay clear for now he knew it was only a matter time before something happened.

Thankfully the Equestrian fleet was after him so they would try to find and follow the Dragon of the Depths, which would mean they would be clear of Outcast operations, at least for the time being. Still, he did wonder how he could fight them when they finally met. Razor wasn't stupid, taking on two Ailcorns, especially ones as powerful as Celestia and Luna, even without backup from the others was a dangerous game. Both had lived for over a thousand years and had been through many battle, especially during Discord's first reign. On the other hoof however, after Discord fell and Luna turned into Nightmare Moon and was banished, either had seen any real combat afterwards; Celestia was busy keeping Equestria together and Luna was stuck on the moon for a thousand years so it was most likely their skills in that regard were rusty. Still Razor wasn't going to leave that to chance, He got up and walked up to the level above his office. Know as his personal archive, this room was were he stored letters, scrolls, books, and other pieces of information he had gathered over the years, he also stored papers that shouldn't see the light of day. The room was lined with bookshelves with some tables and chests spread over the floor, the former covered in metal cases filled with papers.

He walked up to one of the shelves and ran a claw along the spines, reading as he went.

"Let's see, I know it's here. Lore of the Sea of Legends, Outcast History, Pirate Codex Copy, ah ha. The Ailcorns 101."

Pulling the book out he opened it to the right page, this book held everything the Outcasts knew about Ailcorns. But because their was only four now it didn't have much, and it didn't dig into their personal lives either, the Outcast may have been pirates but they were respectful towards another's privacy unless they were a threat to others. This book only listed things like the Ailcorns combat skills, hangouts, and other tidbits like that but nothing to private.

Giving it a quick read he noted that Celestia and Luna combat skill greatly varied; Celestia was more of a planner and long range fighter while Luna was a brawler with powerful combat magic to back that up. Another thing that stood out was that the two seem to relay highly on their magic in a fight. Once he read this he put the book back he than walked over to one of the small chests on the table. Taking a key out he opened it and pulled out a dark purple crystal shaped like a diamond with the bottom greatly stretched out and the top flattened down but still pointed.

This was known as a Void Crystal, when smashed on the ground it would cover a ten meter radius around that spot with dark purple smoke that blocked any magic, regardless of it type or kind, from working at all. Now once the effect left the area or the smoke dissipated the magic would work just fine again.

Razor figured if he was going to face off against Ailcorns in the near future he would need some things to even the playing field a bit, however he would prefer not to use Void Crystals unless it was absolutely necessary as they were rare, expensive, and had to be refined before they could be used which was a long process. Now, it was common knowledge that Kirins of all four types were formidable fighters but they could still be beaten like any other creature. For this reason Kirins would try to even things out in their favor in a fight and they were more then willing the fight very dirty if they needed to, but there were lines they wouldn't cross if they could avoid it.

After Razor slipped the crystal into a hidden pocket he returned downstairs and sat down to read some reports when a stream of smoke entered the room through an open window, forming on his table into a medium sized wooden box with a letter fixed to the top. The box was marked with the Outcast symbol and the rune marks of the Outcast's research and development division, that alone catching his attention.

"Well, I wonder what those gearheads have got for me now." The smile on his face showed he was joking around.

Razor took the letter off the box, opened it and started reading;

Dear Archduke Razor Tail

I hope this letter didn't come at a bad time but I have some good news for you. We have a number of prototype projects we would like you to see, which are as follows;

Automatic Gardner Gun (Comes in a few forms)

Double-Barreled Blunderbuss

Pump Blunderbuss

Air Wing

Infantry Cannon

And Infantry Mortar

You can come take a look whenever you're ready, just send us a heads up first so we can set up.

I also included a gift for you, as more and more smiths with the skills needed to make centerfire ammunition join the Outcasts and more of our own smiths learn we can really start replacing our caplock and pinfire ammo with the centerfire. It will still be a few years before the change is fully complete but hay, one must start some were. Anyway, inside the box that came with this letter is a brand new set of twelve centerfire revolvers for you to replace you caplock ones.

Blinking Razor set the letter down and opened the latch on the box and lifted the lid. In side were twelve huge centerfire revolvers, pulling one out Razor noticed it looked exactly like his caplock ones, with customizations and all. He looked at the letter again.

I've also included some empty cartridges so you can get use to reloading them quickly as I figure you're use to the caplock's own reload time, along with several bags of ammo for the guns as well. Just a word of advice, these guns, due to their larger caliber, will kick harder then your already big caplocks so you may want to get use to that as well. On that note as well, these revolvers hold five shots instead of six but I can fully guarantee that one shot will be enough to take most targets down. Speaking of rounds, we also have some new types of special ammo for you to take a look at along side the prototypes.

I think that's it, I'll send anything I might have forgotten later. Till next time Boss.

Power Gears, Head of Outcasts R&D

Razor smiled, Power Gears always had a good head on his shoulders even if he had some bolts loose. Setting the letter down again he checked the box again, finding everything Gears had said was in there. He picked up one of the new revolvers and started practicing reloading it with the empty cartridges. After a bit of time he started getting the hang of it but he would need more time before he was fully use to it. He set the pistol back in the box and locked it, setting it aside as he needed to head down to the games room as tonight was poker night.





Games Room

The Games Room on the Dragon held pretty much everything one would expect; a series of pool tables in the center, clustered around a large poker table. There were even a few arcade machines along the left wall, which one of the Ponyville Colts, by the name of Button Mash, was very happy about.

At the moment the Head Officers and Silver sat at the poker table with everyone not on watch duty gathered around the them watching the current game, so far Night Mist was in the lead with the most betting coins while Apollo was in last, everyone else was more or less in the middle. Besides the coins several types of snacks sat among them.

Eventually Night called, causing the others but Silver to fold. Silver looked up after examining his cards.

"Dad, quick question; What is it called when you have Five cards in sequence?"

"That would be a Straight son, why do you ask?"

Silver looked at his cards again, then a devious smile slowly appeared over his face.

"Than I bet all of this." He said pushing all of his betting coins into the center, or as close as he could reach anyway. Night, who had looked like he was going to win, looked at his own cards before groaning and laying them down, revealing a Full House.

"Take it." He grunted.

Silver laid down his cards, to reveal that they were just random cards. Jaws dropped in surprise, Night looked at the still grinning Silver.

"You bluffed me! I don't believe." Night faceplanted into the table, the others just either smiled or lightly congratulated the Colt who smile happily. The game continued for several more rounds with each of them winning once through Razor won three times before Silver's eyelids began to droop, followed by him having troubled keeping his head up. Atlas stood up noticing this.

"Okay, I think it's time for bed Silver."

"But mom I'm not- *thump* -zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz." Once again he fell asleep mid-sentence and his head fell onto the table, causing everyone else to laugh lightly or coo at how cute he looked. Atlas picked Silver up and left to put the youngster to bed as the others packed, everyone else either turned in right away or finished something before heading to bed themselves.





Imperator's Grave

Housing Area

In a single story made for the back half of an old Sloop a Stallion sat at his deck, writing a letter to his lost wife.

Snowy

It has been hard on us all these years, I know you are most likely dead by now but I feel these letters, even if you never read them, are the only way I can cope with losing you. I've been doing well, same with the kids. Storm Runner has just proposed to his Marefriend of five years today, who said or more like yelled yes over and over again as she tackled him. Wisp Light, and Sparkle Field are also doing well working as barmares in the Tavern, and they are being treated well by both the staff and customers. Still, the kids are still having nightmares of that day, with Storm waking up in a cold sweat each time, his Marefriend Sapphire Wind has help a lot but he still blames him for not being strong enough that terrible day. I myself still miss your warm body next to mine, your beautiful wings wrapped around me, as we just cuddled together.

The Stallion wiped his tears though some fell onto the paper and continued.

I still deeply miss you my beautiful soulmate, almost every night I dream of waking up next to you again only to find that out it was only a dream. I hope that you eventually escaped your personal Tartarus, I hope that your are free. Please be free.

He let out a shakely sign as more tears fell.

Your loving Husband and soulmate, Dusk Light. My heart will forever belong to you.

Dusk set his quill down, used his magic to dry the ink, than rolled the scroll up and placed it in a bottle, sealing it tight with a heavy cork. He stood up and walked outside, stopping to check on his foals, finding them sleeping together as they always have after they escaped slavery thinks to that storm. They had been picked up by a passing Merchant and brought to Imperator's Grave, where they had lived since. Dusk was pulled out of his thoughts when he noticed Storm starting to whimper and cry in his sleep, signaling he was having one of his nightmares. His Marefriend, Sapphire Wind, who have moved in with them soon after they started dating, noticed as well as she turned over and wrapped her strong Earth Pony legs around him. Storm relaxed slightly though still cried as Sapphire held him tight against her chest, her head resting atop his.

Dusk smiled happily, knowing at least Storm was in good hooves. He had accepted Sapphire into his house when he learned she didn't have anywhere to go after her parents died, leaving her alone and without any bits. Now, he was very proud to call her his daughter in-law as she helped as much as she could with their pain. She would even comfort Storm's sisters when they needed it.

'I know you would have loved Sapphire as much as we do Snowy.'

Dusk soon left the house and walked along a small beach close by, he walked until the waves were gently creasing his legs. He than took the bottle with the letter safely sealed inside and tossed it with all his might into the waves. He watched as it floated away and soon out of sight, once it was he stood there for a few minutes, enjoying the cool and gentle feeling of the sea air was water flow over him, soothing his pain at least a little.

As he turned to head back he spotted one of the flags of the Outcasts of the Abyss lightly swaying in the wind, he lifted up a hoof and saluted it with a smile.

"Thank you, Outcasts of the Abyss, for everything you've done to make the Sea of Legends a safer place to live. Maybe one day I'll sail a ship of my own, but not for awhile yet."

Dusk than headed home, singing a phase from a song he had hear here.

"Razor Tail

Iron Horn

Blood Fang

Silver Tail

Skull and bones, for each his own

Hoist the colors, our colors red

Razor Tail

Iron Horn

Blood Fang

Silver Tail

Skull and bones, for each his own

Hoist the colors, our colors red"
> Chapter 17: Learning More
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight's Group

Twilight rested her head on her hooves, it had been a week since they had lost the Dragon's trail in that storm. A full week since the pirates had slipped away. She had been going over the maps and charts but that was getting her nowhere, the Sea of Legends was a huge place. Twilight was honestly confused on how it had manged to stay hidden like it had for so long. Then again, most Nations of the world were land-locked so only a few had any real reason to build a navy, and even then most of the seas remained unexplored.

Twilight decided to focus her attention elsewhere, after the raid on the Traveler she had done inventory on the books to see what had been taken. She had been a bit surprised to find only one book missing but it had been a real important one, the book in question was titled "Sea Artifacts" and it had details on many items that were said to exist within the waters of the world. Now, Twilight was somewhat doubtful about the contents but after finding things like the Elements, the Tree, and other such items she knew better than to dismiss them completely.

She opened a copy of that book and began reading through the pages, finding nothing at first but soon something caught her attention: It was a picture of a disk of some sort with one diamond in the center and six crystals around it with the points pointing towards the diamond. According to the book, this artifact was a key of a very ancient place referred to as the "Lost Tombs". From what Twilight had manged to learn, the Lost Tombs were once part of an Empire that ruled the Sea of Legends long before the First Heartswarming, sadly there was very little information about them which didn't surprise her, legends and stories that old would be very difficult to remember. After all, until she returned many thought that Nightmare Moon was just an old Pony Tale.

As for why Razor was looking for it, she couldn't guess. Twilight had at first thought it was treasure but after some thinking she realized it couldn't be that, Razor was already very rich and likely wouldn't need any left over trinkets from a long forgotten empire. But then, what was he looking for? Forgotten artifacts maybe?

Twilight was brought out of her thoughts when she felt someone tapping her shoulder, turning around she found herself looking into her father's yellow eyes.

"You okay there sweetly?"

"Yea dad, it's just... ever since we lost the Dragon in that storm I've trying to piece together where they could have gone. So far, I've only hit dead ends." She paused, "And I'm worried about the ones they took, who knows what has happened. I'm scared dad, I promised their families they would be safe and this happened. I... just don't know what will happen and it scares me, and than there's Neighsay; Mr. "Non-Ponies threaten our country, we must not teach them friendship." If he had his way my school would have been shut down, I don't think he really understands that Ponies can be just as dangerous as other creatures, even more so in some cases." She finished with a sign.

Nightlight watched her for a second, then pulled her into a hug. Twilight leaned against his chest as he rubbed her back.

"It'll be okay Twilight, just have faith."

Twilinght snuggled deeper into her dad's embrace, letting out a sign. This lasted for a few minutes when a knock on the door caught their attention, Twilight walked over and opened it to find Applejack waiting.

"Yes Applejack?"

"Ah just wanted to tell you that we're runnin' low on supplies, Flash has spotted a port not to far away so Ah rekcon we can resupply there." Anything else she was going to say was cut off as her face suddenly turned green and she covered her mouth with a hoof.

"Some seasickness pills would be great too."

Both Twilight and Nightlight cringed, ever since they had left Manehattan poor Applejack had been suffering from seasickness, while the medicine from the Traveler had helped they had run out two days ago and Applejack was being hit hard. Four times now she had to lean over the side of the ship and release.

"Good idea, let me make a list of what we need."





Later

After docking at the port, the group started to feel something was off. For one, the docking fee was overpriced. For another, the atmosphere felt... wrong, almost oppressive. Nightlight along with the Mane Six went to the tavern to see if they could learn more about the Sea of Legends while Flash and Flare when to buy more supplies. Nightlight couldn't help notice several Earth Pony Stallions wearing what he guessed were navy blue, red and white uniforms consisting of a bicorne hat, coat worn over a vest and shirt, black belt with brass buckle, pants and boots. Each one was armed with a musket, a longsword, and a flintlock pistol. From Nightlight's military trained eye he couldn't help but feel that the soldiers discipline was... lacking as they walked in too loose of a formation and, to his annoyance and somewhat anger, the Stallions as they passed locked their gazes on the six Mares with him. More specifically, their flanks. Twilight was wearing a vest to cover her wings as the group had felt that an Alicorn might draw unwanted attention. He felt the girls crowd closer to him as the neared the tavern, his instincts (and most likely the girls' own as well) were telling they should not stay here any longer than they had to, because to Nightlight at least, it seemed they might be in hostile territory.

Another thing he noticed was that the soldiers appeared to be underweight, unless their uniforms were a size or so bigger, the uniforms hung loosely around their bodies and the soldiers appeared thinner than they should be and from their movements Nightlight could help but wonder if they were malnourished.

I don't like this, the way those Stallions were staring wasn't the normal "Their pretty" way, but like a predator looking at prey. I'm starting to wonder if this was a good idea. We'd better get to the tavern, get what we need, and leave.

Nightlight and the six Mares noticed that the looks became more predatory as they neared the tavern, most of the Stallions they passed eyeing the girls flanks like a swimsuit magazine. Finally they reached the tavern, as Nightlight paid the bartender for some information the girls looked around, stay close to him while trying to ignore the stares directed towards them, thankfully most of the customers ignored them after staring for a few minutes. Twilight soon noticed something out of the corner of eye, a piece of paper with something on it. She picked it up to read it, her eyes widened for a brief moment, then folded and tucked it into her vest. Before her friends could ask Nightlight told them they were going back to the ship. The six fully agreed and stayed close as they left.

Not noticing that they being watched, and unlike the stares, the one watching had something in mind. The watcher was an Earth Pony Stallion with a white fur coat, black mane and tail, and blue eyes. He wore the same uniform as the Soldiers but much more clean, like the type officers wore. He was also much healthier looking than the soldiers and even had a very slight belly. He watched as the group left than set some bits down on the counter before getting up and walking away. He exited the tavern and caught the tails of the group disappearing around the corner, he turned and walked in the other direction, towards the port's fortress.

It took some time but he reached the gates and entered, the guards saluting him as he passed. The Stallion walked through the fort before eventually reaching an ornate door, reaching up with a hoof he knocked before entering the room which was an office, sitting at the decks was another Earth Pony Stallion wearing the same uniform but had items that showed he was an Admiral. He was also healthier looking and had a slightly larger belly than the first Stallion.

The Admiral looked up as the first Stallion entered.

"Have something to report Captain?" The Captain saluted before answering.

"Yes sir, I just saw none other then the Equestrian Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends in the tavern as I was finishing my last drink."

The Admiral's ears shot up and he leaned forward.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive, Sparkle was wearing a vest that covered her wings but I know that Cutie Mark anywhere, plus the ones her friends have. I also saw her Father, the retired Equestrian General Nightlight Sparkle himself."

That caught the Admiral off guard, he shot up and leaned over his deck, causing the Captain to calmly step back as if this was nothing new.

"Are. You. Serious?!?"

"Absolutely sir, unless that Stallion I saw was a Changeling, there is no mistake that it was him."

The Admiral stood up and walked from behind his deck to stand in front of the Captain.

"How long until your ship is ready to sail?"

"About..." he paused, thinking, "an hour and a half, two hours at most."

"Then you have your new orders."

"Tail and capture them, I understand sir. After all, I know just how much even one of the former bearers of the elements would be worth on the Slave Market, and that's not even counting a Princess of Equestria and the former leader of the Equestrian 501st Army Group himself. we both know that he would sell of a very high price, after all it was his loins that made both the Prince of the Crystal Empire and one of Equestria's greatest heroes and newest Princess. I'm looking forward to this."

"Good, as for me I'll looking for that item I've been after."

"Any luck on finding it sir?"

"The only lead I've found is that its somewhere in the Steel Yard."

The Captain's eyes went as wide as dinner plates.

"The Steel Yard!? Sir, you know why that place is marked as a "No Sail Zone"!"

"That story of "Steel Guardians" is only that, a story. You focus on your mission, and I'll focus on mine. Also, while your tailing Sparkle, if you see the Dragon of the Depths, Stay away! Nothing we have can hope to have a chance in Tartaurs against that monster. Do you understand?"

"Very much sir, I know all to well what that beast can do." The Captain rubbed a large scar on his head as he said this, a past reminder of an almost fatal encounter with that very ship.

"Good, now go. We cannot let this slip pass us. The Outcasts' raider fleets have been hitting our Merchant Fleets harder and harder, if we don't get the income we need to build more fleets our hold on the Sea of Legends will lessen even worse than when that lizard killed the Union's puppets."

The Captain saluted, about faced, and left the office.





Twilight's Group

Back on their ship

Flash and Flare had some bad luck getting supplies, the Merchants over charged them and they couldn't get as much as they had wanted, the two did get some but at best it would only last two months. At the moment everyone was gathered in the Captain's Quarters, waiting for Twilight to show them the paper she had picked up.

"What did you find Twilight?" Velvet asked.

"Must be something big or important if you wanted us all in here." Spike added.

"It's big, here." Twilight set the paper on the table, it was a wanted poster, of Archduke Razor Tail. What the poster side was "WANTED: The Kirin Pirate Lord Archduke Razor Tail." Under that was a drawn picture of the Kirin, followed by; "By order of the Northern Trade Union, he is wanted alive or dead for," The list was quite long but the ones that stood out were "Raids on Slaver Fleets" "Murders of Pirate Hunters" "Port Attacks" and "Treasure Fleet Raids". Under the list was a warning; "Razor Tail is very skilled in combat and is more than capable of defending himself so it is vital that he is not underestimated for your own safety. He has slayed many a would be hunter with ease and is the Pirate Lord of the faction called the "Outcasts of the Abyss". It is currently unknown how large this faction is. 

Finally under that at the bottom of the poster was the reward. The group read it and their jaws hit the floor, completely shocked by what they saw.

"One Billion Bits!!!" Rarity all but shouted.

"How would anycreature have a bounty THAT big!?" Applejack said.

"I didn't think a bounty could even get that big, and just what did Razor Tail do to get that?" Spike asked.

Nightlight spoke up.

"This wasn't right away, this bounty was built up over time. From the list here, Razor has been very busy and it looks like he has been active for a long time."

"How long Hon?" Velvet asked.

"According to the back of the poster, at least eighteen years, maybe longer."

"Nineteen years? If my knowledge on Kirin aging is correct, Razor is currently thirty years old." Twilight said.

"Which means he, if it was eighteen years, was about... twelve years old when he started his pirate career." Velvet said, a shocked look appearing over her and the others faces. "What would cause someone so young to become a pirate."

"His home life must have been awful, for a youngin' like him at the time to turn to that." Applejack said. Nightlight continued.

"I have to agree with you on that Applejack, while we were at Imperator's Grave I got hold of a history book. While I know that has to be taken with a grain of salt, it had said that almost nothing of Razor's past is known, only that he appeared one day, and effectively built was is not the Outcasts of the Abyss." He rubbed his chin with a hoof, "It's likely the only ones who know of his past are his Head Officers."

"Head Officers?" Rainbow asked.

"Those elite pirates we encountered on the Traveler," Twilight began. "The Changeling Queen, the Pegasus Mare, the Griffin, the Dracony, the three Thestrals, the two Dragons, the giant Minotaur, and the Zebra Mare. Those must be his Head Officers."

Now that they thought about, that would make sense. The various pirate units they saw on the Traveler followed the orders of each one of them, implying that they were at least of high rank. If they were Razor's Head Officers they would most likely knew more about the Kirin than any other, plus from what Rarity had said, Razor and the Changeling Queen, who Rarity said was named Atlas Moth, were happily married and had been for a few years.

On that thought another crossed their minds; if the two were married, did they have any foals?

More questions then answers but know they had some idea what they were up against, especially if the Mane Six (Unknown to the others) were to face the Kirin again, the six knew they would have to be ready this time.

The group soon set sail to start searching for the Dragon again, not noticing a navy blue, red and white colored Brigantine following them at a distance.





Shining Armor's Group

Another unknown very large island

Shining's group had dropped anchor on the other side of an island that was bigger than the last one, having been attracted to the large amount of ships moving about what appeared to be a large shipyard. Shining chose to scout it out alone while the others checked over their supplies, figuring they had enough to make it to the next port but they wanted to make sure.

Shining soon found himself on an over grown ledge overlooking the shipyard, pulling out a spyglass he began his recon. The first thing that stood out was in the center of the port city, for lack of a better word, was a massive tower-like structure similar to the one that Dark Moon had seen at that gem mine. Shining's best guess was it was a power generator of some sort. Around the base of the generator were various industrial buildings with workshops, factories, housing and other structures he couldn't identify from his current position. One thing he couldn't help but notice was that every building expect for the generator had at least one flag and long banner proudly displaying the colors of the Outcasts.

Guess the Outcasts are really into symbolism.

Looking towards the shipyard he saw what one would expect, among the docks he could see ships enter and leaving like normal, along with several dry docks. The latter of which had several ships docked but he couldn't get a good look from where he was. It took some time avoiding patrols to get to a closer vantage point, he eventually reached another ledge overlooking the shipyard. Pulling out his spyglass again Shining examined the dry docked ships;

There were eight ships, the first being what he guessed was a Caribou Titan judging from its size, being repaired and modified. The second was a Juggernaut colored in a navy blue, red and white scheme that was being repainted and also modified. What really had Shining's attention however was the other six ships.

From what he could see they each appeared to be two juggernauts that had been lengthened to double their usual size, they also had an extra gun deck added, or at least he thought. From what Shining knew about Juggernauts the warships had five gun decks, these ships looked like they had six but the bottom one was covered up, implying that these ships could be Armored Ships. Along their hulls was metal plating of some kind, most likely iron steel, with the bow looking heavily reinforced, two twin smoke stacks jutted out of the back.

What are those?

Shining lowered his spyglass, staring at the new ships. From his point of view they looked like the Outcasts had taken the ideas of the Armored Ship and the Ironclad and combined the two together to make a whole new ship type. He frowned, not sure what to think about that idea. Figuring he'd seen enough and wanting to avoid getting caught he made his way back to his group.

Later

Shining was sitting in the Captain's Quarters thinking over what he had seen, while the shipyard itself wasn't anything unexpected he wasn't sure what to think about the six new ships he'd seen. On one hoof he found the notion of combining an Armored Ship and an Ironclad together ridiculous but on the other if the idea worked that would mean the Outcasts had an entirely new ship type that no one else knew about.

Shining signed, resting his head on a hoof. The more he thought about it, the more he wondered just how big the Outcasts truly were. To his knowledge Pirate Clans were the largest form of Pirate Gang, but even though they often had ships like Frigates and Ships-of-the-Line those were in small numbers and even then very few Pirate Clans had Armored ships.

So just how big and resourceful was the Outcasts of the Abyss? His only guess was either they were being funded by someone or they weren't actually a Pirate Clan but something new altogether, and that worried him.

Another thing was their leader, Archduke Razor Tail. During a stop to resupply Caramel had found a wanted poster of the Pirate Lord, listing what he was wanted for and the reward, the latter of which caught everypony off guard. If there was one thing Shining knew right now from all of this, it was that Razor had broken the record of the most wanted creature in history by a large margin.

One billion bits, I never thought anycreature could even get a bounty that high.

On thing that did confuse him on that front was why weren't there more bounty hunters or pirate hunters after him? Maybe he was considered too dangerous?"

Still, one thing Shining had to give Razor credit of was the freeing of slaves. Any Equestrian worth their Cutie Mark viewed slavery as a special sort of evil, in fact it was one of the few crimes in Equestria that still had the death penalty. Razor's apparent hatred of slavery didn't surprise Shining though; besides being know as formidable warriors, all Kirin had a seething hatred for slavey, to the point that any slaver they caught was said to suffer a fate far worse then death. No living creature other than a few Kirin actually knew just what happened but the stories were not pretty, stories of torture so horrific that the slaver would beg for death but would still be kept alive for as along as possible which was just one of many. From what Shining knew the rumors were enough to cause any slaver who couldn't escape to willingly take their own lives.

Not that Shining, or many others for that matter, really cared, slavers were considered among the worse of sum so the less of them around the better.

Despite not knowing what would happen to any slavers Kirin caught, and quite frankly he never wanted to know, Shining actually knew why Kirin had such hatred for slavery. It was mostly forgotten history by this point and only very few actually knew the reason. The Kirin had been, long before the Heartswarm, slaves themselves, of the Centaur Empire. The same Empire that was destroyed in a massive uprising by the Kirin. In fact, the land where the Kirin Mountains stood was once the heart of that very empire.

That certainly explains why Tirek avoided Kirin like a plague, at least he's in a grave now so we wouldn't need to worry about him ever again.

He was also wondering if Twilight's idea of splitting up to cover more ground had been a good idea, so far they hadn't encountered any threats but that just worried the Soldier in him. It had been too quiet, way too quiet. He stood up and walked to the window, looking out over the water.

"Be careful Twily, I'm not sure why but I feel that danger is coming for us all. That it's only a matter of time before it finds us."





Equestrian Fleet

The Alicorn of Freedom

"So Wave, what can you tell us about the Outcasts of the Abyss?" Iron asked.

"Besides what I said before, only what I can remember off the top of my head. Where would you like me to start?"

Celestia, Luna, Iron Waters, Neighsay, the five foreign leaders, the Pillars and Blade Wind were once again gathered in the captain's cabin with Wave Surfer to learn more about what he knew as he remembered a few things after the Skeleton Fleet attack, thankful only minor damage had been done to the Equestrian Fleet and no one was hurt. The most of the Skeleton weapons had either self-destructed or failed to fire at all, so the Equestrian ships had no problem re-sinking them.

"Why not start with their history, I'm quite curious about that." Blade Wind said.

"Well, from what I know the Outcasts were first formed at least eighteen years ago, no one but the Outcasts' founders knows the exact time but that's the general time zone. They first appeared taking down the first of seven royals that ruled before, starting what we Sea of Legends folk know as "The Rise of the Outcasts War"."

"I'm guessing it got the name from the fact it was that time the Outcast rose to power." Luna said.

"Yes, it was a three year long war that saw the fall of the royals and the Outcasts calming the Sea of Legends. Most of what I know is from second-hoof and third-hoof sources, from what I understand the royals had grown detached from reality and had grown very incompetent. At the time nothing threatened them other than each other and pirates, so at first they didn't see the Outcasts as any different. That proved to be their downfall, by the time the royals realized the true threat of the Outcasts, only two remained."

Everyone looked a bit surprised, and maybe a bit disturbed, at that.

"How did the royals not realize the threat and how did Razor get support so quickly?" Iron asked.

"As I said, the royals were both very incompetent and detached from reality, focusing only on their own wealth and power, which ties into your second question. Razor got so much support so quickly because before he showed up, the creatures of the Sea of Legends, Ponies, Griffins, Dragons, and all others, lived in what could be called absolute poverty though calling even that might be generous under the royals. The creatures owned nothing, not even their shelters, which often times were just tents that had long passed the point of being trash and others built from tree branches. The royals would often times send their soldiers to tear down those shelters, leaving the creatures formerly living in them out in the cold with only their own body heat for warmth. Food and water was even worst, to the point that adults would give up what they could find to the young so they could have even the slightest chance of surviving. Sickness and malnourishment was all too common while the royals grew fat, and that's only the very tip of the iceberg. If I go any further we'd be here all day."

Wave waited as the others took this all in with various levels of horror and pity on their faces, after several minutes Celestia finally spoke.

"Makes sense then why the Outcasts would get support so quickly; the creatures after so long finally saw a thin ray of hope for a better life and latched onto it with everything they had." She paused, then asked.

"Wave, how old is Razor?"

"As far as I know he turned thirty earlier this year, though I don't know when exactly."

Starswirl counted while tapping his hoof, mumbling out the math, before his eyes went wide.

"If I'm counting this right, Razor was twelve years old when he formed the Outcasts!"

"Twelve years old??!!" Was the utterly shocked response from the others, unable to believe their ears.

"Hold on, how and why would a kingdom's worth of creatures, of different types no less, follow a twelve year old?!" Neighsay half asked half demanded. It wasn't Wave that spoke next but Somnambula.

"They saw hope, hope for a better future. They didn't care if their new leader hadn't reached his teen years, they saw a chance for freedom and latched onto it." Wave spoke next.

"Add the fact that the creatures by that point had nothing left to lose, plus former guards and officers that had been jailed along with their families for either questioning their royals or because said rulers were paranoid of uprisings that didn't even exist."

"So once the latter was freed by the Outcasts they taught Razor all they knew so he would become the leader they needed." Luna said.

"And from there the war began." Celestia finished, Wave nodded his head.

"Yes, I can't tell you much on that front as I wasn't in the Outcasts, only stories I've heard of a few of the more famous battles."

"Which ones?" Blade Wind asked.

"Well, three major ones come up immediately off the top of my head; The Battle for Smuggler's Cove, the Battle of Fallen Rest, and the Invasion of the Fortress of Royalty."

"Any particular reason for those three?" Ember asked.

"Those three are listed among the most important of the Outcasts' battles, this may take a bit of time and I might miss some things but I'll try to get what I can."

Wave took a breath and began.

"Smuggler's Cove is an important trade port not for the cargo that passes through it, but for its location. You see, there is a massive section of the Sea of Legends that remains more or less unexplored. The reason is what we know as "The Blood Sea", named so for both its blood red waters, heavy choking fog and the many lives it has calmed. I've never been there myself but I know the stories: Anyone who enter becomes disorientated and will end up lost within the fog as all navigation equipment becomes useless, while it slowly corrodes all not-living organic matter and materials that it touches. The environment also turns red and black clouds form. Those on the ships hear ominous music play whilst the ship buckles and breaks, continuously damaging the ship until it sinks, taking the entire crew with it. Those that managed to turn back and escape arrive at where they started, often with heavily damaged ships.

It is for these reasons that no one knows just how large the Blood Sea is or what lays beyond it, Smuggler's Cove sits at the entrance to the only safe path through the Blood Sea. At the other end it a massive chain of harsh and volcanic Islands formed of Volcanoes, covered with half-burnt plant life and strange red crystal growths. Aside from the Volcanic Islands, there are also several Volcanoes in the water throughout the area. The whole Area is extremely dangerous to any seafarers with the Islands posing various threats to any explorers in the form of active Volcanoes that are ready to erupt at any time with Lava falls, boiling hot waters, constant Earthquakes and erupting Geysers. Even the caves offer little protection with cracked lava flowing through and very dangerous Magma Skeletons looking for a chance to sneak up on unsuspecting foes. Few ever go there and it would most likely be left and forgotten about, if not for the extreme resource wealth found there. That island chain is perhaps the richest area in terms of things like metals, sulfur, and a resource we call Thermal Crystals."

He reached into his tail and pulled out a tiny, faintly glowing orange chuck of crystal.

"When the Caribou took me I was able to keep this hidden, they really don't search their slaves very well."

Celestia picked up the crystal with her magic and she and the others examined it as Wave continued.

"This one has very little charge left which is way it has a faint glow, at full charge they glow like a fog light. These crystals produce heat and the Outcasts use them for things like warmth, light, cooking, and even as a power source. All Outcast ships are fitted with steam engines and instead of coal they use these crystals as they are safe, clean, and easily renewable."

"How so Wave?" Iron asked, looking very interested.

"Simple; just place them in or close to a heat source like a fire or even a candle when empty. The crystal absorbs heat and that recharges it until its full. Even sunlight on a hot day will work, all you need to do is wait."

They all looked at the tiny crystal in Celestia's magic with great interest.

"If any of us could get a hold of these they could change things back home considerably." Luna said as Celestia gave Wave the crystal back as he went on.

"Unfortunately they only grow on that island chain as far as I know of, which is why the Outcasts have Smuggler's  Cove very heavily protected."

Ember then spoke up.

"I can see why, there's also the lava and sulfur."

"And just what use would lava have?" Neighsay asked, not seeing the need for it. Ember snorted in response.

"Well chemically lava contains the elements of Oxygen, Silicon, Aluminum, Iron, Calcium, Sodium, Potassium, and Magnesium along with several others in small amounts." She was answered with surprised looks.

"What? I know Dragons are seen as uneducated brutes but as the Dragon Lord I do have enough of an education to know these things. After all, it helps when the Dragon Lands trade metals with Equestria for gems."

"It's true," Celestia said, "While Equestria does have metal mines a large amount comes from the Dragon Lands." Iron spoke next.

"And sulfur is used for a number of things, including black powder."

"Now to get back on track, Wave, continue please." Star Swirl said.

"I can't tell you much about the battle as not much is really mentioned about it, only that the Outcasts won and gained access to the island chain. Now the Battle of Fallen Rest, that I know a bit about."

Wave tool a breath and continued.

"The Battle of Fallen Rest was perhaps the largest battle of the war, Razor Tail and his crew at the time brought an army of hundred thousand strong to battle one of the final royals, Razor's first ship, The Black Dragon, leading the charge. They ended up going against an army of Royal Loyalists three times that size. I don't know much about the battle itself but I do know that somehow the Outcasts won and wiped out their enemy, but they do not consider it a victory at all."

The others looked confused at that.

"Why would they not consider it a victory? Just the fact they wiped an army three times their own is quite a feat." Blade said, before she suddenly realized something. "But it..."

"Came at a very high cost." Wave finished for her. "Even though the Outcasts won they lost ninety-five percent of their forces. At the time Razor had allowed the fact that they had only face enemies that were too incompetent, arrogant, or cowardly before that battle go to his head."

There was a long pause as the group took this all in, Celestia, Luna, Blade, Iron, Seaspray, Thorax, Flash, and even Rutherfold took off their head gear if they wore any and bowed their heads while the others looked like they didn't know how to react. After a few minutes the bowing ones stood back up and Iron spoke.

"What about Razor? Your tone implies he lost more then that."

"He did, Razor lost the Black Dragon with all but a few of its crew, who are now his Head Officers, and his best friend, a Tatzlpony who was named Silver Tail. Silver died saving Razor's life, which deeply effected him."

"It's understandable then why the Outcasts wouldn't consider it a victory, not with the lost of so many even if they wiped the enemy force out." Seaspray said, his tone showing a bit of sympathy for the Outcasts. The others voice their agreement.

"So what about the last one Wave?" Luna asked.

"The Invasion of the Fortress of Royalty? Well for that one-"

Wave was interrupted when a guard, Unicorn this time, entered the room in a sprint.

"Admiral! Princesses! Caribou ships have been spotted off our bow."

"Caribou ships?! All hooves battlestations!" Iron jumped out of his chair and rushed to the deck, the others behind him. Reaching the deck they saw a fleet of twenty Caribou ships in the distance out of weapon range, barely visible in the early hours of the night, Iron turned to order the crew to get their cannons when he spotted something out of the counter of his eye. Turning to that he saw a strange, ghostly green glow getting bigger out on the water a good distance away from the Equestrian Fleet, the others following his stare.

"What is that?" Ember asked.

She got her answer when the glow, and the water around it suddenly exploded. What they saw caused jaws to drop and eyes to widen.

From the glow and churning water as a massive ship emerged from below, the bow in the shape of a dragon head with a gaping maw and giant teeth, looking ready to swallow anything unfortunate to fall in and the two large eyes were glowing an unnatural green and white. Protruding from the chin was a long and very big hardened steel ram that had claw like spikes starting from the back half of the ram to just in front of the hull, the spikes started small and increased in size towards the back. Under the long bowsprit, which protruded out just above the dragon's nose, was a spot that was missing a large figurehead of a quadruped Dragon in flight above a maelstrom, clutched in it's claws was a small chest.

The hull and the sails were completely black and were heavily tattered with many holes of various sizes spread throughout them, numerous masts that reached very high into the air ran along the top of the hull. The ship itself was at least 16 decks above the water line, not counting the fore and aft-castles, but towards the front a space was missing six decks, lanterns with the same glow as the dragon's eyes could be seen all over the top decks, forecastle and aft-castle. On each side of the forecastle were what looked like runways like those on Equestria naval carriers.

Massive amounts of damage was easily visible all over the floating monster from the missing figurehead, broken masts, and large sections of the hull missing, each damaged or missing area had a glowing energy of some kind in place to make the ship look repaired, including the masts and figurehead. Finally the entire ship had what was the largest flame the Equestrian fleet had ever seen burning over its decks. Both the "repaired" sections and the flames were the same color as the eyes and lanterns.

Those on the fleet could only watch as what could only be a gigantic 458.45 meter long ghost ship slam back into the surface of the water, kicking up large waves as it landed and leveled out, water pouring down over the sides. As they watched the ship's sails filled with a ghostly wind and the haunted rumble of rusted and damaged steam engines roared to life. All over the ship they saw ports open and cannons covered in bones, glowing runes the same color as the rest, and bones roll into firing position, and the ghost ship sailed towards the Caribou fleet as if the Equestrian one wasn't even there.

Soon the ship's cannons fired, tearing through the Caribou fleet like it was nothing, the "battle" only lasted a few minutes but soon only the ghost ship stood tall, victorious over the burning remains of the once mighty Caribou fleet. After few seconds, as if checking to make sure its work was finished, the ghost ships's cannons rolled back into the hull and the ship slowly sank bow first back into the sea form which it came from.

Those on the Equestrian fleet could only stare, even after the ship disappeared completely, at the spot. Finally after what felt like an eternity, though it was only ten minutes, the guards began shouting.

"Did we just SEE THAT?!?!"

"What the buck was that?!"

"Whatever it was it tore through the Caribou fleet like our sun Princess through cake."

"I do not eat cake that fast."

"You do too sister."

Iron found his voice and closed his mouth.

"Did, did we just see an actual ghost ship?"
> Chapter 18: The Father and the Son
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dragon of The Depths

Razor's Office

19 Days into the Voyage

Razor was reading though several books, trying to narrow down where the next crystal was. So far he wasn't having having much luck.

'Where is the next crystal? Iron Horn's message said he had sensed strange readings around the "Dragon Skull Islands" so why is it we haven't found anything yet.'

Razor knew of the Dragon Skull Islands well, the location was a massive chain of twenty large islands that from above resembled a Dragon skull with an open jaw. He had visited the islands more than once during his years as Pirate Lord for various reasons, the main one being to learn more about Western Kirin Culture. Razor remembered the day he first met his own kind as clear as a cloudless day, he had just turned nineteen and had been relaxing with his crew four shapes appeared over the horizon. The shapes turned out to be four Western Kirin, a Clan Thane with three Elite Guards, looking for him. Razor chuckled as the memory came up...





Flashback

Twenty-One Years Ago

Razor stood on deck watching as the four Western Kirin approached the Dragon from the air, three trailing behind the one in front by a respectful distance. The one in front stopped hovering over the deck and said,

"Permission to come aboard?"

"Permission granted." Razor said, watching as the four landed, their wings kicking up a bit of a wind. The three guards were wearing red, gold-trimmed full-body armor that was very heavily scared and worn by battle, only their thick wing membrane was uncovered, exposing the scars and burns to all. It was however the fourth one that had Razor's attention

This Kirin, a male Crystal Pony-Born by the shiny, gradient cobalt coat and shimmered black mane atop of his head, stood up looking around at the ship. He wore silver armor with a red cape flowing over his shoulders and back and a purple, gold edged sash over his chest, and a long scar ran down his neck from just under his left ear to under his long gold and black striped scarf. After looking around for a moment he turned to Razor, a soft slime appearing over his face.

"Greetings young brother, Razor Tail is it? You've made quite the name for yourself among the Clans."

"That's...good..." Razor wasn't really sure how to act, this was the first time he had met another of his kind and he hadn't wanted to make a bad impression. The Clan Thane chuckled lightly.

"You can relax Razor, if I had wanted to hurt you I would have brought an army. Though is this really first time you've met a fellow Western Kirin?"

Razor nodded, still a little guarded, his crew looking ready to fight if they needed too. The Thane, either not noticing or just ignoring them, continued speaking.

"So one of the Outsiders then, that would explain it." To Razor's surprise, and his crews', this was said without any hint of animosity or similar. The Thane chuckled again noticing their surprise.

"Let me clear it up for you, "Outsider" for us Kirin refers to those born outside of the Kirin Lands, it's not a slur, insult or anything like that. In fact there are a number of Kirin who are proud to bear the tilde. You see, Kirin who are born out of the Kirin Lands more often then not have unique sets of skills, it is for that reason that insider Kirin seek out Outsider ones so younger ones can learn these skills."

"So... that means I would have to leave my crew?" Razor asked, not liking sound of it.

"Only temporarily, it is against Kirin law to take one from their Clan permanently unless it is for a very good reason. Besides, I'm quite sure your Clan would fight to prevent that with everything they had.

"My Clan? I don't have one."

Actually you do." The Thane waved a foreleg around the deck, "Your crew here is your Clan."

Razor blinked, so did the rest of the crew.

"I though only Kirin could be in a Clan."

"I understand why you would get that impression, but that isn't the case. Kirin don't care what species their companions are, the Clans have had plenty of members of many different species throughout out history; Ponies, Griffins, Dragons, and so forth."

The Thane then tilted his head slightly.

"I'm guessing your parents didn't really teach you much from your questions."

Razor looked at the floor, Snowheart placing a wing over his back.

"Your parents weren't the teaching sort."

"...No, my so called father locked me in a cupboard for seven years, after casting my mother to the waves, and barely even fed me. I was twelve when I finally escaped."

The Thane gave a look of sympathy, the guards behind him bowing their heads as a gesture of respect and sorrow.

"I'm sorry to hear that young brother, have you taken your father out?"

"Not yet, I'm not ready to face him, and I have other things to take care of first before I'm ready."

"I understand that, truth be told you're not the first Kirin to go though something like that, but at least you are one of the lucky ones, most don't survive, with some going completely feral and leaving us no choice but to end their suffering. I would also explain your size."

Razor looked up with some puzzlement.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Razor, you're rather small for a Kirin your age. If anything, you should be at least seven feet tall, and you're only five. My guess is due to the malnutrition your father inflected on you."

"Wouldn't surprise me, I'm not the only one he has harmed, not by a long shot. Though I get the feeling you're here for another reason."

"Indeed I am, tell me, have you ever felt a haze or other things you know are not normal?"

"Yes, since I turned twelve, I've had this really strong haze, not really sure what else to call it. Some of it has been kept under control thanks to my crew helping me, and Atlas here enjoying some "alone" time with me." Both Razor and Atlas blushed, the Thane smiled.

"Well that's the Kirin mating instinct, so you already took care of it. No need to feel ashamed, I did the same thing myself. As for the haze, you've had it for eight years?"

Razor nodded, the Thane whistled.

"Wow, that's quite the time to have that synonym. You must be pretty strong willed to not have gone insane by now."

"Well as I said, the crew have helped me through the worst when it pops up, but you know what it is?"

"Yes I do, but before I tell you let me explain somethings; those synonyms met that you were becoming an adult. For Kirin it also means that it's time for them to take their Rites of Passage."

"Rites of Passage?"

"Yes, every Kirin goes through them regardless of their origin. There are three: The Rites of Survival, Hunting, and Teamwork. The first is one surviving for one week on their own in the Kirin Lands with nothing but their skills. The second is hunting one of the dangerous creatures that roam the Lands, taking it down, and bringing it back. The more dangerous, the better. The third and final one is working with your Clanmates to both survive for two weeks and hunt a creature more dangerous than what you and your Clanmates hunted before."

He paused as Razor took this in, then continued.

"Now the Rites of Survival and Teamwork wouldn't have to be done as you, without knowing, have already down those. With leaves only the Rite of Hunting, and that will clear up the synonyms."

Razor thought about this for a minute, than asked,

"Two questions: One, do I have to hunt on my own, and two, would it help me get my Cutie Mark?"

"Yes to the second but I get to back to that, as for the first you are allowed to bring two others of your choice as your circumstances are different from Insiders. As for the mark; for Kirin, even when we find our Special Talent and know what it is, wouldn't get our mark until all three Rites are complete. No one knows why, it's just the way it has always been for us."





Razor smiled at the memory, after their talk he, Snow, and Atlas had traveled to the Kirin Lands and done Razor's Rite of Hunting. He still remembered taking down the massive Crested Snake, which was rather rare as most Kirin would avoid them on their first hunt, and the haze that had bothered him of so long finally fading away, like a thick fog clearing for a bright, warm sunny day. Razor had been in pure bliss for at least several minutes, enjoying it before Atlas pulled him out of it.

Snow had actually slayed a Zerker that day while Atlas had brought down a Titan Bear; The Zerkers are twelve-foot tall beasts who are blind but powerful, known for their highly developed sense of hearing and smell, extremely durable bodies, and extremely aggressive behavior. Zerkers are stuck in a never ending state of rage, attacking anything that’s not themselves, even each other. Their skin is so tough that standard weapons deal little to no damage, only fire and magic will significantly damage them as well as allowing standard weapons to do full damage via the heated skin. But even then, it still takes a lot to bring one down for good. Those who end up fighting one must also be aware of the fact as Zerkers, the closer to death they get, became more enraged and dangerous as they do not feel pain at all.

The Titan Bear was a massive fourteen-foot tall on all four beast with incredibly long teeth that jut out of its jaw almost at random, eyes and part of its mouth bioluminescent, the fifth claw on each of its paws almost appears to function as an opposable thumb, and muscle thick enough to stop a 68-pound cannonball and not be fazed.

From what Razor had learned not many Kirin, even veteran hunters, would take on either creature unless they were very bold or they were a danger to the young. Razor remembered laughing hard at the looks of mute astonishment the Kirin gave the three of them as they came back, dragging their prizes behind them. Snow carrying her's with pride despite her sporting numerous lacerations, a black eye, and a broken wing.

She called it the most fun she'd had in a long while.

Snow and Atlas left the Kirin Mountain with a lot of respect from the Kirin.

He looked over at his hat, picking it up and looking at the teeth that sat on the tall brims. Those same teeth were the ones from that Crested Snake, it was a day he would always remember.

He was brought out of his memories when he heard the door open, his son Silver Moth stepping in.

"Hey dad, am I interrupting anything?"

"No son, just lost in my memories. So what do you need?"

"Everyone else is busty and I don't want to get in the way, so I came down here."

"For a little Father and Son time?" Razor said with a smile.

"Yes." Silver said hopefully.

Razor turned in his chair and patted his lap, Silver came over and hopped up, sitting straight and resting his back against Razor's hand as the older Kirin held him up.

"Anything you wanted to talk about Silver?" Razor asked, using his left wing hand to scratch his son's head.

"Well I would like to know more about Kirin Culture." Silver said leaning into the scratching.

"Well... what subject do you want first?"

"The Halberds, and why are they so important to Western Kirin."

Razor smiled, set his son on the table and stood up, grabbing his own halberd.

"Well son, every sapient species on Equus has a preferred weapon of choice, for example: Earth Ponies prefer clubs as the heavy weapons deal a lot of damage and it allows them to make full use of their strength. Unicorns, being the physically weakest, even if it is very small, prefer to keep their enemies at a distance. Using their magic alongside ranged weapons like crossbows, and throwing knives. Pegasi use polearms like spears and pikes to get close to their enemies yet keep them at a distance."

"How does that work?" Silver asked with his head tiled to the left.

"Well, the longest running enemy of Pegasi as well as their offshoot races like Winged Thestrals would be the Griffins, most of their battles took place in the air, high above the ground. Often times if one dealt a major enough wound to the other the wounded would fall, landing fatally when they hit the ground. The reason for the polearms was when an enemy was wound enough to fall, they would often try to take their killer with them, the polearms could be dropped so they would fall instead of the one that was carrying them."

"Makes sense, but wouldn't that leave them unarmed?"

"Which is why the flying Pony races started carrying polearms that were telescopic, which means having or consisting of concentric tubular sections designed to slide into one another..." Razor trailed off.

"To make it easier to carry several at once and not be hindered by their length." Silver finished.

"Exactly Silver, now as for your original question; There are a few reasons as to why Western Kirin prefer halberds. First, Western Kirin are like Pegasi in that we try to keep our enemies at a distance, as the halberd is a polearm this works for us."

"Then why use them if regular polearms work?"

"Well that ties into the second reason, Western Kirin use halberds because of their versatility." Razor held out his to show to his son.

"Take mine for example, you notice how both ends have spikes?" -Silver nods yes- "With these I can jab at an enemy like if I was welding a pike." Razor stood on his hind legs using his tail for balance, he held his halberd with the sword-shaped end facing away from him, his right hand gripping the spot were the axe head was attached to the body. He thrust the sword-shaped spike forward a few times as Silver watched.

"The axe head is great for getting through armor, while it is rare and only certain units make use of it, one will still encounter it from time to time. Now swords are among the most common weapons in the Sea of Legends, but only the largest and heaviest are able to deal damage to armor." He flipped the weapon around so the end with the axe head was in front of him.

"Now mine has this scythe-shaped spike at the top to grant a little extra cutting power and allow me to still stab an enemy without having to flip to the other end. The hammer can crush enemy armor if I can't use the axe, and can also be driven into the weak points or armor, or used to kill a downed opponent before they could get up. The hook below it has a few different uses, like pulling an enemy weapon if you get the right angle or a shield out of their grip. And the handle itself can be used as a blunt weapon or to block an enemy's weapon."

"Oohhh... okay I get it, it's basically an all-in-one weapon: They could pull and enemy from above down, trip an opponent, hook a gap in their armor to cause a painful wound, pull away their shields, and had all the functionality of a battle-axe and a spear into the bargain."

"And depending on the local and/or available resources, inexpensive to make."

"But... isn't a halberd rather difficult to use?"

"It depends on the wielder, they can be if one is not trained in their use. Most Western Kirin train with other polearms to get the feeling for some time, then they start with the actual weapon."

"Aren't polearms hard to use in close quarters though?"

"Well I never said the halberd is a prefect weapon, like any weapon it too has it's weaknesses. The trick is knowing those weaknesses and using them to your advantage."

Silver tilted his over until it was almost completely sideways, Razor chuckled at his son's confusion.

"An important lesson to learn Silver: A strength can be a weakness, and a weakness can be a strength."

"How does that work??"

"Well Silver, take the hearing of a Thestral or Diamond Dog, I have yet to meet one that isn't proud of it. However, their sensitive hearing leaves them vulnerable to certain sounds; Ultrasonic spells cause great pain to Thestrals and even a simple dog whistle will stop a Diamond Dog in its tracks as the pain in its ears become too great. Magic casters like Unicorns are proud of their abilities, and some are very powerful, but at the same time the vast majority, though not all, become solely reliant on their magic. They find themselves without a fall back option if their magic fails them, one good hit is all it takes to down most of them, which is also why Unicorns and other spell casters fear having a Kirin as an enemy."

"Because Kirin can't be harmed by any magic."

"That's right son, but our magic-immunity is both a gift, and a curse."

"How so?"

Razor set his halberd back on the table and sat down.

"While it is true that Kirin are completely immune to magic, that also includes helpful magic such as healing spells, which means Kirin have to use other methods to heal wounds. Now, having said that, you know how the Eastern and Mountain Kirin are able to use magic?"

"Yes Dad, but how? They have the same immunity as the Western and Valley Kirin, so how can they use magic?"

"No one really knows, it's possible that their immunity is weaker but this hasn't really been tested. Though from what I do know their magic is very limited; Eastern Kirin only have the standard telekinesis which every creature that can use magic knows, while Mountain Kirin have that and basic growing spells. But that's the extent of my knowledge on that subject. But we got a bit off topic. You also wanted to know why the halberd is so important to Western Kirin?"

Silver nodded his head.

"Well Silver, you're old enough now to learn a bit about Kirin history: A long time ago, long before the Ponies even united, there was an empire, ran by the Centaurs. Now what I'm about to tell you is mostly forgotten history by this point and only very few actually know of it outside of the Kirin themselves, during the Centaurs' reign we Kirin had been slaves ourselves. I wouldn't go into details as I don't actually know much about it as the Kirin just want that bit of history to be forgotten and those that are still around during that time have taken an oath of silence on it."

"Okay, I understand, it also explains why Kirin hate slavery so much. But... what do the halberds have to do with it?"

"Now that I know, you see... the first Kirin to rise up armed themselves with crude, but effective, halberds and freed their brothers and sisters with them. Since then the halberd has become a cultural icon for the Kirin as it represents a symbol of freedom and the day the Kirin freed themselves and destroyed the Centaur Empire, the day the Kirin became what we are today."

Silver was amazed by what he had just been told, the halberd was a symbol of freedom for the Kirin? He never would have guessed.

"Wow dad... will I wield one someday?"

"Indeed you will son, every Western Kirin wields one when one comes of age. speaking of that It's-"

Razor was cut off as the compass crystal suddenly glowed red, once again he place it in the center of the map and traced the path the arrow was pointing. After a second his claw went over an area of the islands were the joint of the "jaw" would be, which was also the island chain's tallest mountain and were an old Western Kirin Clan Fortress stood proud. Once Razor's claw touched that spot the compass crystal' glow grew brighter.

"So that's were the crystal is, in the old fortress." He though for a second then turned to Silver, who was looking at him curiously. A small smile slowly grew on Razor's face.

"Say Silver, how would you like to come with me for this one?"

"Really?!" Silver's ears perked, eyes brightened, and his tail started wagging a little.

Razor smiled widely at his son.

"Yes, really."





A bit later

Silver sat on the seat of one of the longboats as his father and some of the crew loaded it with various items for the trip, his mother speaking to Razor as this went one.

"Razor, are you sure you want to take Silver with you on this alone? I know you can handle yourself just fine but..." She trailed off. Razor only smiled gently as he cupped her cheek with a wing hand.

"Atlas, relax. I know you're worried about our son, but I think it's time he start learning about what he will need to expect next year. He is eleven now and went he turns twelve it will be time for him to take his rites, you know as well as I that we wouldn't be able to protect him when that happens." He said gently, rubbing Atlas' cheek with a thumb.

"I know honey, it's just, I'm just worried about him going into a dangerous place." She wrapped her hoof around the wing cupping her cheek. Razor leaned up and pulled her into a kiss, to the almost quiet "dawwws" of those watching. Razor pulled back and nuzzled her horn with his nose.

"I will be careful, It's not like we're going through the dangerous areas of the islands. I know of a back entrance into the fortress that was once used for shipping, if the runes are still active we wouldn't have to worry about the wildlife. But we still have the teleport runes and I'll send for backup if danger does show up, okay." Atlas slowly nodded with a small smile and kissed him again.

"Everything's good to go sir."

Razor pulled back from the kiss and nodded.

"Alright, you ready Silver?"

"Yes dad."

"Then off we go."

The longboat was lowered into the water and the lines were unhooked, Razor started the engine and the two moved away from the Dragon. They soon came up to the remains of the fortress docks, which had been once used to load and unload ships for the clan that had once lived here. Once they had gotten close enough to the remains of the docks Razor shut the engine off and started rowing, partly to save fuel, partly because the wreckage of the dock remains meant that one had to move slowly, and partly to avoid any dangerous water creatures that might be hanging around.

after several minutes of careful maneuvering they reached a stable spot were they could secure the boat, once Razor was sure it wouldn't drift away on them he nodded to Silver and the two spread their wings and took to the air. Either of them trusted the old docks so they flew to the entrance into the mountain, landing at the opening. Razor leaned forward a little and examined the tunnel ahead of them. 

it was clear from the amount of dust and debris that had gathered about that they were the first creatures to be here in a long time, possibly at least a hundred years, maybe more. Razor looked at Silver.

"Stay close to me son, we don't know if the runes are still active and there could be other threats here."

"Okay dad." Silver waled over and climbed onto Razor's back, who lowered himself down to make it easier for his son. Standing up again Razor took out his lantern and after turning it on walked forward, the two walked in silence for awhile, keeping an eye out for any movement that was not their own. At some points Razor would stop and tap the bottom spike of his halberd into the stone floor, sending a small disk of colored sparks up. He did that to test the runes of this place, and so far they were still active.

Despite that Razor as well as Silver couldn't help but feel they were being watched by someone or something.

The two remained silence as they passed through the long tunnels and stairways, it took awhile to get through as some of the faster ways had collapsed, been blocked, or were too unstable to use before they finally saw light at the end of a tunnel. Stepping out into the sun they breathed in the fresh air, looking over their immediate surroundings.

They were standing in what once was the fortress' main plaza, remains of old market stalls could be seen along the edges of the area. The plaza itself was actually the bottom of what could be described as a "reverse pyramid structure"; the fortress itself had been build inside a long extinct volcano, the plaza they now stood in being the lowest point of the fortress. From there the levels moved outwards like a giant staircase, with each level having their own buildings.

The next five levels were all housing, though only the entrances to each house resembled one, the homes themselves had each been built into caves, saving work and allowing the Kirin to comfort one of their baser instincts; the instinct to live in a covered area. Beyond the housing levels was were the military and government buildings stood and at the tallest points was the home of the clan leader and several watch towers along a tall wall that run along the rim of the volcano's summit.

"Wow..." Silver gasped out in awe, this was the first time he had ever seen a Western Kirin city, even if it was an abandoned one. Razor smiled as he looked over his shoulder to see his son looking around like a kid in a candy store.

"Wait until you see an active one Silver, and you can get off my back now. We're safe here."

Sliver did so and they started walking as Silver began asking his farther questions.

"What was it like dad? Why did this clan abandon it? What will we find here?"

Razor gave a good-natured laugh at his son's enthusiasm.

"One at a time Silver. I wouldn't know what it was like as this place was abandoned long before I was born, as for why they abandoned it... That has a bit of a tale to it, which I learned about during a visit to the Kirin Mountains."

He cleared his throat and started.

"The Clan that once lived here were great sailors and navigator, they were the ones who charted much of the Sea of Legends thousands of years ago, and they might have still been living here today... if it hadn't been for a creature known in Kirin Lore as the "Tyrant".

One dark night, a massively powerful Crested Snake with wings that would become known as the Tyrant appeared as if out of nowhere. Day after day, night after night, the creature rampaged across the island killing and devouring the creatures that lived here. Eventually the Clan took action and set out to slay the beast, while they did managed to trap the creature, they were unable to slay it. At the time the Western Kirin hadn't yet created the right tools for one this big. So... they trapped the Tyrant deep underground, but they feared that it would escape and come after them... so they left this place, never to return.

"Now if that was to happen today the Tyrant would be small fries compared to a good number of the creatures in the Kirin Homeland, and as for the Clan... it lived a long time but at some point vanished into history."

Silver took it all in as his father told the tale, eyes wide in amazement. After a minute he asked, his voice showing a little fear.

"Could the Tyrant still be around?"

Razor watched as his son moved closer to him and he gently laid a wing over Silver's back.

"I'm not sure Silver, that was over three thousands years ago so most likely the creature is long dead by this point, but I've learned from experience that with some things, especially if there is high amounts of magic involved, could very well still be around."

Sliver nodded and pressed against Razor's side, the Kirin's wing tightening against the youngster like a blanket. The two continued on, climbing the steps as they followed Razor's compass while keeping their eyes and ears alert for trouble. While as long as the runes were still working they would be safe, but Razor wasn't willing to take any chances. After walking for a bit they went through another tunnel at the middle levels of the city they stepped into the light again and stopped to take in the sight before them.

Built into a second, shorter volcano was a massive structure that filled up the extinct volcano's pit like the city did for the other one. The structure could only be described as one word: Arena. It looked much like the Colosseum in the Old Empire Country near Germaney, just much larger. In between the two volcanoes was the remains of what once was a massive stone bridge.

Razor smiled seeing it.

"The old Combat Arena. This was were Kirin, both recruits and veterans, would test their skills against each other and captured creatures to keep them sharp and ready. It was also how they could blow off steam and settle problems."

"Did Kirin actually kill each other here? Like in the Old Empire Country?" Silver asked, Razor shook his head.

"No, there were and still are very strict rules against that, the rules stated that combatants were to only fight until one could no longer or or taken what on the battlefield would have been a fatal blow. Special runes were created for just that reason; so that combatants couldn't kill each other accidentally, healers also always stood on standby if something did go wrong and the combatants were not allowed to use their real weapons among other rules. We Western Kirin might be know as formidable fighters, but we are not savages and do not throw life away needlessly. We are a close-nit kind and even if we sometimes fight with each other, at the end of the day and when it really counts, we are still brothers and sisters, clanmates, one big happy tail kicking family."

Both Razor and Silver smiled at the last one and looked out towards the Arena before they spread their wings and flew over the gap, landing safely on the other side. Razor pulled out his compass, watched as the needle turned, then looked and pointed towards the entrance. After wondering through the halls of the Colosseum for awhile they eventually stepped into the Arena itself, and as soon as they were passed the door it slammed shut, putting both Kirin on alert. Razor gripped his halberd tighter while Silver hopped onto his back while pulling out his own weapon; a short sword, that Snow had given him for a Hearts Warming present. Silver positioned himself so Razor was facing one way while Silver faced the other.

They waited there for ten minutes, when something emerged from the far wall. A larger than normal Crested Snake slowly slithered towards them, Razor immediately turning to keep an eye on it as it hissed at him, Razor growling back fully baring his teeth. The Crested Snake was generally thirty feet long and as thick as a Sycamore tree with a wide five-armed crest that gave the creature its name, red eyes and a maw of sharp teeth with a pair of long fangs sticking out. This one however was at least fifty feet long and as thick as a large steam engine wheel, its crest was red while its eyes were yellow. the real eye-catcher was the pair of large but badly damaged wings below where the creature's shoulders would be.

"So... the Tyrant still lives." Razor growled low, time had clearly not been kind to the creature; Its body was covered in many scars and wounds that clearly had never healed right, one of its fangs was broken off a little over half-way up and its crest appeared badly shredded. It looked to be in a lot of pain as Razor could see in its remaining eye, he felt Silver shift on his back and saw the snake glance at the young Kirin but then immediately shift its attention back to Razor.

'It wants me... it must be in pain from its wounds and wants to go out fight even if it knows it can't win.' Razor glanced up and noticed that the rune magic field that kept combatants from flying to high was off. "...Perfect."

"Silver, listen closely. Climb onto my tail, then I'm going to fling you into the air and get you clear. Once clear you spread your wings and get to the seating, I'll deal with this creature."

"Okay dad."

It all happened very fast, Silver shifted onto Razor's tail and was flung into the air where his wings flared open as Razor and the Tyrant attacked each other. With the latter's age and wounds the fight wasn't long and Razor quickly defeated the creature, though it seemed the Tyrant had wanted this and actually smiled as as Razor found were the heart was and stabbed the blade on top of his halberd into it, finally ending the suffering of the creature. Razor noticed that just before the Tyrant died he saw something in its eye; peace, the Tyrant had died at peace.

Razor gently rubbed the Crested Snake's head, before closing its eyes as Silver landed next to him.

"Sleep well."

He stood up and walked away with Silver next to him, leaving the body of the Tyrant to rest in piece. The doorways had opened again and soon the two Kirin found what they had been looking for, sitting on a small but tall stand was the Red Crystal which Razor picked up and after studying it for a brief moment placed it into a pocket.

"Let's hang around for a few more minutes son, there are still somethings I want to talk with you about."

"Alright dad." Silver said and hopped onto his father's back with a wide smile. The two spent the next few hours touring the city with Razor pointing out the various buildings and the roles they once served. They even played a bit in the plaza, chasing each other round. Eventually though they had to return to the Dragon of the Depths, as they walked down the tunnels back towards the docks Silver looked at his dad and asked something that had been on his mind for awhile."

"Dad?" Razor turned to him, noticing the unsure look on his face.

"Something wrong son?"

"No..." He looked at the floor with a frown. "Well, maybe." He looked back at his father.

"You remember a few days back when one of the Pegasus Mare crew members had their first foal?" Razor gave a small smile.

"I do indeed, the foal was born healthy and both parents were very happy." The smile dropped into a small frown. "Why do you ask Silver? Are you alright?" He asked softly.

"Well... seeing the newborn foal caused me to think about when I first came into the world. What was it like for you and mom?"

Razor blinked, a little surprised by the question but mostly by the worried look on Silver's face. He stopped walked, leaned over and gently nuzzled Silver's head.

"For your mom, you'd have to ask her for the full details but I do clearly remember how happy she was the first time she held you. As for me..." He pulled back to look his son in the eye.

"I will admit I had many emotions running through me when I first held you Silver, of those there were two that stood out the most: The first was terror, I was scared that I wouldn't be a good father, after what mine had done to me. I had virtually no idea how to be one as by the time I even had someone I could call a father-figure I was already an adult. But..." he let out a sign and smiled at Silver.

"The other emotion overpowered that fear: Love, I remember staring at you Silver as I held you, then you opened your eyes for the very first time and looked into mine, and reached up with a tiny hand and placed it right on the tip of my nose." Razor tapped a claw on said part for emphasis. Silver chuckling at the sight with Razor just smiling in return, he then continued.

"It was at that moment I realized that even though I had no idea how to be a father, I would still give my all, to give you the foalhood I never had. Silver, I done many things since creating the Outcasts of the Abyss, the good and the bad. But if there is one thing I will never regret doing, it's bringing you into the world Silver."

Said son smiled happily before wrapping his father in a massive hug which Razor returned. Once they started walking again they soon reached the docks where their longboat was waiting, they flew over o it and headed back to the Dragon where the others were waiting for them.

When they climbed aboard Atlas immediately saw Silver tear-stained eyes and face and rushed over to him.

"Silver! Are you okay?! What happ-" She was interrupted when Silver wrapped his arms around her neck.

"I'm okay mom, better then okay actually, because I know how lucky I am to have such a loving family." He said as Razor wrapped his arms and wings around both of them and Atlas hugged her son and husband. The crew could only smile at the sight, a few even crying slightly (as much as they tried to deny it). Razor opened his eyes and looked up, before opening his wings again.

"Anyone else want to join in?"

Snowheart was there in a heartbeat.

"Do even have to ask."

Steel was right behind her.

"I may be a big tough guy but I still a self-admitted big softy."

Zenith was next.

"Like I'm gonna miss out on that."

One by one the rest of the Head Officers joined in, along with eventually the whole crew plus the newcomers. They all just stood there, just taking comfort in each other's presence and show their bond as Razor had put it: one big happy tail kicking family.





Soon the Dragon sailed away from the island, on a course for their next location, unaware that someone was watching them leave. On one of the watch towers of the fort, there stood a single figure. From the shape it was a very tall Western Kirin Mare, Unicorn-Born from the horn atop her forehead, who wore a thick and heavy hooded black cloak with dark green highlights though a few spots were glowing a bright green, same with the edges of the hood with a flare that resembled some kinds of coral and a few small pieces of the cloak were even floating a few inches away from were they came out of. Worn over the shoulders of the cloak was a dark green shawl with bright green edging. 

Under the cloak she wore a coat that was once purple but it had darkened to almost black and had black leather padding on the left shoulder a faded gold chain going over her chest and shoulder, on the part of the shoulder pad over the chest was a faded dark gold-colored hexagon-shaped badge with a stylized emerald green Pony skull. Over her face was a faded white skull mask that left the jaw exposed and over her left eye was a large cloth strap with a badge similar to the one on the chest and on each side of the badge was a bright green glowing  pole pike head-like shaped trinket.

The most eye-catching things were the large number of skulls hanging on several chains over her body and from faded gold metal bands on her long tail and the strange lantern over her horn. The skulls came in four types; one colored grey with only a few glowing runes, one colored a polished grey with more runes and a few cracks, one colored gold with runes and the top floating in pieces above it, and one colored black with brown leather straps covering it and light blue flame coming off the top. The lantern on her horn had a Minotaur skull missing the horns over top of it with a broken one with a bent and twisted metal frame that had a large bright green flame burning within. The skull of the badge over her left eye was also giving off a bright green flame.

She watched as the Dragon sailed into the horizon, and looked at the plastic-cased picture held in her right wing hand.

"Could... could he really be..."

She looked up again while gently rubbing her claw over the picture, which showed what was possibly a younger version of the Kirin though it only showed her arms and her mouth, the latter was in a small but very happy smile and in her arms was a baby Pegasus foal wrapped in a long, red, gold, and royal purple striped scarf.

A foal with a silver coat and a single lock of a red, gold-striped mane poking through the wrapping.

"Maybe... not all was lost."

She placed the picture in her cloak and the halberd in her right hand glowed bright green as a sickly green fog formed around her, she swung her weapon right to left and the fog wrapped around her like a blanket. When it faded away...

She was gone.
> Chapter 19: Days of gathering Loot
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dragon of The Depths

21 Days into the Voyage

Razor stood in the Crow's Nest with the Lookout, scanning the area with his custom spyglass. Earlier that morning he had received a report from Outcast spies in the NTU; Their report had detailed the route that a large Union Treasure fleet was making its way along the Trade Route known as "The Dots", an area holding a giant chain of small islands with varying distances between them. The chain sat on the edge of the bustling route, NTU ships used this route a lot as the island clusters mostly protected them from most pirate attacks, key word being "most".

This area was also a prefect spot for an ambush by those who were crafty and bold enough.

The Dragon had arrived at the edge of the chain a few hours earlier and had her sails stored, she was not alone this time either. After receiving the report Razor had sent word to any nearby Outcast ships to give some backup, with a small fleet of  four Sloops of War, three Schooners and Brigantines, two Barques, and a War Galleon answering the call. However, it apparently wasn't just the Outcasts searching for the Union fleet, the Dragon's scouts had spotted a small Redcoat Union fleet consisting of two Sloops of War, two Brigantines, and a Frigate on the outskirts.

The Redcoat Union was one of the four Empires that had forces in the SOL, though like the other three they didn't have much impact outside of their territories as the four were too busy fighting each other, but that didn't mean that they could be found around the SOL. Their merchant and treasure fleets were favorite targets for the Outcasts and other pirates.

It wasn't long before the NTU Treasure Fleet was spotted, it was a fairly large fleet with the Cargo section consisting of thirdly Fluyts, thirdly Merchantmen, and twenty Merchant Galleons escorted by sixty Sloops, sixty Sloops of War, thirdly Schooners, twenty Brigantines, sixteen Frigates, ten Men 'O War, six Ships of the Line, and even one Juggernaut. Razor was honestly surprised by the sheer number of ships, none of the Outcasts had seen a NTU fleet that large since the Rise of the Outcasts War.

Razor knew however that a direct attack would fail without question, but that was were the island chain came in; the NTU fleet had to travel through the clusters to reach the trade route which they would have to split up into small groups. The Outcast ships would also split up, the bodies of water throughout the chain were large enough that the smaller ships would be able to maneuver with ease but the Dragon herself would not be able to due to both her length and deep draft. Instead, she would wait at the end of the chain were the NTU ships would have to travel to reach the route. This area opened up into the open sea, giving the Dragon plenty of room to maneuver and to bring her full firepower to bear.

The Outcasts still had another ace: Their Submarines, the eight carried by the Dragon had been joined by four more that had come along with the other ships and all twelve of them were fully loaded with Torpedoes of both types, and the channels were deep enough for them to operate.

Razor focused on the Union fleet and noticed something different, mainly their colors.

The Northern Trade Union was more or less split into two factions: the Mainline Forces, and the Hardline Loyalists. The Mainline Forces used navy blue, red and white as their colors, this fleet was using black with two shades of gold; Old Gold and Harvest Gold. Razor let out a sigh, unlike the regular NTU Forces who were more often than not conscripts forced into service that were often malnourished and lived in conditions that were just not meant for living creatures, the Hardline Loyalists were just that, loyal to the point of being blind.

It was a sad truth that went ever the Outcasts faced the Hardline Loyalists, they had no choice but to take them out completely as there was no talking them down... for the most part. Funny enough, despite being the most loyal of the NTU, the Loyalists weren't really any better then the Mainline Units, sure their equipment was a slightly better quality and their uniforms fit better, but the individuals still weren't much better. The reason for this was because these individuals got their ranks through money and connections, and more often then not the "Commanders" didn't have a clue on what they were doing, heck a good number of them were actually mentally unfit for command. Come to think of it, that was basically the NTU's command structure in a nutshell.

Part of the reason the Outcasts had managed to get so many former NTU forces was due to the face that any competent leaders often found themselves completely overshadowed by nepotism among other things; the NTU's command structure was a utter mess, their leaders were all too commonly greedy, cowardly, arrogant, extravagant and more interested in exotic things than foreign policies. They often issued heavy taxes which left more then a few of their subjects penniless and hungry, further forcing many into the Union's military just to feed their families. They also had major prejudices towards everyone who wasn't an Earth Pony, but even then it was bad. Finally, they loved gambling, often with what was supposed to be the wages of their own forces rather than their own money.

Any competent leader, especially those that cared deeply for their men, would very quickly grow disillusioned with the NTU which would only grow greater as they rose in rank, which they often had to fight very hard for. And those that actually got highly enough to see the NTU's leaders personally, well... they would see things that all but destroyed any remaining loyalty towards the faction, especially for those who had any siblings.

Quite often, brothers would find their sisters enslaved by the leaders as their own "personal maids". That caused the commanders to soon after free their siblings, take their family and their men's families and go rogue.

No wonder it was so easy for the Outcasts to take in so many former members of the NTU.

This was also when Outcast Agents would find them and offer them a better life, in the Outcasts of the Abyss. Seeing no better option they would, and those that did join have never looked back.

Pulling out of his thoughts Razor lowered his spyglass, a predatory smile forming on his face as the first of the NTU fleet entered the island chain.

"Time for us to strike."

He flew done to the Quarterdeck and took hold of the helm as the crews of his ship and the other ones got ready, after a short time Razor looked at Snowheart and nodded his head. She smiled, pulled out out her sword and turned to face forward.

"Are we ready for a HUNT?!"

Cheers answered her once again as the sails on each ship deployed, catching the wind as the ships' steam engines kicked on and the small Outcast fleet moved forward. Thunderlane, who was on one of the levels of the Quarterdecks, watched as the fleet split up, the subs went underwater to begin their attack on the NTU fleet while the rest of the Outcasts took out the Redcoat Union fleet so they wouldn't get in the way. Their fleet split into three groups: The first two consisted of Two Sloops of War, a Schooner and Brigantine, and a Barque each. The War Galleon and the last Schooner and Brigantine stayed with the Dragon to give her some support.

It didn't take long for the Outcasts to run into the Redcoat fleet.

The first Outcast ships to engage were the Sloops of war, their Howitzers sang as their shots went high into the air and came back down on the Redcoat ships, two shots missed as their targets moved out of the way but the other two shots hit their marks; a Redcoat Sloop of War was ripped in half as the round landed right behind the mast and a Brigantine lost a decent-sized chunk of the port forecastle. The Redcoat fleet broke formation and began their attack, the Frigate fired off its two Heavy Mortars with a thunderous bang.

"Mortars! Watch your tails!"

"Incoming Fire!"

The captain of the first Schooner (named the Phoenix), an Eastern Kirin Mare, quickly turned the helm to the left and just dodged the Mortar round as it splashed into the water next to the Schooner.

"BLOODY CURSES!" She turned to her First Mate, a Male Diamond Dog, and shouted "SPEED!"

He turned to face forward. "Hold trim for speed!"

The Phoenix picked up speed as she bared down a Redcoat Brigantine as her bow cannons readied. Unlike other factions, who used Heavy Cannons like the 68-Pounder as bow and stern cannons, the Outcasts went a different way by using the 3-inch 4-Pounder tri-barreled Revolving Cannon. While each individual hit was weaker then most other single-shot cannons, it had a much faster rate-of-fire, reaching around sixty rounds per minute and it could keep up continuous fire as along as it had ammo loaded. This made the Revolving Cannon perfect for use as bow and stern cannons for the Outcasts, though if the ship had more then two in those areas the Heavy Cannons would still be used.

The Phoenix's bow cannons fired, numerous shots hitting the Redcoat Brigantine dead on, causing the ship to turn to starboard as the Phoenix did the same, lining up their broadsides. The Redcoat Brigantine retaliated with its own weapons.

"Rockets Incoming!"

A barrage of rockets flew from the Redcoat Brigantine towards the Phoenix, only to impact a light green magic field surrounding the ship. One of the things the Outcasts' Research teams had looked into was shield magic, either through the magic users learning it or using crystals and Kirin Runes. To make a long story short the Outcasts had successfully created shields for their ships, but they did have a few flaws the Outcasts' R&D hadn't yet been able to fix.

The first was that the shield wasn't able to recharge on its own, it needed crystals to do so but each ship only had a limited amount and one wouldn't recharge the whole thing, only a certain amount. The second was once the shield dropped it would be out for the rest of that battle as there was a long process of setting the spell matrix up right again, and finally the shield was more vulnerable to certain ammo types then others.

There was also the fact that the smaller the ship was, the weaker the shield was. Though that was something the Outcasts had expected. Still, despite the flaws the shields did allow their ships to stand and fight longer.

The Redcoat Brigantine finished firing rockets as the Phoenix as it fired back with its both its own rockets and port side cannons. One of the cannon shots must have hit a powder barrel or something as a large explosion tore through the bow of the Redcoat Brigantine in a large fireball. The ship was then finished off as one of the Outcasts' Schooners fired its bow cannons, there was three small explosions followed by one that blew the sails off the masts and the main mast off the ship, followed by the ship slowing and start sinking to the cheers of the Phoenix's crew.

"Other day other victim!"

The second Redcoat Brigantine, the one missing pat of its forecastle, wasn't having much luck ether. A broadside from another of the Outcast Schooners had destroyed the ship's rudder and broke the main mast, not that it would have mattered as the Brigantine's weren't paying attention to their surrounds and heard a loud "Brace!", only to turn just in time to see one of the Outcast Barques ram them.

Needless to say, the smaller ship didn't have a chance.

The second Redcoat Brigantine went up in a blast of fire and smoke as it split in two as the Outcast Barque looked no worse for the ware, other then a few black marks. Barques were one of the two successful Pirate attempts to create a Frigate-like ship, while it didn't as much firepower or armor as a true one, those how had faced it had learned to treat it as one as the Barque was faster and still a powerful ship in its own right. The second Redcoat Sloop of War sank quickly after as it had found itself under howitzer fire from all four Outcast Sloops of War, Atlas, who was standing next to Razor, said that was just unfair watching the burning ship sink.

But the Redcoats still had their Frigate, and after seeing what had happened to its escorts, did the smart thing and tried to retreat. Key word being "tried" as with its escort down, the Outcast Fleet could focus on it. Still a true Frigate was no push over and as the Redcoat Union only allowed elite crews on these ships, the Outcasts knew it wasn't going down without a fight.

Razor watched the battle through his spyglass, as much as he wanted to join in he knew that the Dragon was needed for the NTU Fleet when it arrived. He wasn't worried about that as unknown to the others, he had a plan for the NTU.

'I hope you keep your end of the deal Cotton Sail.'





Meanwhile

NTU Fleet

NTU Men 'O War Divine Right

Two NTU Loyalist Officers watched the ship's crew work from the Quarterdeck, sharing a drink of grog between each other and chatting about the cargo they were escorting.

"So", the first Officer asked, "think any pirates will attack us?"

The second one scoffed, "Like any of those bandits would have the stones to attack a fleet this size."

"Ha ha, true. This many warships leaves us safe, any attack and we'll sink them."

"And any we take poisoner will have a short drop and a sudden stop."

The two laughed, then the first Officer looked over at the second one with a nasty looking smile.

"So, you know that four of the Merchant Galleons are carrying new slaves?"

"I do, got a good look at them too." The second Officer said with a tooth-filled smile. "Shame they have to be delivered fresh, I would gladly take a few of those pretty Pegasi. Love it when they squeak as their wings are nipped in the right places when you're on top."

"I'd take a few of the Unicorns myself, I enjoy their fear as they are powerless with those horn rings and the pain they feel as I pull their tails almost to the point of tearing them out."

"I also enjoy seeing the tough Stallions and Mares cry like foals as they are broken down."

The two continued to laugh and talk about what they would do to the slaves if they had their way, unaware of what was down below. As the NTU Fleet split up to travel the channels, none of the crew of those ships noticed as a pole rose a foot out of the water. The pole was the periscope of one of the Outcast Subs, the Sharkpony smiling a toothy smile as he watch the fleet split up into three groups. Each fleet consisted of ten Fluyts, ten Merchantmen, and five Merchant Galleons escorted by twenty Sloops, twenty Sloops of War and ten Schooners. The Frigates and Men 'O War split more unevenly with six Frigates going to the sides while four went down the middle, the Men 'O War had three go to the sides and four through the middle. Surprisingly, the Ships of the Line, and Juggernaut hung back.

The Sub Captain was confused about that, which added to their orders from the Archduke; He had made it clear the the Ships of the Line and the Juggernaut were to left alone as something was up in that regard. While Razor hadn't said the reason he did tell them why, the reason was something was going to happen regarding the seven ships but the fewer who knew about it the better, at least for now. The Captain knew that Razor was normally quite honest and didn't like keeping secrets from his fellow Outcasts and only did so if there was a good reason so he didn't question the order. The Outcast fleet had been told they would find out after the battle so there was that as well.

With the NTU fleet splitting the twelve Subs also split into groups of four, the waters of the channels were deep enough and wide enough for the Subs to maneuver so the four for each group wouldn't have too much trouble, besides they had laid several mines while traveling through the channels earlier.

The Sharkpony Captain's smile grew bigger, his long tail swaying behind him like a cat about to pounce at its prey as his Sub lined up with a Man 'O War.

"Fire tubes one and two!"

The hatches on the top front of the Sub's domed bow slid inward, then a few seconds later two clouds of bubbles formed as two torpedoes shot out, the tracking spells locking them onto the Man 'O War.



(A/N: Not pirate-related I know but I think this song fits this section just right. Funny enough I was actually listening to this song while writing this section. )

Up on the Man 'O War the two Officers were talking about what else they would do to the slaves when one of them spotted something out of the corner of his eye, he turned to look as the second Officer noticed his companion's attention shift and also turned to look as well.

"What is it?"

"I don't know but... what are those?"

The first Officer pointed to a spot one the water about thirdly feet away from their ship, his companion followed his hoof and saw something either of them had seen before: Two streams of white bubbles moving fast along the surface.

"What the hay are those?"

"Don't know but... wait, is it just me or are they heading towards our ship?"

The two Officers' eyes widen as they realized that yes, the bubble streams were coming right at them!

The two turned to shout out a warning but it was too late, the torpedoes struck the rear starboard of the Man 'O War, underneath the Quarterdeck and exploded in a massive blast of fire and water. The Man 'O War was thrown to port as the explosion actually forced the starboard side up, only to come crashing down to starboard again at the same time as the water that had be also forced back rushed in again. That section of the ship had been ripped open leaving a massive hole that quickly filled with water as the crippled ship capsized and sank to fast for its crew to even man the longboats. The two Officers who had tried to warn the crew had been thrown upwards, landing in the water as the ship had listed to port. Unfortunately for them, they were right under the ship when it rolled over and sank, they didn't even have a chance to cry out for help when the starboard side slammed into them...

They never surfaced.

That Man 'O War wasn't the only one, seconds after the ship was hit the rest of the NTU Fleet except for the six Ships of the Line and the Juggernaut found themselves under attack as more of those bubble streams appeared and the NTU crews, having never seen anything like this before, panicked. In only two minutes the once mighty NTU Fleet had lost half of their Sloops and Sloops of War, sixteen Schooners, five Brigantines, three Frigates, and two more Men 'O Wars to the bubble streams while a further four Sloops and Sloops of War, three Schooners, Two Brigantines and a Frigate was lost to panicked friendly fire as the ships' crews fired their weapons in a poor attempt to attack whatever was attacking them.

It got even worse when five of the surviving Sloops, in an attempt to flee, ran right into the mines the Outcast Subs had placed earlier. The only warning the crews of those ships had was the sound of wood scraping against metal before they found their ships blown out from under their hooves. The mines further claimed another two Sloops, three Sloops of War, four Schooners, five Brigantines, and three Frigates.

The remaining NTU Ships, twenty-one Sloops, twenty-three Sloops of War, seven Schooners, eight Brigantines, nine Frigates, three Men 'O War and the six Ships of the Line and the Juggernaut, lose their nerves and abandoned the Merchant ships, too panicked to care and left them to their fates as explosions of black and multi-colored energy appeared around them with different effects that disabled them and sailed as fast as they could to the end of the chain.





Meanwhile

Outcast Fleet

The battle with the Redcoat Frigate had ended with the ship heavily damaged but now under control of the Outcasts, but it hadn't been easy, three of their own Sloops of War, two Schooners, and a Brigantine had to pull back with heavily damaged shields though thankfully the Outcasts had no losses to their crews.

Razor lifted his spy glass to his eye again to see the remains of the NTU Fleet enter their area, he was a little surprised at the much lower then expected numbers but he figured the Subs had done more damage then they had thought. He also noticed the Ships of the Line and Juggernaut hang back as the rest moved forward and that there was no sigh of the Merchant Fleet.

The NTU Fleet, seeing the Outcast ships, moved to engage despite what had just happened to them. Unfortunately for them, fate had other plans. Before the eyes of those watching, the six Ships of the Line and the Juggernaut striked their colors and sails...

and replaced them with Outcast ones, much to the surprise of both the other NTU ships and the Outcasts. However, there was one who wasn't surprised. Instead, Razor allowed a tooth-filled smile to show on his face.

'Well done Cotton Sail. You held up your end, and now I shall hold up mine.'

Atlas looked over to see his smile and blinked at him.

"Razor honey, you knew that would happen?"

Razor looked and smiled at her with a sideways look.

"Knew it? Atlas my dear wife, I planned it. As for why I didn't say anything, please be patient and I promise all will be clear soon."

Atlas looked a bit skeptical but nodded her head and agreed, after all her emotion sense had told her that Razor did mean he would tell soon and she did know that Razor only kept secrets to himself for good reasons and not for long.

Back with the NTU Fleet they had lost all nerve seeing what they were now against and just surrendered, knowing that the Outcasts were far better towards their prisoners then some others. So after all that the Outcasts now had thirdly Fluyts, thirdly Merchantmen, fifteen Merchant Galleons, twenty-one Sloops, twenty-three Sloops of War, seven Schooners, eight Brigantines, ten Frigates, three Men 'O War, six Ships of the Line and a Juggernaut to add to the Outcast fleet plus the various cargo the ships had (including the would-be slaves). So overall a very nice grab.

Razor watched as the Juggernaut hailed them and soon pulled alongside, the Captain asking for permission to come aboard. Once it was granted the Earth Pony Stallion walked up to Razor. The Stallion had a white coat with an obsidian black mane and green eyes, his Cutie Mark was hidden by his uniform.

Letting out a sigh he started speaking.

"Archduke Razor Tail, I kept my end of our deal, is she safe?"

Razor smiled softly and turned his head to one of the doors of the Quarterdeck.

"Of course Cotton Sail. Silver, you can bring her out now."

Said Kirin/Changeling Hybrid opened the door and stepped out, his left wing over the back of a young Earth Pony Filly who looked no older than Silver. She had a snow white coat with the lower legs changing to an ice blue as it went down to the hooves, an ice blue mane and tail that changed to a dark ice blue at the tips, and pretty emerald green eyes. Her Cutie Mark was a dark ice blue snow flake flying on a wind. She huddled close to Silver, pressing into his side and saying under his wing as she shyly looked around, her eyes soon landing on the shocked Earth Pony Stallion named Cotton Sail, her shy demeanor vanished in an instant.

"BIG BRO!!!"

"SOUL!!!"

The shouting of the name was more like a shriek of joy as Cotton charged towards the Filly who charged back, tears falling from both their eyes. They met in the middle and Cotton wrapped Soul up in a huge bear hug, tears falling as he kissed her head in relief as the Filly nuzzled her big bother's neck and chest as hard as she could. The Dragon's crew could only smile at this heartwarming reunion, some even cheering. Even the former NTU members from the seven turned ships were smiling happily or clapping their hooves.

After a few minutes of this happy reunion Cotton gently pulled out of the hug to look at Soul, still held in his forelegs.

"Winter Soul, my beloved sister, are you okay?" He asked, worry very clear in his eyes.

"I am big brother, the Dragon's crew were very nice to me. Silver there kept me company and played with me, even let me cuddle with him when I had nightmares." Soul said, bushing a little as she talked about Silver who also blushed. As this was going on Atlas turned to Razor.

"Alright Razor, could you please tell us what is going on." She wasn't the only one, everyone else was looking at Razor wondering what was going on.

"Well, now that there is no danger I can tell you and get it off my chest. So it happened around two weeks ago, soon after Silver's birthday...





Flashback

Two Weeks ago

Large NTU Port City

Razor waited in the shadows as his guards reported that their Stallion had just left the palace and was on his way to the meeting point, one of his Cove Agents had sent him a notice that this Stallion wanted a secret meeting with him about something very important, enough that this Stallion would risk the Gallows for it.

That alone had got Razor's attention, that and the fact that this Stallion was a Loyalist.

From what his guards were reporting the Stallion had got the note left for him, read it very carefully, then destroyed the note before quietly but quickly leaving. As the Stallion moved towards the meeting point the guards watching him reported that he would constantly check over his shoulder, he apparently knew he was being watched by the guards but he made no effort to shake them. Rather, he was making sure no other Loyalist was following him, even doubling back a few times to be certain.

It was the dead of night so very few were actually out, Razor was very unimpressed by the lack of security around the port, which made it all too easy to sneak in and out with no one noticing. If this was an Outcast port there would be guards on every corner and rooftops in squads of at least six if not more with even more squads on patrol. And that was just at the docks and not counting the magic security in place.

It took some time for the Stallion, who was named Cotton Sail, to arrive at the meeting point in the long abandoned section of the port. He very slowly and carefully walked down the alley, likely expecting to be jumped at anytime. He had just stepped into the center of a small open area when Razor's guards appear from behind and he turned around to face them, the guards stood in combat poses pointing their halberds at the Stallion.

To the lad's credit, he didn't finch, he just took a cautious step back.

Cotton watched the silver armored guards level their weapons at him, he very carefully reached for his sword sheath clips and undid them, being very careful and going slowly to show them he meant no harm and wasn't a threat. Once he unclipped it he set the sword, still in its sheath, on the ground and slid it away from him and towards the guards, one of which caught it. It was at that point Razor decided to show himself.

"Well, you must be serious about this if you are willing to disarm yourself."

Cotton slowly turned around to see the Pegasus-born Kirin step out of the shadows, the Earth Pony's eyes warily glancing at the large rune-encrusted halberd and the Kirin's claws.

"Archduke Razor Tail, I never thought I would see you up close." He spoke with respect.

"And here we are now, from what my agents told me you wanted a meeting about something important enough to you, enough that you were willing to risk the Gallows for it. That caught my attention enough to take this personally."

"Your spies serve you very well Archduke, I didn't think you'd come personally but I'm glad you did." His hoof flew to his mouth and he stuttered out a few words before Razor held up a hand, both to stop the Earth Pony and his own guards.

"Relax lad, I know what you mean. My guards were following you so I know that you came alone."

"I... I had a feeling they were watching me, I was making sure none of the other Loyalists would follow me. If they knew... they would hurt me far worse then the Gallows."

Razor did a very slight head tilt at that, this Stallion feared something worse then the Gallows?

"So lad, tell me; why would a Loyalist want help from the most wanted pirate by the NTU?"

Cotton snorted heavily as a scowl appeared over his face.

"Former Loyalist, as of last night I no longer want anything to do with the NTU." He said firmly.

Razor was a bit surprised by the sudden change in Cotton's mood, what had the NTU done to warrant this. He could guess but decided to cut to the chase.

"So you wish to defect and what is the reason?"

"The same as why I wanted a meeting; I need your help."

"And want would you need my help with?"

Razor raised an eyebrow as Cotton's face softened considerably and a few tear formed at the corners of his eyes.

"My little sister, my Comman-" He stopped as he seemed to try and fight back bile before continuing, "my commander has taken her as a slave to keep me in line. I fear for her safety, she is far more precious to me then anything else. The only family I have left, as long as I know she's safe, I don't care what happens to me."

Cotton paused looking at the ground for a minute before looking back at Razor.

"I'm not sure what I can offer in exchange but, please. I beg you Archduke, take her away from this place, I don't want her to live her life as a slave. Hay I never even agreed with the practice to began with."

He choked, unable to hold the tears back anymore

"You help her, and I will give you my oath to serve you."

Razor was unsure how to react to that for a second, there was no mistaking how genuine he was being when he said that, and it was very clear to him that Cotton cared deeply for his little sister.

"I understand then why you wanted this meeting, but for the oath; Didn't you give your commander that already." That wasn't actually a question but Razor wanted to test Cotton one more time. The Stallion looked livid as he looked the Kirin in the eye.

"That... that waste of flesh only got my oath by enslaving my sister, dressing her in a slave outfit, having his guards holding me back with their swords against my neck as I could only watch as my commander spanked her over and over again with a heavy leather belt until her rump and flanks were as red as the outfit she was wearing! And not small ones either, I'm talking whacks hard enough to leave welts with each hit! I had to listen to her screams of pain and watch as she cried while I was helpless to do anything, I couldn't even give my oath at first because the guards held my mouth shut! I had to watch for at least ten minutes before my mouth was freed and I could give it. If only to stop her pain."

Cotton let out a pain and rage-filled breath.

"She was in so much pain she couldn't even walk by the time it finally stopped, then he kicked her out of his way. All that completely and utter destroyed any loyalty I had left! I don't care at all what happens to me anymore, I only want her safe, free, from monsters like that."

Razor breathed and gave him a light smile.

"First off, I do give you credit Cotton; not many are willing to push a Kirin nose-to-nose when angry."

Cotton came out of his thoughts to realize that was just what happened, in his rant he had pushing onto Razor's nose, the Stallion paled as he fearfully pulled back.

"Sir... I'm so sorry. I..." He stopped as Razor held up a hand again, a small smile on his face.

"Easy lad, I know that wasn't a threat. Now as for your plight," He looked at his guards and gestured his head up and to the right. Without a word the guards leaped from the ground and into the roof, disappearing into the dark. Cotton watched them disappear before turning to Razor.

"I'll help you, but you do know that once you walk this path there is no turning back. You, like many other Outcasts, will be wanted by the NTU and will be hang right away if captured"

"I know and I don't care, all that matters to me now is my sister's freedom."

"That is what I wanted to hear. You have my word not as a pirate but as a Kirin that she will be free very soon, it may take time before you will see her again though."

"I understand, and as long as I know she's safe I can wait."

"Well then here is what I want in exchange."

He leaned down and whispered into the Stallion's ear, who nodded as he heard the terms. Pulling away he said,

"It will take time but I think I can do that, I'll start looking for like-mind individuals who share my views but I need time to do so."

"Take as much time as you need, I want this done right. Now my agents will help you, and I will free your sister. Good luck."

Before he could leap up Cotton stopped him.

"Wait, just one more thing."

Razor looked at him with a head tilt.

"And what would that be?"

Cotton pulled out a small plastic case-covered picture and a worn teddy bear with a faded red bow around its neck.

"This is what she looks like, it is one of her younger days but it is the only one I have. And when you find her, show her this teddy bear, it was a gift from our mother and my sister loved it so much. Show her it and she'll know I sent you. Also, her name's Winter Soul." He said giving the two items to Razor, who took them and nodded, put the items in his coat and leaped into the night.

Cotton watched him vanish from sight in the shadows, leaving the Earth Pony alone in the ally.

"Thank you Archduke Razor Tail, *sigh* don't worry Soul, you will be free. We already lost mom and dad, I can't lose you too. Just hang in there, help is coming."

With that he picked up his sword, reattached it to his belt and walked away.





Two Hours later

Razor had gone back to the Dragon to get Snow and Silver while his guards searched for the sister, which didn't take long at all. He wanted the former as slavers were her specialty and the latter to help comfort the young Mare when they got her. The group entered the room silently as the commander pulled the chain attached to the collar Cotton's sister wore, he stepped over Soul and forced her onto her back but before he go do anything else her back left leg shot up on a reflex and she kicked him right in the eye, causing him to leap back with a roar of pain as Cotton's sister scooted away in fear to the back wall.

"Why you little... I'm gonna-!" Whatever his threat was went unfinished as the side of the head of a hardened steel halberd slammed into his face with enough power to send him into the wall behind him, before he could recover from that something grabbed ahold of his head and lifted him into the air. The commander opened his eyes to find himself looking at the snarling face of Archduke Razor Tail himself, hold the commander by the head with enough force that he was to busy trying to pry the clawed fingers from his scalp to grab his weapons.

"Guards! Where the hay are my guards?!"

"There."

Razor pointed at the floor behind him before swinging him over his head and pile diving the commander into it, Razor's own guards moving to pin the commander down as Snow walked forward. As they did Razor turned to where Cotton's sister had fled to: The poor thing was sitting on her back legs covering her eyes with her forelegs and sobbing for all she was worth. Razor carefully approached her, keeping his movements slow so to not scare her more as Silver joined him. Once they got within a few feet the Mare lowered her hooves and looked at them, clearly scared out of her wits. Razor pulled out the picture Cotton had given him to make sure she was the right one: She was, only a few years older.

She had a snow white coat with the lower legs changing to an ice blue as it went down to the hooves, an ice blue mane and tail that changed to a dark ice blue at the tips, and pretty emerald green eyes that were red from crying. Her Cutie Mark was a dark ice blue snow flake flying on a wind, both Razor and Silver could easily see the redness around the poor dear's marks and that she was trying to keep her weight off her rear. She wore a red leotard-like garment with a white belt that completely covered her front and back leaving just her four legs, neck and head uncovered. She also had an excessive amount of jewelry on her; all four of her legs had several bands studded with gems, her mane and tail were braided with gems interwoven throughout and the collar around her neck was made of gems.

She was rather pretty and looked quite cute in the leotard despite why she was wearing it and in Razor's opinion would likely turn more then a few heads when she was older, likely more if she wore a similar outfit though by her choice. The thing that angered him however was the fact that she was only eleven years old, the same age as Silver. He had to fight down his Nirik side as thoughts he didn't want went through his head, drawing a calming breath he gently and softly spoke.

"Winter Soul?"

She blinked, then slowly nodded. Razor gave her a gentle smile as he pulled out the teddy bear.

Soul gasped when she saw it and took it from Razor as he gently gave it to her. Soul hugged it with all her might, then after a minute looked back up.

"My big bro, Cotton, sent you?"

"Yes he did, we will get you out of here Soul, after we deal with him." Razor gestured to the pinned commander as Snowy slammed him in the face with the handguard of her sword. Razor turned to his son.

"Silver, can you stay with her? Considering what she has gone through she might be more willing to open up to you."

"I can dad." Silver turned back to Soul as Razor backed up and went over to the others, Silver lowered himself to his belly and slowly crawled forward.

"Hi there, I'm Silver Moth. You're Winter Soul right?"

"Yes." she said uncertainly.

"Would it be alright if I called you Soul?"

"Sure... my big bro calls me that."

Silver smiled then slowly moved up to sit next to her, she shied away a little as he did so.

"It's okay Soul, I promise I wouldn't hurt you. My parents raised me better than that."

Soul looked the Kirin/Changeling Hybrid up and down, having never seen anything like him before. Her eyes eventually landing on his wings, the translucent membrane intriguing her. With some hesitation she reached over to the Silver's left wing with a hoof, the hybrid reaching back with the wing slowly and allowing her to touch it and rub the membrane. Silver giggling a little as she did.

"Sorry, I'm a little ticklish there."

Umm... What are you Silver? I've never seen or heard about a creature like you before."

"I'm a Kirin/Changeling Hybrid. You see; my mom's a Changeling Queen and my dad's a Pegasus-born Western Kirin.

"Guards," the two looked over at Razor as two of his guards came over, "would you please take Silver and Soul back to the ship, I don't want them to see this. That and the poor girl has suffered too much already."

The two saluted and slowly walked over to them, Silver suddenly felt Soul press against him shaking in fear of the two guards how stopped at the sight, Soul letting out a whimper both in fear and pain as she accidentally put weight on her sore rear. Silver gently wrapped his wings and arms around her and held her up off her rump.

"It's alright Soul, these are my father's personal guards. They are sworn to protect him, my mother, and me, and for now you as well. I promise they will not hurt you." He said rubbing her back, the two guards lowering themselves a bit to show Soul they weren't a threat to her.

Soul looked at Silver, taking in his soft red eyes that showed nothing but friendliness and understanding. Soul wasn't sure why, but she felt safe around Silver, felt like she could trust him. Soul thought for a few seconds, then leaned into his embrace.

"Okay. I trust you. Just... please don't let go."

Silver gently rubbed her back as he nodded at the two guards who walked over and, with care, cut the chain attached to her collar and escorted the two youngsters back to the Dragon, Soul staying pressed against Silver the whole time with his wing covering and steadying her as she was sore enough to have trouble walking. Silver did offer to carry her on his back but Soul told him she felt safer under his wing.

Razor watched as they left then turned back to the commander with a snarl, pointing the scythe-tip of his halberd at him as the runes and dragon eyes brightly glowed green.

"Let's take care of this trash Snow."

"With pleasure." She said running her gauntlet along her sword, sparks coming off as the runes along the blade glowed white.

With the room magically sounded proofed, no one but Razor, Snow, and Razor's guards hear the commander scream.

End of Flashback



Everyone stood still as Razor finished, silently taking it all in. It was quiet for awhile before one of the Dragon's crew members spoke.

"Wow, that does explain why she was on board and hanging around Silver so much this last little while." Another one spoke up.

"The poor dear, good thing you brought her here Captain. I don't want to even think of what would have happened to her if you hadn't learned about her."

"Believe me I don't want to either." Razor said, "I'm sorry I kept this from all of you but considering how hard and close of an eye the NTU's Leaders keep on high ranking individuals like Cotton Sail here we couldn't risk anything until he was safely away from their territory."

"It's okay sir, we understand why you did it." One crew member said as the others spoke their own agreements, Zenith adding,

"At least it all worked out in the end."

"Indeed it did," Razor said, then he looked at Cotton. "but I wasn't expecting a Juggernaut and six Ships of the Line."

Cotton rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Turned out there were more like-mind individuals then I first thought."

He then turned to Silver, who looked at him curiously, as Cotton set his sister down.

"Silver is it?" Said Hybrid nodded, then was surprised as Cotton pulled him into a hug.

"Thank you for looking after Soul, now... could you do me a flavor?" He pulled out of the hug and placed both hooves on Silver's shoulders. "Could you keep looking after her?"

Both Silver and Soul looked surprised, as did those around them, Soul asking,

"Why Big Bro?" Cotton looked at her sadly.

"Because Soul, word will soon reach the NTU's Leaders of this mutiny and they will start hunting for me. I can't take you with me as I fear if I'm caught you'll end up as a slave again, this time with no chance of escape. I know you can grow up to be a great Mare Soul, but only if you're free. I can't lose you like that again, so I need some place you will be safe from those monsters. Soul... do you trust Silver?"

"Absolutely big bro," Soul moved over to Silver and leaned against his side as he placed a wing over her. "Silver been nothing but a gentlecolt to me and... I'm not sure why, but I just feel safe and relaxed around him."

Cotton smiled softly, "Then that's good enough for me, so can you do that for me Silver?"

"Yes I can." He said with a cute little wing salute, which Cotton returned with a friendly one of his own alongside a smile. He then turned to Razor, taking his sword from his belt and hat off. Setting his sword in front of him he placed his hat over his chest and began speaking.

"Archduke Razor Tail, I will admit when I first heard of you I thought you were just another Blackguard Pirate. Now I know that isn't the case, and I'm happy I was wrong. When I first saw that note on my desk I was shocked, I didn't know what to think. Part of me though it was too good to be true, but at the same time another part told me I didn't really have anything left to lose, so I listened to that part and met you. Then not even five hours later I found another note telling me that you had found and rescued her, with a picture of her as proof and a small note that the only harm to her was on the surface. I was so relieved I almost broke down sobbing right there, that night was the most peaceful and restful sleep I have had in a long time. Thank you, you and your fellow Outcasts, for freeing Soul."

Cotton placed his hat back on and held his sword in both hooves, presenting it to Razor.

"My former commander forced my oath from me, but this time I'm giving it willing to you." He took a deep breath before continuing. "I swear on the seas I will serve the Leader of the Outcasts of the Abyss until my final breath, to follow you into the deepest parts of the abyss and back again without fail, to lead any under be with honor and respect, and serve the Outcasts in good faith and without deceit. Because unlike my former commander, you Archduke Razor Tail have earned it."

Razor smiled at Cotton as the latter bowed his head and held his sword out to Razor, knowing that he was fully being genuine with this one.

"Welcome to the Outcasts lad, not many jump head first into the Abyss but here it doesn't matter where we come from, for the Outcasts of the Abyss are brothers and sisters united through the bonds on Camaraderie we all share." Razor said with pride as he helped Cotton stand up, who then turned to the rest of his followers.

"I thank all of you for helping me with this, but this is my burden to carry. You don't have to follow me into this, you are all free to go."

"He is right, any who wish to leave may do so peacefully and no one will harm or stop them." Razor added.

None of the former Loyalists moved, then one-by-one, they started taking off their hats and bowed before Razor, Cotton's First Officer watched as they did this and turned to a shocked-looking Cotton Sail with a small smile, saying;

"It looks like we're all going to the Gallows for Desertion."

Cotton could only stare in shock at what just happened, before a huge smile filled his face as he fought to keep back tears. Razor placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Seems you had more loyal followers than you thought, you have a lot of potential Cotton, I know that one day you will make a great Fleet Admiral."

Silver and Soul watched this exchange with big smiles before Soul turned to Silver.

"Silver?"

"Yes Soul?"

"Thank you, for being so nice to me." Before she knew what was happening, she leaned over and kissed the Hybrid on the cheek. It took a few seconds, but when what she just did came to her Soul's face went red with a huge blush as her face became hot enough to fry an egg as Silver also got a huge blush as there was a loud BOING! and his sails fully deployed.

Following that was laughter, cheers, and wolf whistles from the rest of the crew of both ships, increasing the two's embarrassment. Atlas had a certain type of smirk as she leaned forward a bit.

"Seems you two have grow rather close, so when should I expect some grandfouls."

"MOM!"

Cotton also had a similar smirk.

"Butterflies in your stomach became to much? When should we plan the wedding then?"

A bucket hit him right in the face and stayed there, stuck on his head.

"It, was, worth it."
> Chapter 20: Tower Clash
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I'll be honest Soul, I'm surprised you kept the outfit." Cotton Sail as to his younger sister Winter Soul as she when over her belongings that Outcast agents had gotten from their former home, among them being the very same red leotard-like garment with white belt that Soul had worn during her brief time as a slave. The two of them and Silver Moth were in one of the many cabins aboard the Dragon of the Depths, it actually reminded him of one room aboard a cruise ship. The room was rectangle-shaped with a king-size bed at the far end, a desk and couch in the middle, and an enclosed bathroom next to the door complete with everything one would expect.

"Well... despite why I was wearing it, I... rather like it actually. When Mr. Tail's Healers removed it and gave me that cream to sooth the burning I asked them to let me keep it, as I do think I look cute in it and it is surprisingly comfortable against my coat." Soul replied, a light blush on her face.

"It wouldn't be the first time a former slave had done that." Silver, sitting off to the side, said. Cotton looked over to him, a confused expression on his face.

"Really lad?"

A fourth voice answered.

"Yes."

The three jumped in surprise as Razor entered the room, continuing to speak.

"It's actually very common for freed slaves to keep their outfits, seeing as a way of showing that their time as one didn't break them and as a certain rude gesture at their former "masters". In fact back in Imperator's Grave, two of the Juggernauts in the Defense Fleet, called the "Twin Sisters", are crewed completely by former female slaves who still wear the outfits of their former life."

Cotton and Soul looked surprised and amazed at that.

"Really? They see it as defying their former masters?" Cotton asked. 

"Yes they do, and they are very proud of it. Now then," Razor turned to Soul. "Soul, would you and Silver run along? I need to talk to your brother."

"Okay Mr. Tail. Come on Silver." She grabbed the Hybrid's hand and pulled him out of the room, her and Silver laughing. Dragonfly and Cotton smiling at them as the door shut behind them.

"They sure have bonded well haven't they Cotton."

"That they have Razor, Soul may only be eleven years old but I think she has a crush on your son."

"From what you told me about not having anyone her age to play with I can see why."

"And I'm very happy to know she is with someone both she and I can trust. Now what did you want to talk about?"

"I would like to know what your plans are now Cotton? You said that NTU would start hunting for you once word reached them."

"I did, and after talking with my crew and the ones from the other ships we've decided to head to Imperator's Grave."

"Oh? Why there?"

"Well for a couple of reasons: One, its the home base of the Outcasts so it is well defended and the NTU would have a very difficult time to get in. Two, the last time the NTU attacked Imperator's Grave, before the Outcasts came to power, they got their tails handed to them. And three, As it is the, for lack of a better word, anchor point of every major trade route in the Sea of Legends, the NTU would find every single Merchant worth their salt attacking them alongside its Defense Fleet. Not to mention the Sea Wyverns that see the place as their nesting ground and other creatures in those waters."

"That is true, Imperator's Grave's defenses has beat back many an attack over its history, both normal or otherwise."

"And as time has gone on every ruler of the place has simply just kept increasing and upgrading them."

Both chuckled, while the NTU attack had happened before they were born, the story was well known: The NTU had wanted to take over the place as with Imperator's Grave being the spot were the Sea of Legends trade routes crossed it would allow them to have control of those routes. Unfortunately for them, they underestimated three things: The fact that as the only remaining free port at the time, every single free Merchant and sailor would fight to their last breath to protect it and keep it free. The powerful defenses including over a hundred 100-ton cannons and numerous Keg Mines. And the will of those who lived on the cluster of islands, archipelagos, and islets. The NTU Fleet had consisted of sixty Sloops, forty Sloops of War, thirdly Schooners, twenty Brigantines, sixteen Frigates, ten Men 'O War, six Ships of the Line, and two Juggernauts. To make a long story short, the NTU lost almost the entire fleet with only two badly damaged Brigantines escaping while most of the fleet was sunk and the rest including the two Juggernauts captured and added to the Defense Fleet.

That failed attack was one huge embarrassment for the NTU and since then they had never launched another attack aimed at Imperator's Grave. Razor looked at Cotton.

"Well I know you will be safe there Cotton, the Outcast Agents can help you and the others disappear until the NTU gives up and writes you off. Then you can make your return."

"I hear that, and Razor... Thanks... for all this."

Razor smiled and pulled Cotton into a hug, surprising the Earth Pony but he returned it happily.

"Remember Cotton: Outcasts band together."





Later the next day

After a tearful goodbye between Cotton and Soul the former sailed off in his Juggernaut with the six Ships-of-the-Line escorted by an Outcast Fleet towards Imperator's Grave were they would be safe form the NTU. Once that was done the Dragon sailed to it next destination, a large island simply known as "Tower Island". The island had gotten its name from the enormous crumbling structure that climbs beyond the clouds located in the center of the island, no one knew the history of this place as most of the writing the the was was either gone or unreadable. The only way into the tower was through a gigantic "courtyard" as all other ways were just sheer cliff.

From Razor's research he believed that the Orange Crystal was somewhere within that tower, where however was unknown so he would need to use his compass to find it.

It was early morning the next and a very thick fog had rolled over the water around the ship as they approached Tower Island slowly, thick enough that those on deck couldn't see a few feet passed the ship if even that. Those in the crow's nest could see over the fog so they would alert the rest of the ship if they spotted anything.

The Pegasus manning the nest was cleaning and looking through the telescopes over the water when, lifting his head up and blinking, he looked through again. On the horizon was a fleet of two hundred fifty ships with a Juggernaut at the front, the lookout's head snapped back once he saw the flag.

Equestrian Ships!

Spinning around to the voice pipes he shouted into them.

"ALARM!!! Equestrian ships off the port bow! Repeat, Equestrian ships off the port-AAAARRRGGGGHHHH!!!!"

The Lookout nearly jumped out of his skin when Razor suddenly appeared next to him.

"Razor... *huff* Sir... Don't *huff* sneak up *huff* on me *huff* like that! You nearly gave me a heart attack!"

"Sorry but your shouting of alarm nearly did the same to the crew on deck."

As the Lookout tried to calm his anvil beating heart Razor looked through the telescope at the Equestrian fleet, he pulled back with a somewhat worried look. He then moved passed the now calmed down Lookout and flew back to the deck where the others were waiting.

"It's them." Razor said as he landed.

"The Equestrian Fleet?" Atlas asked.

"The very same." Razor replied.

Those from the Traveler came over, for a time there was some discussion on what to do next. A number of the Traveler group saw this as a good thing as they could talk to Princess Celestia and explain the misunderstanding, others however including Thunderlane, Soarin and a few others were not as optimistic because the Equestrian Fleet might be at battle-ready state and would attack the second they saw any pirates. Eventually a decision was make: Razor would send a note asking for Celestia to met him on the island in the center of the Tower Courtyard where they could Parlay while Atlas and the others got the Dragon clear of Tower Island, if all went well than the Traveler group would met up with Razor and Celestia and they could go from there, if not... they would have to take things as they came.

A bit Later

It had been about an hour after the message was send by bird, the Dragon was moving away from the island in case something when wrong. Razor meanwhile had flown over to the island landing a ways from the Tower in a narrow pathway between ominous cliffs and a waterfall with a stone arch close to the left cliff wall. It took a bit of walking but soon he reached the Courtyard, walking forward Razor could see the Tower in the distance. The Courtyard itself was a wide open area that was once flat brick with many stone pillars scattered about but now most of the brick had sunk into the ground and only the base of a few pillars remained, littering the Courtyard now was a huge amount of shipwrecks of all kinds, including the last remnants of a few Ironclads.

How they ended up there, quite a ways from the shore, was beyond him.

Razor soon reached the center of the Courtyard and waited, if things went well Celestia would be here in a few minutes and they would talk things out... but his gut was telling him something was wrong and after this long he had learned to trust his gut, and he had his doubts it would be that easy, that and the long experience from sailing the SOL for as long as he had. Looking around Razor's ears and nose were moving like crazy, trying to pickup any sounds or scents that were out of place.

He wasn't disappointed as two minutes after arriving...

"HALT KNAVE!! YOU WOULDN'T ESCAPE US!!"

One didn't have to be a genius to know who that was. Turning around he saw a fully armored Princess Luna standing around a hundred and fifty feet away from him, and she wasn't alone. Celestia in her own armor stood next to her sister with Neighsay, the five foreign leaders and the Pillars. Behind them were nine Royal Knights and around a hundred or so guards. Razor's mouth formed into a thin frown as he quickly took stock of his situation; it was clear that the Parlay had been rejected and he knew this wasn't a fight he could win his own. Now, Razor was no coward but there was an important line in the Pirate Codex: Successful pirates know when to run.

And now would be a good time to run... expect for a few problems: He knew that if he tried the flyers would be on his tail like moths to a light, and he could possibly endanger those on the Dragon which he wasn't willing to risk. As he began glancing around to see if there was anything he could use Celestia spoke.

"Archduke Razor Tail... we finally meet."

"So it would seem." Razor said calmly, tighten his grip on his halberd as Celestia continued.

"I do not know why you chose to attack an Equestrian port town and later kidnap Ponies and other creatures from the cruise but now because of that you overstepped your bounds. I was content to leave you to your business here in the Sea of Legends and I'm truly sorry, but you reign must end." There was some regret alongside the serious tone in her voice.

"First off, I did not kidnap them. They stowed away by accident! Secondly, I attacked that town for a personal reason and I only killed one Pony, and not someone who would be missed."

"Either way you still attacked and took them, who knows were they are now." Luna growled.

"That I can answer easily, they're-"

Before Razor could tell them that the "kidnapped" ones were safely aboard his ship, Neighsay spoke up.

"And why should we believe scum like you?!"

Razor snorted, "Scum? Maybe you should look into a mirror Neighsay."

Said Pony snarled, "I am not scum! You filthy monster!"

"Monster!?" Razor started laughing, much to Neighsay's and the others' confusion. Razor followed up before anyone could say something.

"You called me a monster, you wouldn't be doing that if you had been here eighteen years ago. And I do in fact clean my body at least once a week."

"And you take that as a joke?!"

"Compared to some of the individuals I've taken out during the years, I would be a saint!"

The two continued to argue between each other trading insults for a few minutes before Luna's Royal Canterlot Voice broke it up.

"ENOUGH!!!"

After everyone's ears had recovered Celestia continued.

"Razor, I did not want to do this but I have no choice. If you come peacefully then you can live the rest of your life, if not... then I will have no choice but to put you down."

"And we have you outnumbered knave so you can't fight or escape."

Razor frowned deeper, Luna was unfortunately right. It was a hundred and thirteen against just one, far too much for him to handle on his own and out in the open like this. Retreat wasn't an option either in this case. Lightly biting his tongue his eyes glanced around, moving over the shipwrecks that littered the area.

Wait... shipwrecks...

The gears in Razor's head began to turn faster than usual, he realized that he had something he could use. He looked towards his opponents as a toothy smile spread over his face as everything clicked into place, much to their surprise and confusion.

"What are thou smiling about?!"

"While it is true that you have me outnumbered, you picked a rather unfortunate spot to confront me."

"And by that what do you mean?" Ember asked.

"Allow me to show you..." Before anyone could stop him Razor lifted his halberd up and slammed the bottom spike into the ground as the weapon glowed bright green, the ruby eyes in the dragon head-shaped hammer changed to green as many tentacles of energy shot from them and into the water under the wrecks around him. Within a few seconds multiple large green tetragonal-shaped crystals which after being fully formed sank into the wrecks.

Then it happened...

All the wrecks glowed brightly for a second, then they began to shift.

Before the shocked eyes of the Equestrians they watched as the wrecks began to transform; broken hulls became torsos as masts became limbs as rope and chain twisted around them forming something akin to muscle, various items attached themselves to the wrecks, on the end of the right "arm" cannons ranging from 12-Pounder Carronades to a few 100-toners and everything in between. the smaller the cannon the more there was. The cannons formed around where the wrist would be into a revolver-like setup while on the other arm a large hand made of planks and beams formed with long fingers made of beams and broken masts, each one tipped with hooks, spears, harpoons and the like.

As the wrecks changed around him Razor was speaking.

"Rise... Rise... Awaken my Golems. Rise... Rise... Awaken my Golems... Rise..."

As he was saying the last Rise he looked over at the Equestrians who stared at the Golems as they began to stand up, their new limbs being covered by the remains of barrels and broken cannons as broken ship cranes became joints. Finally the Golems stood tall as fog rolled in and the Equestrians swore they could faintly hear pipe organs playing, the shortest Golems, make from Sloops and other small ships, stood around twenty five feet tall while the largest ones made from Juggernauts stood at least forty feet tall. The Equestrians could only stare, having never seen something like this. While it was true that Golems weren't a new thing, not at all, no creature had ever created ones these sizes before.

Even Celestia and Luna were speechless and worst, there was at least sixty of the Golems.

It took a few minutes, but eventually the nine Royal Knights spoke up.

"Are you freakin' Kidding me?!"

"Ooohhh hay..."

"Motherbucker..."

"Aye, what just happened?"

"Oh this is bad!"

"Now I've seen everything."

"Umm... okay, alright, this is actually really bad............................. I must learn how to do that."

"Ah... Horseapples"

"Uh no..."

Razor smiled both brightly and evilly at their shock.

"While I was unable to use them during the three year long "Rise of the Outcasts" War, these prove their worth during the later battles with the NTU. Meet the Wreck Golems, one of the Outcasts' most powerful land units."

Razor then stood straight looking at Celestia and Luna who stared back.

"Now shall you deal with me oh Princesses, Archduke Razor Tail, the Pirate Lord of the Sea of Legends." He flared his wings, "and all the powers of the SEAS!!"

Razor sung his halberd up till the tip of the top spike pointed towards the sky, where a blue beam of pure magic shot up into the clouds. The clouds began to shift and twist, heavy rain started to fall, hitting those below like needles as deep thunder was heard, lightning flashed, and the winds began to pick up, blowing hard against them.

"How can you have this sort of Power?!" Neighsay shouted over the wind and thunder. "Kirin can't use magic!"

"Not normally, but we do have our own Rune Magic and it allows us to do many things. The Golems were years of hard work, the storm... no one can control the weather in the Sea of Legends, I merely amplified the minor storm above us into a raging one."

Razor pointed his halberd forward and with a low, whale-like bellow, the Wreck Golems lumbered forward as Razor rapidly turned and bolted to the Tower while slipping his goggles on. Celestia and Luna noticed and teleported in front of him but Razor jumped into the air, the wind catching his large wings like sails and carried him into the raging storm. Celestia and Luna following suit.





The three reached the eye of the storm and hovered there, Razor staring the Princesses down as they did the same. No words were exchanged, not that they could be with the storm around them. Razor then shifted his wings so the wind around the edge of the eye carried him in a circle around the two Alicorns, who used their own wings to turn and follow him with their gaze. Razor circled around them several times before Luna made the first move.

She charged swinging her scythe, Celestia behind her with her war hammer. Razor waited until the last moment then flared his wing out fully, the wind catching them and he flew out of the way. Luna overshot him and went straight into the wall of storm clouds, vanishing from view. Celestia had better luck and was able to turn her body around, swinging her war hammer which was intercepted by Razor's halberd. The two clashed as the storm raged around them, Luna joining in once she reached the eye again. Sparks flew every time the ax blade Razor's halberd meet either the blade of Luna's scythe or the head of Celestia's war hammer.

Soon however, it became clear to Razor that the Alicorns had the advantage. While it was true they were rusty in terms of fighting skills, they still had incredible stamina and will. Razor knew he couldn't keep this up so he made a new plan

'Time to disappear.'

By this point the three had rose above the storm so Razor closed his wings, plummeting into the clouds as the surprised Alicorns quickly followed.

That had been his plan however, years of sailing the Sea of Legends had taught Razor how to "fly with the storm" while the two Alicorns found themselves fighting the winds and rain. The two had always known that the weather in the far north where the Crystal Empire sat had a will of its own, but this was something else entirely. Now that they were fighting this storm the differences became clear, unlike the weather of the north, this one actively fought back. Every time they used magic to push the clouds back, multiple lightning bolts shot out and strike them, forcing them back. The rain pelted them hard, the winds blowing with such force that even the strongest Pegasi would never be able to fly and combined with the rain meant that the two couldn't see far or well.

It quickly dawned on Celestia and Luna that this what Razor had wanted: By luring them into the storm he had forced them to focus on fighting against the weather, and it was cold! The winds alone were freezing, close to the ones in the far north, add in the rain that the two were freezing even more. It really did not help that the rain was hitting them like billions of needles per minute, and just to add insult to injury, there were hail stones the size of marbles hitting them as well.

"HOLD ON LUNA!!! KEEP FIGHTING BACK!"

"CURSE THAT PIRATE!!!!"





Razor Landed on the floor of the tower's fourteenth level, using his claws to stop his sliding. He had heard Luna's yell and laughed as he stood up.

"I believe that is what they call "Trolling", and you two should have known that I don't stay to fight a battle I don't think I can win. After all, a successful pirate knows when to run."

With another laugh Razor turned and walked deeper into the tower, pulling out his compass to guide him to his target.





Meanwhile

The troops on the ground weren't having much luck either. For one, the Golems were much tougher than they had first thought, each time they managed to cause decent damage to one they could only watch as the wood rebuilt itself. For another, the Golems were pounding the Guard with their cannons and limbs, slowly pushing them back. Thankfully no one was dead, Razor had been careful to set the Golems on "Stun" so at worst the ones who "fell" were only knocked out, their breathing still strong as ever. Their fellow guards were quick to get those knocked out off the battlefield.

The Royal Knights and the other leaders weren't having much luck either, Ember had long know that Dragons were very strong but even she was having trouble fighting not just the Golems but the weather around her as well; for one, the wood was too wet to catch fire and every time she focused her flame on one spot that Golem and the ones around it would attack at once, forcing her to dodge. For another, the sheer cold of the combined wind and rain was effecting her movement, Dragons normally had great protection against extreme temperatures but most of that was to heat which allowed them to swim in lava. This unfortunately meant that those same Dragons were more vulnerable to cold weather, this wind and rain was making her sluggish as she had to focus on keeping her body warm on top of avoiding fire from the Golems' cannons.

And they were firing at any flyers with chain-shot, though fortunately for the flyers the shots acted more like bolas in that they wrapped around their target which send them falling, though they were caught by other flyers before they hit the ground.

Ember's luck soon ran out as one Golem, one made from a Schooner, fired chain-shot at her. Ember saw it coming but was too slow, while it didn't wrap around her, she would have preferred that a million times more to what happened instead. The chain in between the two cannon balls hit her right wing and she let out a loud scream of pain as that wing was both broken and dislocated at the same time by the hit.

Most Dragons, due to their large sizes when adults and sense of invulnerability from the fact that most never encountered anything that could actually harm them, only a few things could which were heavily respected and feared by the Dragons. Out here, in the Sea of Legends, it was a whole different story as the inhabitants had many things to take Dragons down and force them to taste their own mortality, Chain-Shot being one of those things. As Chain-Shot was designed to destroy sails and masts of ships, someone at some point got an idea and tested it. Turns out, Chain-shot and similar weapons were very, very effective at bringing down Dragons as the shots destroyed their wings, sending them to the ground.

A downed Dragon, is a dead Dragon.

They say one couldn't outfight Dragons, one could, they just needed the right tools and the plan.

Thorax heard Ember's scream and caught her before she hit the ground, he quickly retreated from the battle and brought her to the medical post they had set up before confronting Razor. The Medics took one look and immediately took Ember into emergency surgery, working fast to heal the wing and save it. Before she passed out from the shock and pain, Ember managed to get a glace at her right wing, seeing it bend hit her hard.

And seeing blood, her blood, hit her harder.

Thankfully for her the Medics were able to save the wing and she would be able to fly fine again but she would be grounded for a good long while.

Ember had tasted her own mortality that day, and it horrified her more than she ever thought possible for a Dragon to feel.





The Royal Knights
_________________________________________________________________________________________

(A/N: This next part is a bit long, there is a little dialog but not much. Sorry about that.)

The nine Royal Knights, having seen Razor fly into the tower, gave chase and after weaving through the battle line reached the entrance at the base of the tower. The first one to make it there was a Pegasus Stallion who was younger than the others but still old enough set down on the stone floor and started shaking the water from his wings. He had a dark red coat, short gold mane and tail and sky blue eyes. His Cutie Marks was a pair of crossed aluminum baseball bats with rubber grip tape and a faded green oval label on both with a baseball placed over where the bats crossed. He wore a slightly baggy, red winter cap or beanie with two dark red stripes, the bottom on being much thicker that the top stripe on his head. Over his eyes were a pair of red goggles with lighter colored flame designs, a grey frame, a black strap, and orange-yellow rims. Around his neck was a short white scarf, and a red bomber jacket, which included a chest patch showing the Stallion's Cutie Mark and another patch below with a sideways baseball bat and baseball on his torso. Under the jacket was a white t-shirt. On his back in between his wing was a large leather satchel that had two small pockets on the sides, and around his waist was a brown belt.

The Stallion took his beanie off and start wringing out the water from the rain, snorting out a breath as he did.

"Holy crap, I used to work with powerful storms in Cloudsdale before joining the Guard than becoming a Royal Knight and I have never seen storms like this before!"

A loud voice answered his complaint as its owner entered.

"Ah Home Base I've handled worse than this."

"Trencher, while yes you have fought underground against rogue Diamond Dogs and even faced off against Nightmare Moon, have you even seen a storm like this before? I know for a fact I haven't, and I use to work with storms."

Trencher was a large (Big Mac-sized) Earth Pony Stallion with a brown coat, a buzzed-cut red mane and short tail, and yellow eyes. His Cutie Mark was a 68-Pounder Cannon firing with a red glow covering the cannonball. He wore a red trench coat, a slightly over-sized reddish-brown Germane Stahlhelm with the Equestrian emblem on the sides in a shield decal on his head, around his neck was a short grey and black striped scarf and a small back gas mask large enough to cover the muzzle with a tan strap and attached to a black tube that when to a small dark red oxygen tank-like canister, black Epaulettes with red edging on his shoulders, over the tench coat was a brown bomber jacket with red fake fur interior and red armbands with his Cutie Mark patched onto the sides of the upper front legs. Around his chest was a gray flak vest with a zipper, three different sized pouches, and shoulder pads. Across his chest from the right shoulder was a brown leather chest strap holding a large combat knife. On the lower left side of the strap is a small leather pouch. Around his waist was a utility belt featuring a bladed buckle, canisters, and two large pouches. Over his flanks were a pair of brown saddlebags that were worn and slightly tattered with a large, worn and heavily faded black leather strap that held the flap closed with a silver buckle. Two badges, one a small round silver badge with a skull set over top explosions on the main body of the bags and the other an orange shield-shaped badge with the image of a helmeted Earth Pony head with a thin badge above that read "Rock Crushers" on the flap. Completing his looked was a pair of light brown camouflaged pants with silver knee pads and a pair of of dark brown tanker boots with metal plates capping the soles on each hoof.

Trencher bit his tongue as he glanced sideways at the stone floor.

"Fair point Base, at least now we know this Kirin means business."

The next member of the nine Royal Knights to enter was the only Mare of the group, she was a Unicorn with a blue coat with a bright red mane and tail, green eyes, and a Cutie Mark of a Dragon head shooting fire from its mouth. She wore a red firefighter's helmet with an orange pentagonal-shaped crest with her Cutie Mark emblazoned on the front, a red hoodie with flame decals under the helmet and a set of red robes that reached to her elbows and knees, and a red fire extinguisher which included a Pulaski, a type of forestry firefighting equipment, attached to the side. Over her chest was a black strap with Pony dolls resembling the Mare. One possessed the Western depiction of an angelic halo, while the other has cartoony devil horns and a pitchfork and over her flanks were two different bags: On her left was a worn knapsack stuffed with fireworks, an oil can, a gas cylinder, and a BBQ cookbook while on her right was a blue backpack with three small pockets and a tag with the Mare's Cutie Mark. Attached to the backpack are a bottle with a red mug on one side, a paper folded in half on the other, and a rolled up sleeping bag on the top.

Both packs had three green bottles each with a white rag and duck tape around the neck holding the rag in place. Around her forelegs were blue armbands holding a silver lighter and a matchbox each and over her hooves were black welding gloves.

She stepped into the room and shook the water off her, an annoyed look on her face.

"Too much water for ya, Flame Flower?" First Base asked, the Mare gave him a glare.

"Not so much as too much water, rather way too much water! I've never seen storms rage like this before." She finished with a snort and a pout. Trencher laughed.

"I still say fire is for cooking s'mores, not a "real" weapon." He said with a smirk.

Flame Flower glared at him, then her horn lit up. Trencher knew at that moment, he had bucked up.

"Oh no!"

Flower's spell went off and Trencher was engulfed in flames.

"I stand corrected! Fire, Fire, Fire!!!"

Trencher hit the stone floor and starting rolling around trying to put the fire out as Flower glared at him, Base thinking of something to say, hoping to not set her off.

"With how much you like to burn things it still surprises me that you're a volunteer firefighter Flame."

She turned to him.

"I may like to set things and enemies alight, but I hate seeing innocence creatures hurt. Besides, since I know my fire it makes me the prefect Pony to turn to regarding flames and fire damage."

"It's still surprising Lassie." A Northern Mountain accented voice sounded off behind them, the two turned to see a  Cave Thestral Stallion walking in. He was a good head and a half taller than most Stallions and had an dark grey coat, the trademark deep blue webbed mane, wings, and tail and a dark yellow eye. His Cutie Mark was a heavy-looking but still small, glowing, spiked bomb with large, blunted spikes and over his left eye was a black eyepatch. He worn red coveralls with a heavily padded Bomb suit, with a very large collar over his torso with the collar extended to cover most of the neck and surround the back and sides the head leaving only the top exposed, atop his head was a red bomb disposal helmet with a full face visor, just barely visible under the helmet through the visor was a red bandana with his Cutie Mark marked in white in several places. Over his right shoulder was a red, plaid sash held together with a bronze buckle, battle damaged silver metal plates on the shoulders and pouches on his waist with one on each side, on his chest were two pairs of red dynamite packs of three. On his knees were Orange knee-pads with black caps, worn, padlocked wooden chests with a key strapped to the bottom over heavily padded flaps with his Cutie Mark that covered his flanks. Covering his hooves were brown work boots with metal caps painted yellow and a metal plate held on by two leather straps with metal buckles on each lower leg.

Following close behind the Thestral was a giant of an Earth Pony Stallion (Trouble-Shoes-sized) with a red coat with the hooves uncovered showing their brown color, blue eyes, and a buzzed cut mane and medium-length tail of yellow. His Cutie Mark was an antique minigun made almost entirely of brass (bearing resemblance to the original 1862 Gatling gun made by Richard J. Gatling) with a number of modifications. He wore a black ushanka with a large gold star set on the front on his head, a red t-shirt with a black greatcoat with red armbands which had his Cutie Marks in yellow over it and over that on his right shoulder was a bandolier with seven small pouches on the front and one big pouch on the back. Around his neck was a large grey and red champion belt with golden decorations and the Stallion's Cutie Mark on front of it. Over his left shoulder was a red sash with a yellow stripe and a yellow icon of an antique blacksmith hammer banging against its top, on his front hooves were a pair of  black, gold-lined diamond-studded hoof boxing gloves with a skull emblem ring on each. Attached to his right upper leg was a small brown book with his Cutie Mark on the cover held in place by a leather strap with a silver button, on his back were four metal army-green cases with a red-colored icon of four Gatling Gun bullets. His lower half was covered by a pair of camouflage fatigues and a holder with a set of four Gatling Gun bullets hanging from the belt on the right side, on the belt over his flanks was a large red medical pouch with a basic white cross on the right and a large rectangle-shaped brown pouch held closed with a black leather strap and silver buckle, on the pouch lid above the buckle was a small red pin with the same hammer and anvil icon as the sash, and a red and white metal lunch box with a logo visible on the front of the item. The logo was the Equestrian symbol with the letters E, R, and K in Equestrian writing, under the letters in small words was "Equestrian Royal Knights".

Just behind the giant Stallion was a Dracony Wyvern Stallion who was shorter but still slightly taller than the average Stallion with a blue coat with lighter underbelly plates, red mane and tail tip, and green eyes. His Cutie Mark was a railroad monkey wrench (typically used in the early 1900s) over top of a brass gear. He wore a hardhat with a string of yellow, green, purple, and red Heatswarming lights wrapped around the hard hat and powered by an attached magic battery pack on the back of the hat and a strap-on helmet lamp, similar to those used by miners on his head. Over his eyes was a pair of welding goggles, the right lens had a black mechanical eye with a glowing red lens snapped on with the Equestrian symbol printed on the side. Over his left ear was a red-colored rectangle-shaped device with a red light facing forward, a white microphone with a black end facing the same way, a small black screen with a green heart monitor-like set-up and a yellow caution sign above it. Spread though and wrapped around his bread-like chin spikes a string of yellow, green, purple, and red Heatswarming lights just like his hardhat.

He wore a brown leather flight jacket with short sleeves, white fake fur lining and cuffs, a pair of pockets, his Cutie Mark emblem on the jacket's left shoulder and a red armband with a white Equestrian symbol on the right shoulder over a red shirt with a small pocket on the left side of the chest, on his stomach was a vest with straps with brass buckles running over the shoulders and one around his back. On the vest is a silver wrench, two orange magic batteries, a screwdriver with a red handle and two front pockets secured by velcro. On his back in between his wings was a leather tube which contained a rolled-up red blueprint and a yellow ruler, a thin strap going over his right and over his torso holding it on. His right hand was replaced with a robotic prosthetic hand while his left hand was covered by a large red-colored metal glove with a wrist-mounted computer device with a green glowing monochrome screen, and several buttons and knobs. On the screen was a picture of the Dracony setting up with his hand on his hip and giving a large thumbs-up.

Around his waist was a brown leather belt with a brown canteen with a dark brown cap, a silver metal plate with an orange dot with the Dracony's Cutie Mark in dark grey in the large dot and two brown straps with silver buckles holding a grey Combination Wrench to one side. A large light brown pocket with a rolled-up top and silver buckle holding two small dolls with one fashioned in the likeness of the Mare in the group and one in the likeness of a female Griffin with blue feathers on the right side and a red hand welder with a long neck and a gauge at the base and a black cord wrapped twice around and held onto the belt with a thick brown leather strap on the left, a red work light with cage attached to a small black magic battery with orange lightning bolt and red switch via a short orange cord hung in the center of the cord loops.

Over his flanks were two different saddle back-like items; over the right was a red leather messenger bag filled with random bits of broken machinery while over his left was a pack designed to look like a miniature device of some kind. The various details of the device were used to represent pouches, pockets, and zippers on the backpack, including an orange water bottle for what was either a gas tank or power pack and miniature buttons for the device's knobs. Over his legs he wore a pair of dark brown pants with some kind of metal exo-skeleton over top and two orange kneepads, and on his right foot was a red leather cowcolt boot with a complementary riding spur. His left foot was robotic prosthetic that appeared to be made out of parts similarly to his hand.

The Dracony shook the water from his outfit as the giant Stallion passed by, only giving Trencher a sideways glance as the latter managed to put the fire out, stopping at the door that lead deeper into the tower. The Dracony looked over at Flame Flower.

"Flower darlin', must you set Trencher on fire every time he insults your fire?" His soft voice contrasting with the annoyed glare he was giving her. Flame gave him a smile in response.

"He never learns, besides its not like he's ever hurt by my fire. It only hurts those I want it to hurt." She said matter-of-factly as she gave the Dracony a nuzzle and kiss on the cheek, the latter responding by giving her a boop on the nose, causing the Mare to giggle. Sure enough Trencher walked back over, covered in soot but otherwise unharmed.

"Still, I've camped in nasty conditions many times but the soot left by her fires is hard to get out and gets everywhere, including places I'll not talk about." He grumbled, looking at the Dracony. "Can't you do something about that Gold Wrench?"

Before Gold could answer another, slightly muffled, voice with a clear Germane accent rang out.

"Well Dummkopf, if you would stop insulting the Fraulein's* fire than you wouldn't have to deal with the soot!"

The voice belonged a Unicorn Stallion who stood only a half-head shorter than Princess Luna with a pure white coat, blue eyes, and black mane and tail. His Cutie Mark was what looked like a modified red-colored fire hose nozzle wrapped in black tape and outfitted with a bottom handle. He wore a stylized, extremely flared form of a Germane Stahlhelm with an added steel brow which had his Cutie Mark on it in red and a small line gap for his longer-than-normal horn, attached to the right side of the brow plate was a headlight made up of three neon tubes and a bent antenna protruding from a small battery pack at the back of the light frame. A pair of headphones that fully covered his ears was visible under the helmet. Over his eyes were a pair of red glowing goggles with flaps in a dark grey frame, covering his muzzle was a red respirator mask with a grey cap on the front and a grey filter on the right side, on the left was a translucent red tube connecting to what appeared to be a small red oxygen tank with grey top and a small gauge hanging on the Stallion's belt.

Around his neck was a multicolored striped scarf that trailed half-way down his front legs. Over his torso he wore a maroon greatcoat which was covered by a white smock, and a red undergarment visible around the base of his neck. The greatcoat featured a large collar and sleeves that partially covered his red gloves, while the smock had his Cutie Mark in a circle on each of its shoulders though one was covered by a plug embedded in his right upper foreleg which was attached via a tube to a device attached to the front of his right foreleg with three red and glowing vials. Over the chest of the coat was a stylized version of the Germane "Infanterie-Panzer" (Literally "infantry armour") with a large brown vest with the right side having two slots for what appeared to be syringes, while the left side had a pouch with his Cutie Mark on it and  two medicine bottles inside.

Besides the red tank, on his belt was a red leather equipment satchel with a darker-colored emblem of his Cutie Mark accompanied by a worn clipboard with paper hanging from the side and a set of two white pill bottles along with two red pouches; one with his Cutie Mark on the case. Over his rear half he wore a pair of camouflaged combat slacks with red and dark grey kneepads. Over his right flank was a red satchel with a grey belt with a silver buckle; the sides of the satchel had two pockets with a silver button on each side and the flap was held down by a strap. On the center of the bag was his Cutie Mark. On his left flank was a larger red satchel that was open, showing three large syringes on the side and two rolls of bandages and two large medicine bottles inside. His back hooves were covered by black combat boots with red gaiters or spats over them.

With the Stallion were two more following behind, both Pegasus: The first was around the same height with a tan coat, yellow eyes, and brown mane and tail. His Cutie Mark was an large apple pierced by an arrow. He wore a large brown hat with half the rim folded up with a white bird feather tucked in and the Stallion's Cutie Marks also on the folded side of the hat. Under the hat was  a set of one-eyed magic night vision goggles with two red lenses, which fitted over his left eye over the pair of black-rimed yellow tinted sunglasses. Around his neck was a a necklace that has been laced through several lightly bound crocodile teeth. He wore a brown leather duster coat with long flaps that when over his plot and down to his lower hind legs with a slit in the center to allow his tail through, over the chest of the coat was a brown padded vest with a thick, white fleece layer around his neck area, and two straps hanging underneath. Under the coat was a red shirt the his Cutie Mark on the upper forelegs and the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, on each of his lower forelegs was a tattoo of an Eastern Kirin, on his right hoof was a red mitten with the front half folded back and on his left hoof was a thick leather gauntlet resembling the gloves typically used by falconers. The glove had a loose string for adjusting size on its side and the strap and thicker area around the base was red.

Over the chest on top of the vest was a brown leather harness with four jars filled with a red** liquid of some kind strapped to it. On the Stallion's back was a leather quiver with a tan trim holding crossbow bolts with a partially chipped hoof-carved tribal shield with red and white paint and a large magic battery taped to the back. Two wires were going from the battery to the shield, held in place with black tape. Around his waist was a large red belt with a small brown bait/tackle bag with fish hooks attached with a red piranha dangling from one of them on the right side and a large brown flask with a white cap on the left side. Over his legs he wore a pair of red camouflage pants with two pockets on either side of the pants and his back hooves were covered by a pair of large cuffed light-brown and red boots made of leather. The cuffs of the boots were wrapped with red leather belts with metal buckles.

The second Stallion who was also the last member of the nine Royal Knights stood around the average height of normal Stallions with a Congo brown coat, blue eyes, and temptress (color) short mane and tail. His Cutie Mark was a partially serrated, double-edged butterfly knife with roses engraved along the blade and a symbol of an encircled rose is imprinted on the handles. He wore a dark gray cavalier hat with red ribbon, edging, and large feather on his head with a red ski mask with diamond patterns adorning the sides and neck of the mask and a light red/pinkish pom-pom on the top (though that was hidden by the hat). Over his left eye was a single-lens magic night vision goggle attached to black strapping under the hat, each ear had a small red earpiece with a coiling cord of a lighter shade going down into his outfit. Gripped in between in his teeth was a straight red and white candy cane***.

Around his neck was a long, red and dark red striped scarf with fringes at each end over a red turtleneck, a small black microphone visibly sticking out on the left side of the chest under his dark red overcoat which had an upturned collar, eight buttons on the front, and red belt with silver buckles around his waist and forelegs. On his left shoulder hooked on the overcoat's epaulet has a black magic-powered device with red wires attached to the battery, a small switch, and a small red dome in the center of the device. The dome was emitting a red hologram of a Mare. A red rose bud was worn on the left lapel of his overcoat and his rear half had a pair of dress pants the same color as the overcoat with a pair of knee high black leather boots with red belts held on by dark silver buckles.

(A/N: Again sorry for how long the above part was but with these guys, and you might know them by now, it was sort needed. Now let's continue the story.)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

This group of nine Royal Knights, named (from top to bottom) Home Base, Trencher, Flame Flower, Blasting Cap, Big Round, Gold Wrench, Healing Ray, Sharp Eye, and Hidden Blade had once been mercenaries working for a rather large company in Equestria but things had happened and all the company's assets had been seized and shut down by order of Princess Celestia years ago, which had left these nine out of work. However the Princess had seen use for their skills and made them an offer: In exchange for ten thousand bits a month and protection for their families who were under threat of their former employer's agents, the nine would work for the crown working missions that would make use of their skills.

The nine had though it over and took her offer, Hidden Blade saying: "Princess, we shall gladly take your offer, as along as our families are kept safe from our former employer's agents until it is safe for them again we will work for you. With the ten thousand bits a month as a bonus, we might just take it as a permanent job."

So the Nine as they came to be known started their new career, their first mission being removing the threat to their families. Eventually after several years Celestia made another offer from them to become Royal Knights and all it included such as even better pay and other bonuses. The Nine had accepted and had never looked back, Blasting Cap and Gold Wrench had even found love; the former in a Winged Thestral Mare name Night Rose and the latter in Flame Flower (the two had never realized their love despite the others' efforts and, to the others' surprise, a former Griffin Squall. Blasting Cap had married his Mare and the two had twins; a Winged Thestral Colt who they named Dusk Storm and a Pegasus Filly named Rose Silver. The two had been surprised that one of their foals was a Pegasus but it didn't matter to them. Dusk had been born blind in his left eye like his father and grandfather before him.

Unfortunately for Cap and his foals, his wife and their mother had suffered a fatal illness that even though the doctor's, Healing Ray included, tried their hardest ultimately couldn't stop. Night Rose soon passed away in her hospital bed, her family with her until her last breath, Cap promising her he would take care of their foals, his team joining in on the promise with Round saying: "We'll raise them as team, help them grow strong and make mother proud."

Night Rose had given him and the others a toothy smile in response and said "I'll hold you all to that." before she close her eyes for the final time, a content smile on her face.

It had been hard for Cap and his foals but with the help of his teammates the three had made it though the rough times, the lost still hurt but they and mourned and moved on.

Gold Wrench in the meantime had married both Flame Flower and the Griffin who was named Glacier Winds and while Flame had yet to carry and bring a foal into the world (She didn't feel ready yet and her mates wouldn't force her), Glacier had somehow given birth to an Earth Pony filly how the three had named Sparky Gears, who had taken after her father in a lot of ways, including his talent with machines.

The Nine had come on this mission to the Sea of Legends and now found themselves in their current situation.

Trencher and Healing Ray started to argue before Round stomped a large hoof and drew them back to the task at hoof: Going after the Kirin Pirate. The Nine quickly refocused and moved deeper into the tower, going quickly but carefully as they had no idea where the Kirin could be.





Meanwhile, on the tower's upper floors.

Celestia and Luna landed on the stone floor cold and soaking wet, the latter scowling as she lit her horn and dried her coat of the water.

"It seems sister that we have underestimated what this Razor Tail is capable of."

Celestia finished drying herself and nodded in agreement.

"So it would seem Luna, those Golems and the storm were completely unexpected. Mind you, from what Wave told us, Pirate Lords have their title for a reason. We must not underestimate him again."

"Agreed, we had both forgotten just how versatile Kirin Rune Magic is."

"No Creature has fought with them in over a thousand years, not even Discord and Tirek fought with them."

That much was true, during the former's brief return and even during his reign Discord had left the Kirin alone, apparently because the Western and Eastern Kirin had developed a way to strip the Draconequus of his magic. Whether is was was true or not was unknown but either of the two Princesses wouldn't put it passed the Pony/Dragon hybrids. The latter had likely planned to attack the Kirin after draining Equestria but met an unfortunate end before he could finish the draining.

The two sisters looked down the dark halls of the ruined tower, the wind making an ominous sound as it blew through the wreckage. Celestia looked at Luna who looked back at her.

"Stay close Luna, we're in close quarters and Razor will have the advantage here. He could ambush us from any angle."

Luna nodded and the two slowly made their way into the tower, closely watching their surroundings.





In another part of the ground level around the same time as the above two events

The Pillars 

Starswirl was using his magic to wring out the water from his hat and cloak, of the few types of magic he'd been unable to study before being frozen in limbo, Kirin Rune Magic was one of them. Since he and the other Pillars had returned he had been trying to make amends with the four Kirin races for that insult and while there was a little progress it was still going to be a very long road. Starswirl let out a tired sigh putting his hat and cloak back on, even though he never got to study the rune magic in depth he did know a few things which until now he had forgotten about: One, just how versatile it was.

It was no secret that Kirin were, for the most part, unable to use magic thanks to the species of Dragon that their second half came from so they had to get creative. Only Eastern and Mountain Kirin could us magic but the range of the abilities was very, very limited; Eastern could only use levitation which any Unicorn could learn and use but the former were well known for being very creative with it while Mountain Kirin had that and some basic growing spells. The other two; Western and Valley Kirin didn't have magic at all, the former were the pioneers of Rune Magic and were the most skilled with it. Valley Kirin were a bit of an odd ball; they didn't use magic at all, but they made up of it in ways to render those who relay on it powerless and their other skills.

Even Starswirl, who was long ago racist towards Dragons, knew full well that Kirin were best either left alone or to have as an ally. The Griffins had learned that the hard way just once, and they were almost wiped out during that(4). Kirin, the Western race in particular, put the "pragmatic" in "combat pragmatist". Western Kirin lived in a land where almost everything, even the very air in some places, was absolutely bent on killing them so they had no choice but to be combat pragmatists. Now there were lines Western Kirin wouldn't cross and there were a number of laws regarding duels and such. Western Kirin were also very close-kit, to the point where they almost always referred to each other either by name or more commonly as brother or sister.

Mountain Kirin were a bit of black sheep as they tried to avoid combat if they could and generally settled things through song or other methods, they way of combat was pretty much unknown as their home was simply too far away from any nation and the area around their home was widely consisted both useless and not worth the effort to hold.

Eastern Kirin were also rather peaceful, but were masters of the shadows. In a war an enemy never saw an Eastern Kirin, because they had already hit their targets and vanished into the shadows before the enemy even knew what had happened. Eastern Kirin had a well earned reputation of being the world's best assassins and special operations units, even Celestia had use their services more than once. That reputation had lead to Eastern Kirin military units being call "an army of ghosts".

Valley Kirin, their home had only been invaded once, and no nation had ever tried since. Valley Kirin were, to quote Trencher: "Valley Kirin know a little more about Jungle, Marsh, and guerrilla warfare than you do pal because they invented the three, and than they perfected the three so that no creature could best them in the ring of honor." The place the Valley Kirin was covered in thousands of valleys and canyons, some reaching eighteen thousand feet deep and all with sheer cliff and the areas that weren't those were just covered in thick jungle and deep marsh. Not to mention the highly toxic plant life and the Valley Kirin's immunity to almost all poisons in the known world.

Starswirl shook his head and looked at his companions, they were fine if soaking wet and cold. Both Mage Meadowbrook and Somnambula had removed their attire to wring the water out, Flash Magnus was shaking water from his wings then took his helmet off only to get even more soaked than before as a bucket-full of water somehow fell out of his helmet a second after taking it off. Flash was normally a pretty chill Stallion but the level of frustration on his face spoke volumes. Mistmane was using her magic to remove the water from her outfit, mane and tail while Rockhoof didn't seem to mind at all. Stygian wasn't with them as he had other things going on back home, like taking care of his expecting wife and soon to be born foals. As they were doing all this Starswirl took stock of their surrounds.

They were in some kind of large, column-filled chamber with many overgrown tree roots and the room was filled to the brim with glowing bugs of some kind. On the wall opposite of them was a passage leading deeper into the tower. As he stared down the dark corridor the others came up beside him, uneasy looks on their faces. This reminded them too much of when they and the Mane Six fought the Pony of Shadows. None of them said anything for a long while, the silence was finally broken my Flash Magnus.

"We need to be careful, its only us now. I thought I saw the Princesses and the Nine enter the tower from different spots but I'm not sure."

"Flash is right, if they are here we need to met up and face this Kirin together. Everycreature else is in no condition to fight after the battle with those Golems." Mage said, her voice filled with worry.

They had finally destroyed the last of the Wreck Golems but only the Princesses, the Nine, and the Pillars were in any condition to face Razor Tail, everycreature else was either too wounded or too worn out by the fight. Thankfully there had been no deaths and the only serious injury had been Ember's wing which the Healers said only time and rest was needed to fully heal it after they did their work.

Starswirl nodded his head grimly, it was only the possible seventeen of them against one Western Kirin, who likely had many more tricks up his armored sleeves. They now knew that they couldn't underestimate what he could do.

"Let's move, stay close." He said, leading the rest of the Pillars into the dark passages.





Razor Tail

 Somewhere high above the seventeen Ponies

The clicking of Razor's claws echoed throughout the stone halls and rooms, mixing with the sounds of the storm that raged around the tower. At the moment he was walking through a rising pathway running along the inner walls of the tower, with a large opening in one of the wall showing the storm outside and letting the heavy rain and wind in.

Razor paused for a moment and looked out through the opening and into the twisting storm clouds, thinking about what was to come. He knew conflict was going to happen next time he met Celestia, so bringing back up might be a good idea. He signed, he had promised the youngsters that he would take them home safe and sound after this voyage but now... he was wondering if he would be able to keep that promise.

"I really put myself in a hard position, didn't I."

Maybe he should have brought at least a few of them along, that might have prevented this. But then again, it might not have. Razor reached into his coat with his left wing hand and pulled out the plastic-cased picture of his mother.

"Mom, I'm not sure what will happen now. I made that promise but now... now I'm uncertain if I'll be able to keep it. I have my doubts Celestia will be open to talking, especially after what happened down there, really messed up there didn't I. Whatever happens next, I hope I can make the right choices and keep that promise to the youngsters."

He put the picture back in his coat and continued on, he had just reached the highest he could in this area when the sound of voices reached his ears. Looking down he saw none other than Celestia and Luna far below entering the area. Now Razor knew that he could just slip away, find the crystal, and flee back to his ship before the princesses knew it but there was still the risk of the two seeing him and following. Razor knew he couldn't allow that, he cared more about those on his ship than any treasure. The Dragon of the Depths still hadn't cleared out yet so there was the risk of the Equestrian Fleet chasing them.

Razor knew he had to keep the Princesses focused on him.

Slowly he put his compass away and slid his halberd onto his back, and carefully pulled out his other back weapon; his G82 bolt-action rifle. Of all the weapons he carried, his G82 was his most powerful after his halberd. He preferred to save it for long-range shots and when facing armored enemies at range. After all, 11x60mm rounds were nothing to sniff at. The rifle itself was heavily customized and was actually his very first weapon; unlike the standard G82 used by the Outcast Gunners, Razor had actually found the rifle on Ironclad's Rest. How it got there was unknown but the moment he laid his eyes on the damaged rifle he knew it was his.

Razor had repaired and rebuild the rifle and it served him very well since, not once had it jammed or misfired and it always fired when he needed it to, saving his life more times than he could count.

In appearance the heavily customized G82 had the body in the shape of Zebra Jezail and was made of wood from a rare tree in the Western Kirin homeland and was reddish-purple in color that was considered beautiful but as many enemies had found out the hard way this wood was as strong as hardened steel. The rifle had its sights off-set to the left side and a hexagon-shaped barrel and muzzle with a tapering half-six sided triangle end. Running along the underside from the front of the trigger guard to where the front sling loop would be was a dragon that glows like fire, the tail forming the front half of the trigger guard. At the end on top of the barrel, where the end of the body and exposed barrel meet, was a metal plate with a tapering point towards the front with a large diamond-shaped ruby on top, under that was the rifle’s telescopic bipod with a folding grip behind it for better stability. Fitted under the barrel and in front/under the end of body was a retractable spring-loaded bayonet that was 23.5 inches in overall length with a 18.5 inch blade. Behind the grip on the first section of the body was a length of silver cloth with one edge colored red wrapping around the barrel twice with a round gold plate with the Dragon’s sail symbol on it and two red feathers sticking out downwards at a 45 degree angle towards the ground, then just behind the first barrel band with the dragon head under it was a hexagon-shaped plate with a ruby curved into the Dragon’s sail symbol with a claw-like spike under it with the claws of the dragon gripping the sides of the spike. The side of the wooden body had a plate on each side with the front ends tapering into a claw-like shape. Next is a length of green cloth wrapped around the barrel three times with two silver coins attached with tiny rings and a red feather on the underside sticking out towards the stock at a 45 degree angle, then a length of blue cloth wrapped three times around the barrel with the second barrel band after it. After this band was a short underside ridge with a short spike at the front with a folding grip behind it, in between the rear sight and bolt is a length of red cloth wrapped three times around the area.

The bolt was decorated with two diamond-shaped rubies and two tiny diamond-shaped sapphires on the side, and two dome-shaped emeralds (one on the tip of the bolt handle, the other on the washer), next to the blot on the left side were two slots for the scope. The trigger was shaped like a claw and made of jade with a trigger guard with the rear half in the form of a metal strip that was also claw-shaped and the tail of the glowing dragon forming the front half. The stock was curved starting thinner after the bolt and widening towards the butt plate, the stock has a length of purple cloth wrapped three times around the stock behind the trigger guard and a length of gold cloth with a red and silver stripe wrapped around the stock with two orange feathers sticking out towards the back on top with a small diamond-shaped ruby in between the feathers and a gold hexagon plate with a sapphire curved into the symbol of two crossed halberd with a dragon head over top on each side of the stock. There were nine tiny diamond-shaped emeralds on the rifle with three on the second barrel band (one on top and two on the sides), two under the bolt (one on each side), and four on the bolt receiver (three on the left behind the slots for the scope, which is set towards the front and one on the right behind the bolt handle when closed). The rifle had a detectable a hexagon-shaped scope when needed, for use at long range.

Razor carefully shouldered the rifle as he'd done many times, taking aim. Now, while he could easily take one of the two Ailcorns out right than and there, that wasn't his goal. He knew that taking out one of the sisters would only lead to a lot of trouble and his bullets, the real ones anyway, were reserved for those that deserved them, like the NTU. One he was ready he pulled the trigger, the distinctive "crack" filling his ears.

Razor had been aim to miss, so the shot didn't hit either Ailcorn. Still, the sight of both jumping six feet when the shot impacted a few feet above them was something Razor would remember for the rest of his life. By the time Celestia and Luna had turned around and saw him Razor had already put the rifle back in its place and was sprinting down the hall, hearing Luna's shout as the two took chase.

Just as Razor wanted.

One nice thing about having an extra pair of hands on his wings was he could keep running at full speed on all fours while his wing hands did other things, like setting up the explosive in their grip. Looking like a stick of dynamite with wood covering to resemble a long and tin barrel, this charge was known as a "Destabilizing Charge". A like side project of the Outcast head of research, Power Gears, this explosive had been designed to send powerful shockwaves similar to that of an earthquake into its target, like a wall. This charge had made getting into areas and covering escapes easier as enough in the right places could bring down an entire section of a city wall with fewer charges. Stopping only to place the Destabilizing Charge Razor took off down the hall, a few minutes later Celestia and Luna rushed past only for the former to hit the tripwire and set the explosive. Now both were unhurt by the blast as it when into the wall though a whole bunch of dust and smoke was thrown up, than the ceiling between them fell.

Celestia recovered quickly, coughing out the smoke and dust. Looking behind her she saw the collapsed passage and now sign of her sister

"LUNA!"

"I'm alright sister," her voice echoed through the hall, "But the blockage is too thick for me to get through and I don't want to risk bringing the rest of the passage down on us by moving anything. You go on ahead, I'll find another way."

"Alright Luna, be careful."

"You too sis."

Celestia turned and continued on alone, eventually reaching the top of the tower, or at least as high as she could go on hoof. At least five floors had collapsed long ago, leaving only the walls. The wreckage of those floors littered the one she was on, giving the place an ominous feel which was not helped by the storm that raged outside. Looking up she noticed that the storm appeared to be formed around the tower as she could see sunlight and clear sky above, indicating that the tower was in the eye of the storm. Celestia drew in a breath and shouted.

"Razor Tail! I know you're here! Show yourself!"

"Right here Celestia."

Said Alicorn spun to the right as the Kirin she was looking for launched from a window with a great beat of his wings and landed twenty feet away from her. He stood up to his full height and stared her right in the eye, sizing her up while Celestia did the same. After staring at each other for a few minutes Celestia spoke.

"I will admit you caught me off guard twice today, that wouldn't happen again. I was willing to do this peacefully but now to you leave me no choice."

"Like you did before! I offered a parlay and I would have honored it, I would have been happy to just talk! What did you think I was going to do?! You came at me with a bucking Army!!"

"Pirates didn't honor anything, they're just scum!"

"Some may be, But I'm still a Kirin! You know how we are about honor!"

"You were born a pirate so you have no concept of honor."

Razor's eyes narrowed to the point where the pupils almost disappeared as his lips pulled back to reveal his sharp teeth.

"One; I was not born a pirate! That town we burned to the ground was my hometown!"

Celestia was very surprised by that, but she didn't dwell as Razor continued.

"Two; You know nothing about me! When I came to the Sea of Legends at twelve years old slavery was king. Everyday countless creatures spend their lives in chains, under the iron hoof of the NTU and used for their masters' pleasures. When I slew the first Royal those that had been freed all looked at me with shock in their eyes."

Razor planted his hands and hooves into the stone floor.

"You say I have no honor, just because I'm a pirate. Compared to the ones that ruled before me, I'm a saint! That day so long ago, as I stood one the back of the slain Royal, the creatures around me looked on. Than one approached me, and he thanked me for freeing them. One by one they all thanked me, I looked back at them and saw a tiny ember of hope. Hope for a better future, a better future for their young! One where parents didn't have to die from disease, from famine and leave their young alone in a cold, heartless world."

Razor flared his wings out as he continued.

"For generations the creatures here suffered unbearable hardships! When I slew that Royal, they saw a new leader, one that would give them the future they could only dream of. All I asked for was time, and they gave me that time."

Celestia found herself taking a step back as Razor's voice gained strength as he when on.

"In the time they had given me, I had rebuilt our lives, I had rebuilt our homes, and I had rebuilt our pride! You see me as an honorless monster Celestia, if I was one than I wouldn't even reach the lowest point compared to the ones that lived here before."

"You poured molten gold on a Griffin!" Celestia shouted back.

"That Griffin was a slaver of the worse kind, I was originally going to just slash his throat and be done with it, until I found out just what he did! He would take his slaves and force them on each other, selling the offspring and repeating until they no longer could give more from the damage, once that happen he would have his way until he got tired and put them down. He only saw his slaves as animals. I saw the conditions they were kept in, not even pigs would live in that!"

Celestia stayed silent, a thousand and so years had allowed her to learn many things, including reading others rather easily. So even she knew Razor wasn't lying, which shocked her. Pirates were just scum, yet if he was been truthful... she did't even want to think about it.

"What about those youngsters you took then? What have you done with them!?"

"They're safe Celestia," Razor's voice was rather soft, much to Celestia's confusion. "I would never harm gems such as them."

"Gems... what?"

"Not all treasure is gold and jewels Celesita, you should know that. After all, you see Twilight Sparkle as your very own daughter, and despite the things you have put her through I know that you deeply love her."

"How do you know that!!?" Celestia demanded.

"I have eyes and ears everywhere Celestia, not much happens without me knowing. And don't try to find them Celesita, you'll never find them."

"We'll see about that, and back to the youngsters, how do I know you're not keep them for your own pleasures!?"

Celestia was suddenly blasted by an intense heat have as Razor went Nirik.

"What did you just say!!!" That wasn't a question, he voice sounding demonic. Razor snarled as he continued.

"No Kirin worth their tail would ever do that to anyone! You have the gall to think that I would! Just because I'm a pirate! I was brought into the world by that!! My father never married my mother and forced himself on her more than once, eventually I was born. My father hated me, saw me as a "Lesser Species" but my mother. She loved me, for five years she raised me as best she could while she had other foal. Her happiness was not to last however, my father locked me in a cupboard and cast her to the waves. I lost seven long years of my life in that 5-by-5 foot prison. I escaped when I was twelve, breaking free and returned many years later to claim my vengeance, burning the place to the ground leaving nothing but ash"

Celestia blinked, then her mouth fell open as her eyes widened.

"That Earth Pony Noble, he was your father??!"

Razor turned back to normal, glaring hard at her.

"Yes, but you'll never find proof. When he locked me away he made absolutely sure the world never knew of me."

"But he only had one son."

"That was my brother, the family I never met, the one our father left to die!"

Razor snarled again as he and Celestia began to circle each other, the latter's head reeling at what she had just been told.

"And I would never need them for my pleasures, I'm MARRIED, and happily so. She and I love each other very, very much and we give each other more than either of use would ever need."

Celestia was having trouble comprehending what Razor had said.

"You're married?! Who would..."

Razor chuckled.

"A soul as shattered as mine was, she had lost her sister and almost her entire Hive. Neither of us knew at the time, but when we found each other, our souls begin to heal."

"And about your pleasures?!"

A fond smile can over Razor's face.

"A Changeling's ability to share their energy with their mate allows us both to last a long time. By the time we are finally done we are more than satisfied."

Razor's face turned hard.

"But now I know that words alone will not change anything, that much you have made clear." Razor pointed his halberd at Celestia. "If you try to kill me Celestia, you have the right to take my life, but know that I will also take yours. And hope that those you leave behind will be prepared for what comes after."

Before Celestia could response Razor yelled "Come on!" and leaped into the air, halberd at the ready. Celestia jumped up swing her war hammer, only for Razor to spin to the right, dodging the weapon and delivering a kick to her face sending Celestia into the wall. She hit hard, her magic slipping from her weapons as it fell away from her, Celestia was than hit by the side of Razor's long tail which send her flying into a pile of rock, she tried to stand only to find a wing pinned under a heavy slab that was once part of one of the upper floors. Ailcorns were very strong but Celestia found she couldn't move the slab and her magic couldn't grab it either. Razor had landed and was moving towards her when he suddenly looked up and rolled to the right, just as Luna came down, the blade of her digging into the stone where Razor just was. While it had been a nice entrance, Luna found herself having a hard time removing the blade from the rock, forcing her to abandon it as Razor stood on his hind legs and charged.

Luna dodged as Razor brought the weapon's ax blade down, sparks flying upon impact. Luna that attacked, she may had been an Earth Pony before becoming an Alicorn but she had learned the lessons her father figure, Commander Hurricane Bolt himself, had taught her. Western Kirin and Alicorn engaged in a melee with Razor using his Halberd like a staff to block and attack, Luna using the marshal arts she had learned to do the same. The fight only last mere seconds as Razor used his weapon as leverage to boost his kick which stuck Luna in the chest and send her into the wall behind her, loosing rock slabs above her as they slid down. Razor ducked to avoid them, Luna took advantage of that and rushed forward to deliver a back leg kick to his chest and face. Razor was knocked backwards and fell into a hole in the floor, but as he fell he twisted around, both ends of his halberd hooking onto two ledges and allowing him to use his momentum to swing back upwards back hooves first. Luna looked over the edge only to receive a blow to the face that knocked her several feet back as Razor landed on his two back hooves and right hand.

Razor and Luna stood up eyeing each other up for a few moments, before Razor pulled out his sword and charged. Luna dodged each swing and landed blows where she could, but Razor counter with his own. This fight last for a full thirdly seconds before Razor got the upper hand and forced Luna to bend backwards but she was ready and used her back hooves to run and push off the wall and over Razor, grabbing his mane with her teeth and throwing him away. Razor was quick to recover and used his claws to slow down, sparks flying as his metal-encased claws dung into the stone. He got up on all fours and charged, but Luna was ready for him and used her right foreleg to clothesline the Kirin as he charged. Razor did a complete flip and landed on his front behind her, losing his grip on his sword as this happened. He quickly grabbed and pulled one of his pistols out of his belt and fired back as Luna charged. She felt the red trapping bullet brush the hairs on her neck as it flew past, swinging a back hoof around and kicking Razor's hand, knocking the pistol out of his grip and away from him. Razor retaliated by bringing his tail up and knocking Luna over him, he than followed it up by pouncing at her but Luna used both her back hooves and kicked him in the chest, sending Razor crashing into the floor ten feet away as he rolled head over tail.

Celestia during this whole fight had been pushing the slab off her wing, slowly making progress.

Razor got back to his feet when they heard an explosive below them followed by someone yelling a battlecry, Razor reacted first and rolled to the side as a certain Earth Pony Stallion landed where he just was moments ago, an entrenching shovel with a tan wooden handle fastened with green metal held in his right hoof, sparks flying as the metal shovel head hit the stone. Luna smiled seeing the newcomer. 

"Sergeant Trencher, nice of you to join us."

"Not just me either your highness."

Razor stood up, his sword appearing in his hand. But before he could attack a loud bang was heard and his sword flew out of his hand in a shower of sparks. Surprised Razor turned his head around, spotting Sharp Eye laying prone on a ledge two floors above them, in his hooves was a long ornately carved bolt-action rifle with a small circular sight attached to a long rod, secured with golden straps. It has a curved stock with a golden recoil pad and a laser sight attached under the barrel. The Stallion chuckled as he opened and pulled the bolt back, ejecting the spent casing and cycling the next round. Razor frowned, on one hand he was angry about being caught by surprise like that but one the other he was impress, it was rare for him to face-off against other Snipers, especially ones with the skill level of Sharp Eye.

"You," Razor turned his head to were the new voice sounded, seeing Big Round standing ready for a fight with Healing Ray right behind him. "Yes you, you are dead!" Round finished pounding his front hooves together. Razor looked around and found the others of The Nine were around him.

"Ten on one huh?"

"Eleven on one actually" Celestia said as she landed next to Luna, having finally gotten her wing free during the fight. The former glared at him.

"You caught me off guard before Razor but now you are outnumbered, this isn't a fight you can win."

Razor looked at her, than slowly smiled, causing those around to tense. They knew what happened the last time he smiled like that.

"Not if I don't play fair."

Before anyone could react Razor threw something at the floor, creating a massive pitch black smoke cloud that completely covered that level. Sharp took his eye off the scope, staring at the black smoke in surprise.

"Bugger!"(5)

In the smoke Razor quickly focused on Healing Ray, one would thing Celestia, Luna, or Big Round would be the main threats. While one would be right to think that, Healing Ray was the biggest threat in Razor's eyes as the Unicorn was will versed in healing spells and had a unique one called "Ubercharge". The Ubercharge spell had four effects that Ray could chose; Invulnerability, Critical hits, Accelerated Healing, and three types of resistances which were Melee, Magic, and Fire. Now Ray could only use one at a time, he had to "recharge" after using one, and the effects only lasted for a few seconds. Razor wasn't taking any chances and quickly attacked, Ray was caught off guard by the sudden attack and activated one with a yelp of surprise. A red sheen covered the Unicorn, show that it was the Invulnerability effect, Razor pulled back knowing he couldn't do any harm while the effect lasted but he did have a small victory by making Ray waste the charge.

The smoke didn't last, clearing seconds after it was thrown, only for the group to see no sign of Razor.

"Where'd he go?!" Home Base shouted.

"Spread out! He couldn't have gone far!" Trencher ordered as Hidden Blade helped Healing Ray up.

"I need to recharge, made me waste ze one I had."

They spread out, looking for the Kirin, who was actually below them. Razor had slipped down through a hole in the floor, and was currently hanging onto the ceiling thinking up a battleplan.

'Okay... I can't take all of them at once in the open like that, I'm outnumbered and outgunned. Alright, Sharp Eye is the largest threat as he has overwatch on the area, a sniper with his skill level only needs one shot. My armor will block his hits but my head is unarmored and I'm not willing to risk whether or not he's shooting to kill. Home Base is the fastest but can't take many hits, a few good ones should put him down for awhile. Trencher and Blasting Cap I need to engage in tight quarters, force them to use their melee weapons. Flame Flower wouldn't be too much of a threat, at least in regards to her fire magic but still has her melee weapons and unlike most Unicorns can take several good hits. Big Round is a huge threat thanks to his large size, strength, and the items of special food he has. Gold Wrench might be tricky as he has his heavy crossbow, take that out first. Healing Ray is also a huge threat thanks to both his healing spells and Ubercharge. Hidden blade relies on staying out of sight and hitting from behind, keep my ears open for his decloaking sound. Finally Celestia and Luna, the stone of the tower is keeping them from using their magic to their full power but they can still fight well so I will need to hit from other angles and use my flare grenades to blind them as I attack. If I do have to engage all of them at once, keep on my toes and light on my wings.'

Letting go of the ceiling Razor gently and silently landed on the floor below him and moved carefully, climbing back up while staying out of sight. Standing up with his back against a pillar he pulled out a pistol and a flare grenade, hooking the latter's pin he pulled it and tossed it. It clicked once on the stone floor causing everyone to look towards it, right before it burst in a blindingly bright light. Hearing the yells of pain Razor closed his eyes and followed his ears and nose to Sharp Eye. The Pegasus Stallion had just got his vision back as the light faded, only to see he had Razor right on him. He yelped in surprise as the Kirin attacked, three quick punches knocked Sharp back from his rifle with a following hind hoof kick knocked him from the platform, sending him to the floor two levels below. Half-way down Sharp hit Hidden Blade head-on, they both crashed to the floor, down and out for now as the others looked over. Home Base saw Razor first and charged, bat at the ready. Razor jumped to meet him, a light blue/white sphere appearing in his right hand. As Home Base reached him Razor twisted to the left as his halberd appeared in his right hand, Home Base only had time to say "Oh Crap!" before the side of the halberd's head slammed in the side, sending the Pegasus crashing to the floor as Razor landed and charged before the others could react.

Razor hit Trencher first, knocking him back as the two rolled across the floor. Trencher recovered quickly, glaring at Razor.

"You call that killing me? I am not-" He was cut-off as Razor used his teeth to grab Trencher by the tail and toss the Earth Pony into Healing Ray with a long bang, knocking the Unicorn out cold.

"Ow my head!"

Razor than jumped into the fray, swinging his halberd and tail around in a storm of blades and forcing his opponents back, their melee weapons meeting his in clashes of sparks. As the fight went on the group got several good hits on Razor but he didn't slow down, eventually knocking out Flame Flower and Blasting Cap. Big Round pulled back nursing a large bruise on his face and a black eye. He called for Ray only to remember that the Unicorn was out cold.

"Oh right... Oh Sandvich." He pulled out half of a sandwich made with two triangular slices of bread. Between the slices of bread are lettuce, tomatoes, Swiss cheese, and a few slices of both ham and bologna and topped with a green pimento-stuffed olive pinned to the Sandwich by a toothpick. Before he could take a bite however Razor knocked away Trencher and looked towards Big Round. Razor growled as fire spewed from his mouth and through his teeth before he charged, Big Round was to slow to react and took a charging Kirin head-on, knocking the big Stallion back and on top of Healing Ray who had just woken up rubbing his head. Razor caught the Sandvich in between his teeth and and swallowed it whole, his wounds healing very quickly. Trencher put it best.

"Oh no."

Razor than opened his mouth and released a blast of fire, most of the group dodged it but three weren't so lucky.

The Pillars meanwhile were running down the a hall following the sounds of battle only to stop as at the sight before them.

"Oh I'm burnin', I'm-I'm burnin'!"

"The burning, the burning!"

"I do believe I'm on fire. ..... Apologies. Ahem. Fire, fire, fire!"

Home Base ran pass the door with his tail on fire, followed by Trencher who was rolling, than finally Hidden Blade (who had recovered before being hit by the fire) walked by with his mane on fire, after he said Apologies and cleared his throat he ran pass the door again panicking this time.

The Pillars could only stare at the scene before running into the room, Razor was on the other side facing all of them though it was clear from the way he was leaning on his halberd that he couldn't keep this up much longer. Not that the others were fairing any better; each one was nursing injuries of their own with only Celestia and Luna not looking away worse for the wear. Razor saw the Pillars enter and growled, just before a loud beeping filled the room as a small rune on Razor's left gauntlet started blinking green. He looked at it and smiled, the Dragon was clear. He turned back to his opponents.

"Well its been fun but have what I came for," With a flick of his right wing wrist an orange crystal three inches long with one end pointed. "and my ship is clear of your fleet.

Luna snarled.

"You're not getting away that easily!!"

"Sorry Princess, maybe next time."

Before anyone could move Razor lifted his halberd up once again and slammed the bottom spike into the ground as the weapon glowed light blue and in a flash of light and fog a pillar formed around him. When it faded he was gone. Trencher once again voiced everyone's thoughts.

"Dang it!"

Celestia frowned.

"We'll meet him again, at least now we have an idea of what he can do." She looked at the floor in deep thought.

"But... what does he want with that crystal?"

Starswirl walked up next to her.

"I don't know, but whatever it is, it can't be good.

There were various agreements from those around them, Razor had escaped and they didn't know when they'd run into him again. They just knew that it wouldn't be easy, they had an idea now but they also knew Razor would bring back-up next time.





(1) As I had said before my keyboard refuses to type the words correctly, for those of you who are wondering, Fraulein is German for lady.

(2) If you know who the Nine are based off of I will say now that those jars are potions, not what they would otherwise be.

(3) I don't approve of smoking, but due to who this Stallion is I needed something else and candy canes fit the bill

(4) During the early years after the Hearts Warming the Ponies came under threat of the Griffin hordes which where lead by a Warlord who wanted to wipe the Ponies out completely, but that same Warlord make a grave mistake: He killed a Western Kirin hatching that had been visiting the attacked village, beating it to paste. The four Kirin races retaliated fast and hard, showing absolutely no mercy* and they did not stop until the Griffins fled beyond their reach but by that point only barely enough Griffins to maintain their species had survived. Since then the Kirin, and by extension Equestria, as mostly been left alone for the other major powers fear setting the Kirin on that sort of rampage again.

While the modern day Kirin have left that part pf their past behind, the fear is lingers.

*Kirin, the Western race especially, place great value on their young and killing one is considered an act of war. To the Kirin, killing one or any other young that live with them and they raised, means that the enemy will show no pity or remorse, so the Kirin will give none in return.

(5) Would that be racist towards Changelings?
> Interlude 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Open Sea

4 Hours after the Tower Clash

Dragon of the Depths

When Razor had returned via teleporting onto the ship's deck his crew immediately moved to check on him making sure he was okay, during which he told them what had happened. That had been four hours ago, now it was nighttime with a clear sky, at the moment Razor and Atlas were sitting on the balcony on the ship's stern, behind Razor's office, both not in their usual attire and instead just having blankets over their laps with Razor's being blue and Atlas' being green. Beside the hammock there was also a decent-sized table and two outdoor recliner chairs, both items nailed to the deck to keep them in place during storms and rough seas. Razor leaned his head back into the chair as he gazed out, tonight was just right; clear sky, full moon, clam waters, and him sitting with his lovely wife just relaxing with a large and tall mug of hot chocolate spiced with cinnamon topped with thick marshmallows and whipped cream with a wafer cookie inside the cream along with sides of salted soft and crunchy pretzels, cheddar cheese on seed crackers, potato chip cookies, mint candies, sea salt frozen yogurt, and a plate holding slices of Imperator's Grave's own infamous Cannon Orange to complete the set.

Razor always found it funny how whenever he and Atlas just sat down together they always had a little buffet, even if they were just having drinks. He did frown think that though, he knew why that was the case. After rotting away for seven years in that cupboard only barely getting enough food to survive, it had left him with deep scars and a fear of starving to death. It didn't help that he had been so badly malnourished when he did flee escape he could barely move.

Razor let out a pain-filled sigh as he looked into his hot chocolate, his comfort drink, as he thought back to that night eighteen years ago.





Flashback

Eighteen years ago

The night Razor escaped

Everything hurt, the pain in his stomach was the worst of all as it drowned out the rest. He was so weak he could even stand, his "father" hadn't even left any scraps for two days.

'I... can't move... is... is this... the... end?

NO!! I can't... can't... give up...

I... just... got... to...'

Slowly, ever so slowly he rose, his weak body aching in places he never knew he had, and threw himself against the door to his cell, his home for as long as he could remember. The door moved only slightly, he slummed against it, almost ready to give up hope.

'how... long... has... it... been...

it... doesn't matter... anymore...'

He flopped to the floor and leaned against the door, letting out a weak sigh as the life started to leave him.

'I'll... be... with.. you... soon... mommy...'

He shifted as he laid his head down and began to close his eyes for the final time.

'Don't give up, little one...'

...when the door sudden shifted again, the sound of wood lightly splitting filling his ears.

'You're almost there...'

'Wait... could... could it... be?'

'Don't give in... the Abyss wishes it

He raised his head with much effort, and saw a very thin line of moonlight through a small crack. His eyes widened as a small ember relit. He stood up and pressed against the opposite wall, then leaped at the door. It moved slightly and once again he hear the sound of wood splitting, and saw the moon-lit crack get bigger. Hope began to burn again in his heart, he leaned back and threw himself against it again, same result. The fire in him grew bigger and he body slammed the door again.

There was a thunderous Crack as the wood holding the lock and hinges broke free of the wall and the door fell to the dusty floor with a crash, with him on top of it. He lay there as the dust settled, looking toward the moon in awe after not seeing it for seven years.

It took a minute to sink in, but he lifted his head up as the realization came.

"I'm..." He coughed, both the dust and how raw his throat was. "...free?"

He was startled at hearing his voice, having stopped using it to save energy six years ago.

"I'm... I'm free..."

The fire in his heart grew bigger as he realized this wasn't a dream, but reality: He was truly free of his prison!

He almost started jumping for joy before his body reminded him he couldn't.

"I'M FREE!" It came out is a croaking laugh but he didn't care, his spirits were back up now. Now he could leave this behind, but first he needed to find food. Despite the pain he was in he eventually manged to fully stand up and walk away from what had almost been his grave. The building was surprisingly empty, not a soul other than him (he would later learn everyone was away from the mansion at the time) as he walked towards where one of the pantries was, stopping as he pasted a mirror and for the first time in seven years look at himself.

To put it bluntly, he looked absolutely horrible.

His body was pretty much a walking skeleton with skin over the bones, his coat which had once been a shining silver was now a color that would put grey to shame, his eyes were so sunken it couldn't be put to words, his mane on his head and top of his tail which were once a rich red and striped with beautiful shining gold were discolored so badly he couldn't even name the color now and were twisted into something that would make the term "rat's nest" sound generous, and his teeth, claws, and tail blades were so dull he doubted they could even cut hot butter.

And that was only what he could see!

He pulled away from the mirror, not wanting to look anymore, and moved on. He soon found what he was looking for, it appeared this area of the building had been abandoned recently since it was in a state of disrepair though the canned food he found was still fine. He slowly and shakily picked up a can of refired beans, relieved to see a pull tab and he carefully hooked the ring with a fang. While his teeth were dull they were still held strong in his mouth and with a pull the can opened with a hiss of air. He pulled the tin lid off and took it in his hands, and slowly licked the mashed bean matter off. 

It was the most delicious thing he had ever had at the time.

He spend the next while slowly eating, the pains in his belly leaving as he carefully filled it, until he was fully for the first time in seven years.

Later

With his strength coming back slowly he left the mansion, know that if he was caught again death would be a blessing. So he packed what he could and headed to the one area were his mother had told him to go before she was taken and he was locked up. It didn't take long to find what he was looking for and found a pair of magically preserved saddlebags holding several items which after doing a quick look through he put on and took to the air, surprised by how fast his body was recovering.

'Come here... little one... to me... the Abyss awaits it's champion...'

Later still

He was over open sea now, the land far away as he beat his wings hard against the air as he flew. He didn't know were he was going, but he didn't care, as long as he was away from that place.

Unfortunately, he was still fairly weak and he was running out of energy. His wings became heavier as time passed, until finally... he passed out and dropped into the cold sea, sinking into the Abyss.

But before he completely loss consciousness, he as a very thin jellyfish-like creature and three tentacles as big as a watch tower with many glowing spots running their length coming towards him as his vision went dark.

'Do not fear... little one... for your new life... has only just began...'





Present Day

Razor took a sip of his drink, a sigh of per bliss coming not his nose as he felt the warm liquid run down his throat. He would remember that day for as long as he lived, at the time he believed he was going to be fish food. Yet image his surprise when he woke up, his body healed of its sickness completely. He remembered looking around to find himself on an wet and rocky island filled to the absolute seems with shipwrecks and surrounded by a massive Supercell with the eye over the island.

Razor smiled fondly, after doing some exploring the place for and hour he had heard crying, so he followed it... and found his soulmate.

He turned to look at said creature, Atlas had her eyes closed and a content smile on her face as she embraced with gentle wind blowing through the air around them, her long purple mane, worn loose instead of the normal braid, looked like a curtain of silk. He reached over and lovingly squeezed her hoof, she opened her eyes and looked back, squeezing his hand back. Razor loved Atlas with all his heart and soul, which she returned in full force. Both their souls had been shattered beyond repair, yet when they first embraced that early morning on Ironclad's Rest, they started healing.

Now they were happily married and had a great son that they loved as much as they did for each other if not more, and While Razor was unsure of what the future would bring, he knew that with them and the others standing with him that he would take it all with a smile.

Atlas reached over and gently brushed a tear from his face, a bit of his long red and gold mane flowing her hoof as she did so. Atlas loved seeing Razor with his mane down, to her it made him look free and wild. He only ever had his hair down like this around those he had absolute trust for, and even on this ship; crewed by his most trusted and loyal Outcasts, only a few and ever seen him like this.

"You okay sweetly?" She asked gently.

"I will be my love. Just remembering the past." Atlas leaned up til she was sitting straight.

"You know you can let it go now Razor, that filth is dead. You were there when Snow pulled the trigger."

"I know Atly. It's just... I don't think I can fully moved pasted it until I put my mom to rest properly." He sighed, "If only she could see me now, the last we saw of each other was being dragged away from each other kicking and screaming."

Atlas reached over and put a hoof on his shoulder.

"I've wanted to ask honey but... why didn't you put him down? You were one of the ones to suffer the worst at his hooves."

"Key word there is one of the ones, he hurt Snow just as bad and she asked if she could be the one to put him down. So I gave her the go-ahead to do so before we attacked."

"There's more to it isn't there." That wasn't a question as she looked at him with a raised eyebrow, Razor chuckled.

"There was one more thing; after so long I had just decided that he was now worth my effort to kill, in a way I got my revenge as we chased him back to where it all started. Seeing that place burn gave me more joy then putting a bullet through his skull would have. That and I wasn't about to have him try to say he was "proud of me" for coming to that, I saw it in his eyes: He wanted to say it, not would have if he wasn't muzzled."

Atlas had smiled at Razor's mention of the mansion burning; while it was consumed by the flames Razor had actually pulled out bags of hot dogs, chocolate, marshmallows, gram crackers, and campfire sticks before handing them out and telling his crew to enjoy a feast of hot dogs and s'mores as the building burned.

A final insult to his former prison, the feeling of a long overdue victory had been sweet, and so had the feast.

"So you let Snow finish the job? Give a final insult to him by making him believe you now saw him as below you as he once did?"

"Aye... show him in his final moments that he was no longer worth anything to me."

The two fell into a comfortable silence as they leaned back into their chairs and enjoyed their snacks and company. Razor couldn't help but wonder what to do about the Equestrian Fleet though, while they had lost them for now it was only a matter of time before they crossed paths again.

'Guess I'll just have to take it as it comes. At least the ones on board took the news well enough, I did give my word that I would take them home after this voyage but... will I be able to keep that word? Maybe I should pay a good friend of mine a visit tomorrow.'





What no one on the Dragon knew that down below, deep in the abyss, a massive shaped moved and slowly moved towards the ship, reaching out with a tentacle. But instead of attacking, it merely rubbed against the hull, gently enough to not leave a mark or make noise, much like a mother would rub her baby's head.

A gigantic head slowly moved into the light, revealing gem-like scales of various colors and six massive eyes with slit pupils colored a light shade of blue. The creature stay low, only showing a bit of the head as it retracted it's tentacle. The around it many smaller creatures, possibly babies of the big one, swam around making curious chirping noise. A low female voice, sounding almost like a whale call, yet as gentle as silk, sounded in their newborn minds.

"Yes... my little ones... that is... his ship... we can't stay long... but he was... the one... I saved... all those years ago... you will be able... to play... with him... someday... he and his companions... have done much... for our home..."

With that the creature pulled back, disappearing into the darkness of the abyss, the babies following close behind.
> Interlude 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Open Sea

5 Hours after the Tower Clash

Equestrian Fleet

Juggernaut Alicorn of Freedom

Wave Surfer gazed out over the calm and clear water, thinking about what had happened. The message had been a surprise but despite him saying that Razor would have kept his word almost none of the others believed it and geared up for a fight, and got their tails handed to them, hard. Wave had heard of the "Wreck Golems" of the Outcasts, but had never seen them with his own eyes.

From the tales he had heard however, those Golems were highly feared by enemies of the Outcasts. Tales of armies swept aside like they were nothing as any damage to the Wreck Golems rapidly repaired. From what Wave knew the Outcasts didn't start using them until at least fourteen years ago, give or take, a year or so after the Rise of the Outcasts War. He'd only heard of them being deployed a few times but each was a game changer that won the Outcasts major victories, enough to make a serious impact on the balance of power in the Sea of Legends, and maybe beyond.

Wave signed as the sound of hoof steps came up to him.

"You okay Wave?"

Looking over he found himself looking at Blade Wind, the Earth Pony Mare who was Captain of the Guard. Over the time since Wave had come aboard and they had booped each other's snouts, the two had grown quite close. They weren't at the dating stage yet but the way things were going those watching from afar thought it was only a matter of time.

"Yeah, just thinking."

Blade stood next to him and looked out across the water.

"About what?"

"About what happened a few hours ago. While I'm glad no one was lost, and the worst injury was Dragon Lord Ember's wing, I can't help but feel that meeting Razor with an army was the wrong move."

"How so Wave? And be straight with me, no hiding anything."

Wave looked at her.

"Blade, Razor Tail is one of the most dangerous pirates to sail the Sea of Legends. He's survived so much from storms to Pirate Hunters and now he leads a faction that no one outside of it knows how big. The saying is that Razor has the drive, the ambition, and the resources to unite the various pirate gangs, smuggler rings, privateer fleets, Merchant armadas, and other sailors of any kind that live here under his banner. Well... who said he hasn't already?"

Blade blinked in surprise.

"Are you saying he's already done that?!" Wave shrugged.

"It's possible, I mean... it has been fifteen years since he first showed up and the ROFO War. That's plenty of time to do many things."

Blade looked away for a minute, thinking over this new information, then looked at Wave again.

"Wave, if Razor has done just that, why hasn't he made any moves? If the Outcasts are a hidden World Power they could effectively control not just the Sea of Legends but possibly others as well."

"From what I know, which isn't much I'm afraid, Razor fears that the Outcasts will be facing the entire world once they reveal themselves, so he wants to be prepared for a possible war."

"Well, the only ones that would be a threat, at least in terms of Naval power, would be Equestria and the Caribou, the latter of which is losing that power."

Wave nodded.

"Yes, but Razor isn't taking any chances. After all, with a bounty that high on his, if you want peace..."

"...Prepare for war." Blade finished, that made sense. Her father has always told her that it was better to be prepared for a possible threat, and never actually face it, then to face a possible threat and not be ready for it. After that the two said nothing as Blade put a foreleg around Wave and pulled him against her, not that he minded as he pressed his body into her as much as he could, even giving her cheek a small nuzzle, as they stared out over the sea.



At the same time

Celestia stared at the document in her magic, unsure of what to make of it. During their talk Razor had calmed that he had been the firstborn son of that Earth Pony Noble, had calmed that never find proof as when he locked the Kirin away he made absolutely sure the world never knew of the Newt. But one document had survived, the one in her magic. It was quite old, worn, and a bit moldy with most of it not really being readable, but there was enough for Celestia to see that Razor had been telling the truth. That he had been that Noble's son.

Celestia honestly wasn't sure what to think, she had long known of the things that Noble had done, both to Ponies and other Creatures, but she had never been able to get what she would have needed to end it as for one he never stayed in Canterlot for more than a day at the longest and he had been very good at covering his tracks, not to mention his wealth and connections. But clearly his luck ran out that night, when the Outcast finally caught him.

As much as Celestia didn't want to admit it, Razor had done her a favor in killing that Noble as without him the things he had set up would eventually collapse into nothingness.

Celestia set the document down, deep in though. She had made the mistake of underestimating the Western Kirin Pirate Lord, and had payed for it. Thankfully there were no lost of live though plenty were injured with Ember's being the worst with a broken and dislocated wing. Those Wreck Golems had been a huge shock, while it was true that Golems were not a new thing, ones that big were once thought impossible.

Razor had just proven that it was in fact possible.

She let out a sign as she rubbed her snout, it was clear to her that Razor Tail was a greater threat than she first thought, Celestia had believed that he was just like any ordinary pirate but the use of such magic and the skill during the tower fight had all but shattered that belief. Razor was clearly skilled in Kirin Rune Magic, and likely still had many tricks up those gauntlets of his. Plus, she had yet to see his ship. Wave had said that it was massive, but he had very little knowledge on that front. Still, it was only one ship, the Equestrian Fleet was two-hundred and fifty strong plus the powerful Juggernaut. No ordinary Pirate ship could hope to stand against that power.

Celestia knew however that they would need to engage him more cautiously next time, and she doubted he'd be alone.



Later

Once everycreature had gathered in the Captain's Cabin again, they asked Wave what he knew of the Kirin pirate Lord.

"Well not much besides what I've already told you... Archduke Razor Tail is said to one of the most powerful Pirate Lords to sail the Sea of Legends, since he first appeared founded the Outcasts he's been slowly yet steady building up the faction. As far as I know Razor has a full approval rating and his creatures are as loyal to him as one could get, thanks to freeing them from the likes of the Caribou and Northern Trade Union."

"But... why doesn't he have Bounty and Pirate Hunters after him all the time?" Celestia asked, "He has the largest bounty I've ever seen."

"There are a few reasons for that: One; Razor has killed every single one that has tried to get that bounty, after which he sends out boxes holding the heads of those hunters back to their employers with the words "Some bounties aren't worth taking.". He's done it enough times that most hunters flat out refuse to take it. Two; His creatures, if Razor is killed than the one who did it will spend the rest of their days being hunted by Razor's Outcasts, who will not stop until they have avenged him. And three; His Head Officers, if Razor was killed they would have to be too, and trust me that would not be easy. Each one is a Pirate Lord in their own right and have tricks of their own."

There was a long pause as the gathered Creatures went over what Wave had said, not really sure on what to say. Finally Celestia sighed.

"Thank you for the information Wave, we have a number of things to go over but we don't need you here for that. You may leave now."

Wave nodded and stood up, Blade escorting him to the door where he stopped. Wave turned to Celesita.

"Princess, Do you really want to bring Razor down? I know and understand your motives, but he isn't like those you faced in the past. He's not a giggling psychopath like Discord was, a snarling, rage-fueled force of mindless hatred like Sombra, willing to gloat over his victories like Chrysalis, nor a megalomaniac like Nightmare Moon was. He's smart, calm, and patient. He's always thinking, always making plans and has plenty under his hat. He's adaptable, and as I said before, nothing like those you have faced. Sombra was a thug who relied on brute force, Chrysalis was a showoff who threw away her best advantages just so she could strut and preen. Discord was clever, but he was so busy being clever he outsmarted himself. Unlike Chrysalis Razor's Outcasts are very loyal, well trained and disciplined, and do not fear death, what they fear is things going back to the ways before the Outcasts rose up, that they'll end up back in chains. To quote an Outcast saying: "My death marks the beginning of a life in fairer lands." They firmly believe it is better to die standing then live in chains.

His Outcasts are loyal to him because he cares about them, he makes sure they lay on their beds with a full stomach. Razor is a father to his Outcasts, they're his Clan. A good number of them are even former members of the NTU, the Outcats' main enemy.

Others say they're draft, the Outcasts laugh and agree with a smile. Razor could have easily killed you and your sister on Tower Island, and yet he didn't. Because he doesn't want to, but even he has his limits. If you push him too far, he will get serious."

With that Wave left the room, his words hanging in the air.




Unknown Area

It was a cloudy but otherwise calm day as Razor flew through the air, his massive wings flapping once in a while to keep him airborne as he soared over the rocky waters as the waves crash against the spires below, he was here on a mission, and to visit an old friend. It wasn't long before a small island came into view, a descent-sized port was located on the north side but Razor's goal was the tall, purple and gold Library/Observatory-like building that sat atop a cluster of rock spires overlooking the island.

It didn't take long for him to reach a balcony and with a great flap of his wings he landed hind legs first. Once he had fully landed Razor folded his wings and entered the building, walking through the corridors until he reached the top dome. The room was circular in shape with a diameter of fifty feet, most of the walls were lined with full bookshelves with only a few sections holding something else. The room had a height of six stories with a set of spiral stairs leading up to a platform on the sixth story under the Observatory's telescope. On the main floor of the room was a desk, a center table with two chairs, and numerous other small tables with pictures and other odds and ends one would find in a place like this. There was also a large wall-mounted fish tank hold rare fish and a large fireplace where a fire currently burned.

Razor paused after entering and closing the door behind him, looking at the fifteen-by ten foot framed panting on the wall to the left of the door, sighing heavily. It was a panting of him, Silver Tail, Iron Horn, and Blood Flag.

"Those were the days, huh old friend."

Turning to the right Razor saw who he had come to visit, siting on a yoga mat was a Unicorn Stallion as tall as Luna when standing with an Emerald green coat, a neatly combed red mane and tail, and a crimson left eye and orange right eye. The most eye catching thing was the metal horn brace on his head, over his own horn. His Cutie Mark was two crossed red wands. This Stallion was Iron Horn, a Pirate Lord/Wizard and an old friend of Razor.

At the moment he was bent at an unusual angle.

"Hello Iron Horn, what are you doing?" Razor asked, eyeing the Unicorn with raised eyebrows.

"Hello Razor Tail, I'm doing some yoga. Care to join?"

"No thanks Iron, I'm actually for both businesses and personal."

"Oh right, that spell you asked me to look at. Just give me... a... second."

Iron did a few final stretches and stood up, walking over to a room divider and stepping behind it, pulling the various items of clothing that were hanging over it down.

"Umm... Iron? You know that Ponies don't normally wear clothing, so why are you using a room divider?"

Iron's head poked out from behind.

"I find that watching another get dressed is more of a married couple sort of thing."

"Okay, fair point."

Once he was done Iron Horn stepped out wearing a purple, gold-trimmed hat with the brim angled up to a right and a cluster of ten gold Phoenix feathers, a black and gold scarf, a Black skill shirt, a Purple and gold coat, a red baldric with gold buckle, purple gloves, red sash under a black belt with a gem buckle, purple, gold-trimmed pants, and black boots. His weapon was a telescopic staff tipped with a large amethyst gem.

Iron lead Razor over to the desk which was covered in several magic tomes, books, and scrolls, he picked up one of the latter.

"Right here Razor, it took me a bit of time to find it but it has what you need."

"Thanks Iron," Razor took the scroll, opening it and reading for a few moments before nodding and putting it in his chest-like saddle bags. Iron continuing as he did.

"If I'm being honest Razor, I was surprised at the request."

"I would be too, this spell isn't a common one but it will allow me to swell the ranks on a battlefield, as least for a short time."

Iron nodded and led Razor over to the table in the center of the room, both siting down on opposite ends.

"Would you like some wine Razor?" Iron asked, gesturing to the bottle. Razor picked it up and read the label, smiling as he did so.

"Vintage Champagne, nice pick." Razor set the bottle down and grabbed a glass.

"Yep, just looted it from a Prench Treasure fleet." Iron said with a proud smile. The two poured their drinks and sat in silence for a short bit, drinking. Razor in honestly wasn't much of a wine drinker, preferring rum though his wife Atlas loved wine, especially the nicely aged fine stuff. After a few minutes Iron was the first to break the silence. 

"So what have you been up to Razor? How are the wife and kid?"

"Atlas is doing well, and Silver turned eleven not too long ago. As for what I've been up to..."

He told Iron of the various things that had happened lately, from the cruise ship to the new crew members to the Tower battle and everything in between. Iron let out a whistle when Razor was finished. 

"Wow you've been busy Razor, Celestia herself is after you? That has to be a new record."

"Seems that way, I did try to parlay with her but sadly that only works when the other is willing to listen."

"Ain't that the truth."

The two chatted for a bit but Razor soon had to take wing to return to his ship, though not before Iron gave him a hug and a bottle of wine for Atlas as a gift and asking Razor to "give Silver a good tickle from his Uncle." Razor agreed he would and left as Iron went to his books.
> Chapter 21: Galleon Cove
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dragon of the Depths

One Month into the Voyage

Thunderlane was walking along the Main deck after having breakfast and noticed a large gathering of the crew, curious he walked up to and tapped one of them, a Mountain Kirin, on the shoulder with a wing.

"What's going on?" He asked after the Kirin turned to him.

"The Captain got a message from Power Gears, Head of the Outcasts' Research and Development Division, this morning. Apparently the Unicorn has a new weapon he wants us to field test."

Thunderlane raised his eyebrows but before he could ask further a loud shout rang out from the fixed speaking trumpets on the Main Mast that the Pegasus Stallion in the Crow's Nest used to alert the crew to any sightings.

"Airship off the port bow!"

Turning Thunderlane noticed something coming out of the clouds some distance away; it looked like a Schooner with its masts and sail removed and replaced with a large oval-shaped bag or balloon with metal bracing reinforcement, likely filled with an unnamed lighter-then-air gas to keep it aloft. The bags were attached to the hull by chains and heavy rope, the shroud that would hold a ship's masts in place allowed travel up to the bags. The underside had been flattened to fit what would be the ship's artillery in an enclosed turret center-forward on the flat area. Thunderlane watched as a flare when up from one of the "Signal Nests" on top of one of the masts and the Airship responded by firing their own out of the bottom a few seconds after. Soon the Airship had lowered itself to be level with the Dragon's Main Deck and ropes with pulleys were secured in between the two ships to allow the Airship's occupants to cross over on small platforms.

Razor warmly greeted a Unicorn Stallion a little smaller than Big Mac by about an inch or two with a pitch black coat, silver mane and tail with a style best described as "Tongue-in-electrical-socket", yellow eyes, and a Cutie Mark of a silver cog on a blue-white explosion with two brass pipes in an X-shape behind it form the patch on his flanks. The Stallion wore a pair of silver leather goggles with large red buckles and large blue lenses and what looked to be two long chin straps that hung to half-way down his neck, waving about as he moved, a second strap tied around the back of his head and what looked like a pressure gauge on the left side and a gold cog on the right just in front of his ears. Around his neck was a red and gold scarf with bronze edging and bronze cogs and gears of various sizes wrapped around four times with the ends tucked into a silver vest with gold boarders, center area, four metal disk on each side, and three gears of various sizes in between the belt and his Cutie Marks. On each side of the collar of the vest was a set of six blue gems in the pattern of water splashing.

On his left foreleg was a bronze and silver gauntlet with a small gear in the center, a small grey tube attached to the left side on both ends and a large glowing blue dome that was emitting a thin blue lightning bolt, which connected to what looked like a small and completely mechanical gold and black Dragon.

On his right foreleg was a silver "hoofless" glove* with a large bronze metal ring around the wrist and a large cog of the same color attached to it, and the glove reached up to his elbows where it folded into a large cuff which had the same blue gem pattern as the vest collar.

Around his waist was a sash like his scarf with a brown saddlebag decorated with silver gears and cogs of various sizes on the right held on with a black leather belt and on the left was a cutlass with a black handle and silver blade. Several cap and ball revolvers with clean and well-designed walnut bodies, with polished brass hardware and steel barrel and firing mechanisms where stuffed through small loops in the belt. A pair of silver pants and back boots completed the look.

Razor pulled the Stallion into a bro-hug which the Unicorn returned whole-heartily.

"So Gears," Razor asked as he pulled away, "What is this "new weapon" you mentioned in your letter?"

"Well Razor, before I get to that.." He turned to Gold Fire, "We tested your idea for the G82, and I'm sorry to say that while it works the black powder fouls the gas tube after only two magazines at best."

Gold Fire nodded. "I know, my brother and I did more thorough testing and got the same result." He looked a little disheartened but Gears walked over to him and patted his shoulder.

"Hey, don't let it get you down Gold. I've had my fair share of failures so I know what it feels like. Besides, your idea did give me some ideas of my own to try out."

The Longma gave him a small smile as Gears nodded back with a smile of his own and walked back or to Razor.

"So Razor, to answer your question: I've been looking at the cannons the Outcasts use on the battlefield and while they are effective I what to see if there was a way to make them lighter, easier to transport and effective with a smaller crew... and I think I found it."

He gave a wave of his hoof towards the crew of his Airship and they carried several medium-sized crates over, two of which Power Gears opened and began to use the items within to build something new to them all: The base was a tripod with a small wheel on one of the legs and flip-up and down handles on the other two which caused quite a few of the crew to compare it to a wheelbarrow, with a rotating section that curved upwards on one side with a wheel sitting sideways on top and a second larger wheel on the left side (both of which had a knob on them) of the curved section which held a 3.404 m or 11 ft 2 in tube attached to it on top, the caddie the tube was in having a handle on it as well. The tube itself had one end flared to resemble the dome under the neck of a bottle and indeed the tube actually bore a close resemblance to a bottle with a greatly extended neck and most of the body cut off. The flared end had a small handle on the right side while the left had a handle that went straight up before curving horizontally towards the front with a ball on the end with a half-circle at the base, on the back was a horizontal bar that reached both sides with a round peg in the center and four large holes cut into the back plate that seemed to reach the firing chamber.

On the top of the tube were three braces with the most forward one being smaller, these rings were holding what looked like a Gardner gun with a long barrel that had been shrunk down to smaller that the tube it was on was bigger and attached to the left side of the middle brace was what looked like a spyglass that had been bent into an "L" shape with the shorter end sticking outwards at an angle. Razor waited until it was set up, which was done surprisingly quick, before turning to Gears.

"Okay Power Gears, what is this?" Razor asked gesturing to the item in question.

"This Razor is what I call a "Recoilless Cannon"."

At Razor's and the rest of the crews' raised eyebrows Gears elaborated;

"Well as I said before; while the cannons we used in land battles are effective they're heavy, take some time to reload, and take several to man them, which leads us to the Recoilless Cannon. So the fundamental idea behind this weapon is that you give up the idea of having an actual sealed chamber, and instead you perforate the cartridge."

One of the Minotaurs that came with Power Gears walked up and set down a crate which Gears opened and pulled out the apparent projectile for the weapon, which he then reassured them that it was a dud, remembering a past incident that resulted in Razor being very angry with him, though thankfully no one was hurt other than both Razor and Gears being covered in black soot.

"As you can see, the casing here is covered in many small holes," Gear continued explaining, running a hoof over the holes as he did so. "So you accept that when you fire, half of that energy is going to go to pushing the projectile out of the front and the other half is going to go to just venting out the back through those four holes. It's not exactly 50/50, but you get the idea."

Those around him were giving various reactions with most being confusion, noticing that Gears went on.

"The reason you do this is you can save a lot of tremendous amount of weight by not trying to contain all of the pressure and force it all to push the projectile out the barrel. You get eight pounds of powder, which is what this uses, you can throw this 22-pound projectile downrange at about 500 meters or 1650 feet per second, fast enough to be thoroughly effective in most roles with the right kind of warhead, most of which we'll still working on. And then you can mount the whole thing in a smaller package that weighs less than five hundred pounds like this instead of a much larger one like a 68-pounder or 110-pounder cannon. The Recoilless Cannon is smaller than either of these and is able to be moved around much more easily than those two, plus only needing three or four crew to operate."

Seeing that his audience was starting to get what he was saying Gears moved to the back and angled it so all of them could see it.

"So the way it actually works is very simple: This is basically a breech-loading single-shot cannon. The first thing I'll point out are these four holes in the back, these are where the gas, flame, and smoke is going to vent when the weapon is fired."

He reached out with his blue magic and gripped the handle.

"To open it, you just push this handle here down," He did and turned it towards the barrel, causing the back section to also turn and swing open. "Like so." Power Gears began showing off the back including the case extractor and the four sets of locking threads.

"And you place the projectile in and close it, Now something I should mention is that the projectile has rifling pre-engraved on it so when loading you have to twist it just a bit for it to make sure it lines up properly with the rifling in the barrel, lock it closed and it's ready to fire. Now this next part is very important:  As obvious as it might be, do not stand behind this weapon when it fires as it releases a massive back-blast of fire and anything caught in that blast will be fried to a crisp. It's also for that reason we can't use these on ships."

Sounds of agreement came up as Razor looked at the Gardner gun with some interest.

"And this here?" He asked gesturing to it.

"Well Razor, this was an idea I had; because once one of these fires everyone even remotely nearby will know it fired and will see just where it fired. So it's important to get the first shot on target, that's what this Gardner gun is for: It's loaded with special rounds that glow brightly even in the day, the Gunner fires this gun at the target-"

"-using the glowing rounds to get the first shot on target, allowing them to adjust so they can hit it the first time." Razor finished.

"Exactly Razor. Now the controls here are pretty simple: The Gunner sits on the left side using the spyglass to aim and using the wheels to traverse the weapon. The one horizontal one here turns the barrel left and right and pulling the knob here allows it to swing freely." Gears went through these steps as he explained them, making sure his audience was following and understanding everything. "The larger wheel on the side here is your elevation wheel, used to raise the barrel up and down, and this knob here is how you fire the Recoilless Cannon, just push it in and the cannon fires. And the is pretty much like a wheelbarrow, and finally this little lever under the barrel allows you to detach it from the base for easy storage or transport."

Razor looked over the Recoilless Cannon, actually impressed by what Gears had told them so far. Now for the field test, and he knew the prefect spot. He turned to gears.

"How many to you have with you?"

Gears though for a moment before answering. "We have five with us, and I'm willing to lend the testing crews as they are experienced with the weapon and should be able to help with the results."

"That sounds good Gears, and I know just the place."



Later that day

After bring the five Recoilless Cannons onboard the Dragon and seeing Power Gears and his crew off Razor set a course for a large island known as "Galleon Cove". Galleon Cove was a large island with several tall pillars of rock as tall as a Ship-of-the-line from keel to mast tips, named for the massive number of Galleon wrecks that littered both the island and the sea around it so the Dragon's crew had to be careful less they got caught on any of the underwater ones. Galleon Cove was also one of the places to boarder an area of the Sea of Legends known as the "Lost Wilds". The Lost Wilds was a creepy place, a harsh and miserable environment with green-yellowish seas and constantly overcast clouds, giving it a dark and gloomy atmosphere. The Islands here were considered haunted, containing the remains of many deceased sailors who tried to brave the region. The flora of the islands was largely wilted with most notable landmarks being the skeletons of beached sea monsters. Not many really came to this region and those that did often times only stayed for a short time.

As the Dragon slowly moved through the waves Thunderlane stood on the Main Deck with his front-half resting on the railing, staring off into the distance and feeling rather creeped out by the feel of the area. The magic here seemed... unstable? He couldn't really put it into words but it felt like something horrible had happened here once long ago, the strange feeling he was getting reminded him of the Merpony bodies on Blackcap Peaks, for it was similar yet it felt much more ancient.

"Aye, creepy place isn't it lad?"

Thunderlane turned around to see Zenith walking up,  stopping next to him and looking out over the water. "No one knows what happened here, as far as anyone knows the Lost Wilds have always been like this. Perhaps the only ones who know are the Skeleton Lords." She chuckled as she turned to look at Thunderlane. "And they're not really a very talkative bunch."

Despite the feeling of dread Thunderlane couldn't help but chuckle as well.

"Yeah I can understand why, though what can you tell me about them?"

"Well Thunder," Zenith began. "Most Skeletons Lords, though not all, were once individuals with incredible magic powers and/or artifacts. I not sure just how it works but they somehow retain that power when they die, turning into a special Skeleton that keeps not just their powers, but everything they had in life. For this reason Skeleton Lords are considered the most dangerous of the Skeletons, but they are quite rare and most are fully willing to be left to their own devices; after all they can't really die again and when their body is destroyed it'll just regenerate later. Only a few are hostile, and they generally avoid large groups."

Thunderlane nodded, understanding and amazed. He couldn't help but wonder though why something like that happened, living past the point of dead as a animated skeleton.

Deciding for a change of subject, he asked; "Zenith? If you don't mind me asking, how did you join the Outcasts?"

Zenith gave him a small smile and answered. "It was a long time ago now, but I was a former slave to a greedy and abusive Royal, but thankfully he only use me as a punching bag... unlike a few others." She frowned there, remembering the poor souls under that Royal. "Razor and the other Outcasts freed us and I was the one to put that Royal down, there is more to it but it's not just my story to tell, and I don't want to have to go over the details. Just know that it wasn't pretty."

Thunderlane nodded, then asked,

"To move from that; what about you and Steel? from your interactions one would think you two are dating or something."

Zenith laughed at that. "I can understand why you'd think that. We actually have entertained the thought a few times, but our duties and other factors have kept us from going farther. But I think we are pretty attracted to each other, especially since the Steel has a heart as big as he is."

Thunderlane nodded with a smile at that; since the Traveler group had come aboard the Dragon the crew had tried hard to make sure they had felt welcomed, Steel proving despite his size to be very friendly and cheerful.

Any further talk was cut off when a loud whistle sounded off, signaling that they were on approach to Galleon Cove. Zenith took her leave after saying bye to Thunderlane who returned it and when his own way, wondering how the upcoming mission to the island was going to play out.



Later

The test Razor had in mind for the Recoilless Cannons was a siege on a Skeleton Fortress; the place was land-locked so the Dragon would be unable to get it's own weapons in range, forcing the Outcasts to deploy a ground force.

The ground force consisted of a total of eighty units, or four full "Armies";

For Infantry Units there were six Deckworkers with one hundred and sixty individuals per group, and each one carrying Polearms of various kinds, six Marauders with same number of individuals per group and armed with Swords of various types and four Deck Smashers with sixty individuals per group. These three units were supported by six Abyss Guard with sixty per group as well, four armed with axes and shields and two carrying axes and pistols, the same double-barrel twenty-shot kind used by the Tide Gunners. 

For Missile Units there were four Gunners with one hundred and twenty per group armed with Rifles, four Buccaneers with the same number and armed with 8-barreled Volley Guns, and two Marines also with the same number. Supporting these units were three Grenadiers with the same number and armed with Hand Mortars that allowed them to stay behind the rest of the troops and arc their shots over the firing lines.

For Weapon Teams (thirty-two per group) there were three types; two from the Deck Gunners type an one from the Deck Defenders type: The Deck Gunners included two Deck Swabbers (armed with hand-cranked Gatling Guns) and two Deck Pounders (armed with long-range, armor piercing, breech-loading swivel guns), while the Deck Defenders had two of the new Deck Crushers (armed with the new Recoilless Cannon).

For Flying units there were the Flying Cavalry which had two Deck Shockers (twenty-four per group) which were young Sea Wyverns joined by four Deck Wings (also with twenty-four), older but still young Sea Wyverns carrying Gunners armed with Handcannons in their claws.

Supporting the army were three Abyss Knights (twelve per unit), which were Abyss Guards mounted on giant Coconut Crabs and armed with polearms. Four Giant Porcelain Crabs (also with twelve) with two mounted Gunners armed with Blunderbusses on their shells and two Wreck Golems (one armed with Cannons and the other with Rockets. Joining them were Four Ship Mages and for Artillery there was three Cannoneers (four per group) armed with 68-pounder cannons, two 100-pounder Cannons (two per group), four Rocket Nests (five per group) and finally two Thunderhammer Cannons.

Finally forming the "Officer Core" were seven Healers, two Gunnery Masters, and Razor himself.

Said Kirin watched from the air as the army moved into position, according to the plan made before-hand; the first row would consist of the Gunners in the middle with Cannoneers in the middle and on the ends, the Buccaneers and one Marine Group on the flanks, and the three Grenadiers spread out to maximize their coverage. The second row held most of the melee-focused units with the Deck Smashers in the center, the Marauders behind them and the Deckworkers on the sides with the Abyss Guards supporting them. These units were ready to charge forward should the enemy get too close to the gunline.

The Outcast Army had positioned themselves on a small hill so the ranged units could have clear lines-of-sight, like the Weapon Teams with the Deck Crushers in the center and the Deck Swabbers and Deck Pounders on the sides, and the two 100-pounder Cannons on the ends. The Rocket Nests sat in a row on the curve of the hill and sitting behind them were the two Thunderhammer Cannons, both clear of the back-blast of the new Deck Crushers' Recoiless Cannons.

The Crab-mounted units and the Wreck Golems covered the flanks, the latter ready to blast any targets while the former waiting to counter any possible Calvary charges. Above the army but out of the way of the arcing weapons the various flying units waited as below the Healers were ready to move to where they were needed as the two Gunnery Masters prepped their gear with one in charge of the Artillery and the other in charge of the front row. Finally Razor hovered above the center, spyglass in hand as he studied the battlefield.

The battlefield was a mostly clear field with scattered rocks about and the Skeleton Fortress easily visible in the distance, and the very large Skeleton Army gathering close to it. As Razor watched he saw a Skeleton Captain, mounted on of all things a Skeleton Boar, raise its sword and let out a shout before the Skeletons charged. Razor smiled as his own army readied itself.

"Here they come, let the battle begin."

Besides watching the advancing Skeletons, Razor was also acting as a spotter for the Outcasts' Artillery, and the spyglass he was using projected to a map held by the Gunnery Wight leading the Artillery. Every time Razor "marked a spot" with the spyglass that mark would appear on the map, allowing the Wight to direct their fire to that spot. Razor marked a spot that would be in the middle of the Skeleton Army as the shots hit and below him the Wight directed the Thunderhammer Cannons, the two weapons creaking as their crews lifted the massive barrels to the right angle and the crew chefs shouted "FIRE IN THE HOLE!" though their speaking trumpets as the cannon crews covered their ears (except for the ones pulling the lanyards, who were wearing earmuffs) and the cannons fired in a mighty blast of fire and smoke as the barrels recoiled back. The crews quickly got to reloading the Thunderhammers as the first shots arced high over the battlefield, surprisingly the shots were not cannonballs; but rather clusters of barrels packed with explosives and tied together with thin rope that burned in-flight, before braking and separating the barrels several feet above the ground (and now the middle of the Skeleton Army) spreading the explosive barrels out, which hit the ground and blew up in powerful blasts taking out many Skeletons.

The Skeletons continued to charge as the Rocket Nests fired a storm of rockets, covering areas like a rainstorm as the Wreck Golems lifted up their weapon arms and braced them with their other arms, before firing. The two types of cannons soon joined with their own fire as the Skeletons entered the ranges of the other ranged units, the first being the Cannoneers and 100-pounder Cannons, their shots smashing into the skeleton ranks and traveling through many rows as the Deck Ponders and Swabbers added their own as the Skeletons entered their range. A few seconds passed then the Gunners, each group set in rows of four, aimed their rifles and fired. The distinctive "crack" of the double-barreled bolt-action rifles filling the air as the bullets flew forward like a wall of lead into the Skeletons, shattering bones like thin plaster, whispering to themselves "Son-of-gun" before firing the second barrage and cycling the bolts, repeating as they had trained. As this was happening the Skeleton Army released their cavalry: Skeletons mounted on more Skeleton Boars, these units went for the flanks but as soon as they reached the Outcast Army's flanks they were intercepted by the Abyss Knights and the Giant Porcelain Crabs, the Gunners on the latter firing as the crabs slammed into the Skeletons in a clash of blades, claw and bone. Unfortunately for the Skeletons, their rusted weapons quickly proved useless against the crab's thick chitin and heavy shells as the heavy claws crushed them into pieces and the riders continued to attack any the crabs missed.

Up above the Outcast flyers entered the fray as Razor began to cast various spells, started with one that took form of a maelstrom of black storm clouds with a Western Kirin skull-shaped cloud that seemed to be speaking sticking out from below as numerous energy spheres trailing black clouds emerged from around the skull and fired into the Skeleton Army, shattering many to pieces. The Deck Shockers flew down in quick hit-and-run attacks by using their claws and tail blades to slash at their targets while the Deck Wings moved along the sides as their Handcannon-wielding Gunners fired shots after shots into the Skeleton's flanks.

The battle raged like this for a bit but eventually the Skeleton Captain was taken down and the remaining Skeletons began to collapse as their magic bindings faded, allowing the Outcasts to moved towards the fortress. There the Deck Crushers set their Recoilless Cannons up and fired into the wall, using a round called a "Penetrator Shell". This shell used a two-stage warhead to destroy its targets with the first stage allowing the round to enter and the set the second, much more powerful, stage to blow the target apart from the inside. The wall was quickly taken down by repeated firing and as soon as the rubble finished falling the Outcast Melee-focused units charged forward with the crabs taking point through the gap. Right after the crabs got through and started engaging the Skeletons with the Marauders right with them, supported by the Healers as the Deck Smashers charged up any close by stairways to engage the Skeletons still on the wall as the flying units joined from above and the ax and pistol-armed Abyss Guards following behind the Smashers. As this was happening the ax and shield-armed Abyss Guards formed a defensive line around the gap to continue allowing their fellows through as the Deckworkers set up ladders on the other side.

The remaining Skeletons put up a good fight, but were soon defeated as their Captains were taken down and the binding spells failed. Victory belonged to the Outcasts.

Thanks to the Healers and the armored units taking the blunt of the Skeletons' attacks there were no loses, only wounded units. Razor landed on the wall as the troops below opened the vault and began to take the vast treasure horde out, he smiled at the sight and looked over to the Deck Crushers as they started to pack up their weapons; The Recoilless Cannons had performed well despite not having many targets as from his point-of-view these were more precision weapons that would likely work best against giant targets like Sea Dragons and ships, or in this castle walls. Still, as far as Razor was concerned the Recoilless Cannons would be a fine addition the the Outcasts' arsenal, they would need some fine-tuning but one should expect that with prototypes regardless of what it was.

Razor turned his sight back to his troops as they loaded the treasure onto carts and the crabs shells, he had the  location of the next crystal he needed, but it would take a bit of time to get there plus the place itself. Razor looked up into the sky.

"We've made much progress since that day almost twenty years ago, but I still wonder what the future holds for the Outcasts of the Abyss. Celestia and her forces are still looking for us, same with Twilight's group, I just hope they know the dangers of the Sea of Legends."

With a quick flap of his giant wings Razor dived down to join his fellows in carrying the loot.
> Chapter 22: New Tech
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sea of Legends

Unknown Location

While a good bit of the Sea of Legends was mostly charted, besides the area that was the Blood Sea, there were still plenty of places and remote locations that weren't on any charts because of a few different factors with sheer remoteness from the common routes being the primary reason. However, this could be used to one's benefit if they knew where even one of these places were, with one example being Ironclad's Rest; as being the Outcast's primary Base it's remote location made it the perfect place of a fall-back base despite the fact that everyone knew of the place, but not it's exact location.

The Outcast's also had a second, and just as important, location known as the "Cog Archipelago", named for it's four large islands resembling a cog when seen from above. Unlike Ironclad's Rest the Cog Archipelago was unknown to all but a select few, even in the Outcasts only a certain few knew of it. This was because the place served as the headquarters of the Outcasts of the Abyss' Research and Development, where the head of the whole thing; a Unicorn Stallion known as Power Gears, worked on the many prototypes of new technology that would give the Outcast's an edge over their enemies.

Hence why the Outcasts wanted the place to remain off the charts.

The lab had been set up inside an old fortress left behind by a past and now long forgotten kingdom that once ruled this archipelago, and walking through the halls was a Cave Thestral Mare with a dark blue coat, yellow eyes, bronze mane and tail, and a Cutie Mark of a pair of pipe wrenches in an "X" shape. She was wearing a red bandanna, blue googles, and a red and bronze vest. Sitting on her back was a sliver tray with a cover hiding what was inside from view. The Mare was walking with a skip in her step while whistling a tune as she walked towards a certain room, pausing at the door to put on a pair of industrial-grade earmuffs when the muffled sounds of gunfire reached her ears, telling her that a certain somepony was testing weapons.

The well-ventilated room beyond the door had at one time been none other than the Throne Room, now it served as the lab for Power Gears and where he planned and test many of his projects. At the moment he was standing at the lab's firing range holding a pistol that the Mare couldn't get a good look at as Gears continued to fire off rounds, the Mare set the tray on the table and sat down as she waited for Gears to finish.

She didn't have to wait long as after three more shots the pistol when click and Gears checked it, nodding with a smile seeing it was out of ammo. He set the weapon on the table in front of him while using his magic to take off his earmuffs and turn a crank to bring the target he was firing at towards him, his smile growing at the holes on or close to the center of the target.

"Gears."

Jumping slightly the Unicorn turned to look at the Mare who had taken her own earmuffs off, he gave her a happy smile.

"Sprocket, good to see you. I hope you weren't waiting long." Gears said as he stood up and walked over, giving Sprocket a deep kiss once he reached her, which she returned in full."

"Not long at all honey." Sprocket said after they finished. "Only three shots." She lifted up the tray lid to reveal some sandwiches and two soda cans. "It's lunch time and since you're clearly busy I'd thought I'd bring our lunch down here."

Gears picked up a sandwich with his magic as he gave Sprocket a nuzzle. "Thanks dear, working on these projects work up an appetite."

The two sat and ate in silence for a bit, enjoying both the food and drinks as well as each other's company. After they were done Sprocket looked over at the pistol Power Gears had been using when she entered. "So Gears; what's this weapon you've got here? "She asked. "I get that it's a pistol, but it's clearly not a revolver."

"Well Sprocket; to explain that let me show you this." Gears lead her over to a table which had a long metal object next to a rifle that she recognized as the prototype "self-loading" rifle set to the lab by the Fire Twins on the Dragon of the Depths, she looked at Gears as he sat down.

"Now as you can see; here we have the rifle the Fire Twins sent. As you know while it did work, the effects of black powder quickly cause it to stop working. How Razor was able to fire as many shots as he did is a mystery. But while it didn't as the twins had hoped, it did give me a few ideas. One of which is what this thing is here." He placed a hoof on the metal object, Sprocket raised her eyebrows at him, silently telling him to continue.

"As you already know; our G82 Bolt-Action Rifle produce a fair bit of recoil when they fire, so I though after testing the twin's system: Why can we use the recoil to chamber the next round?" He picked up the object with his magic. "I tried a few different methods and this one worked the best. I call it the "Long Recoil System"; here's how it works."

Sprocket watched with keen interest as Gears set it down again and started speaking.

"The way it works is that when the gun is fired the recoil energy that's generated by the projectile going forward causes the barrel here to recoil backwards, and it's locked into the bolt here." He pointed out the parts, which Sprocket noticed were in fact locked together. "Now the two of them travel together the entire length of the cartridge, hence "Long Recoil"."

Gears placed a hoof on the end of the barrel (which was part of a test model so it wasn't able to fire even if loaded with a live round) and pushed it back, causing both the barrel and the bolt to slide back as he had said. "As you can see; the barrel and the bolt travel together. At the end of travel the bolt locks in the rearward position," Sprocket heard a "click" as Gears pushed the barrel all the way in. "The barrel then comes forward on its own recoil spring." He slowly let the barrel travel forwards and sure enough the bolt stayed locked.

"This is where the ejection happens, as the empty cartridge case is locked into the face of the bolt and the barrel pulls forward off the front of it. When the barrels goes all the way forward, it triggers a release which allows the bolt to slam forward, chambering the next round." Gears show Sprocket this, the bolt slamming forward with a click.

"Based on my testing of this new system; it's extremely safe because both the bolt and the barrel have to travel backwards a relatively long distance, there's a relatively large amount of time available for pressure in the barrel to drop before the whole system unlocks. The two downsides I found... is the system is quite complex as it requires two return springs: One of the bolt and one for the barrel so I have my doubts we'll be retiring the G82 as a primary weapon anytime soon. The second is that since the barrel is moving backwards with the bolt, the recoil is stronger than the G82. Now one thing I have noticed is that the spent casings eject in a very short and slow arc from the ejection port, but this is because the cartridge case is kicked out by an extractor after the barrel pulls off the front."

Sprocket nodded her head, showing him she understood as Gears stood up and lead her over to the table he had set the pistol on. The first thing that caught her eye, now that she could get a better look at it, was the fact it had no cyclinder like the revolvers. The second was that the pistol seemed a little smaller and certainly more compact than the Cap and Ball revolvers Sprocket was used to; in appearance the pistol consisted of a grip, the trigger with guard, what she guessed was the magazine sticking out from under the grip and two tubes on top. The tubes were stacked on an over-under style with the top one being around half the size of the one under it, Sprocket could also see a rectangle-shaped hole on one side of the lower tube, which she guessed as an ejection port(1).

"This here Sprocket is the new pistol I've been working on, I don't have an official name for it yet so for now I'm just calling it the "MK II Pistol" as the MK I was for testing how well it would work and fit. As you can see this pistol uses the Long-Recoil System to chamber the shots automatically rather than having to pull back the hammer. It's also chambered in the same .44 Caliber rounds as the Caplock Revolvers." Gears explained, Sprocket nodding her head to show she was following him. "Now unlike the revolvers but like the G82 the MK II Pistol uses self-contained rounds," He picked up a spent casing to show her. "like this. This means reloading only takes a few seconds as the rounds are stored in magazines like this..." Gears showed her a like lever on the magazine which released it from the pistol's grip and allowing it to slide out with ease. "... and you simply pop in a full one... and pull on the back her to cock the weapon." He slid it into the grip and pulled the back before releasing it. "And it's ready to fire.

Now the only issues I've had are that fact that fouling builds up fairly quickly but I think I've at least partly fixed with with the same method used on the 100-Pounder cannon with the seed oil-soaked wads in between the shell and powder, just on much smaller scale. It's not perfect but it does allow the weapon to stay functional in combat for longer periods. The second it that when the spent cases eject you also get a shower of sparks coming out of the ejection port; now this isn't too much of a big deal but I've included a recommendation that those using this type of system should wear eye protection at the very least. As to protect the parts from black powder-induced corrosion, we've made the parts out of a new metal that is extremely resistant and hopefully in the near-future we'll get it to be totally immune to it."

After reapplying their goggles and earmuffs Sprocket watched as Gears fired the pistol down range again, noting how he was right about the shower of sparks from the spent casing ejecting though it wasn't that big. Once Gears had emptied the magazine he checked it again and brought the target over, which showed the same results as last time. He turned to Sprocket as they removed their eye and ear protection.

"Now these magazines only hold five rounds with a "default" magazine, so I'm using what I call an "extended magazines" which can hold up to ten rounds for now in a single stack, though they make the pistols a little harder to handle, but I don't think that'll be much of an issue. Now, like all our projects, I'll need the MK II actually field tested before I make any final judgment. I also have been thinking of trying double-stack magazines, even have a few prototypes, but I'm holding off on that for now."

Taking the pistol over to another table Sprocket watched as Gears took it apart and started cleaning the parts, something that had been drilled into their heads long ago: If you take care of your weapon, it takes care of you.

As he was doing that Sprocket decided to take a look at his other "Long-Recoil" projects; besides the pistol she also saw designs for a Blunderbuss(2), a rifle(3), something Gears called a "Light Gardner Gun(4)", a Sniper Rifle with a strange set-up of having the magazine behind the trigger(5), a heavier and larger variant of the Light Gardner Gun with a pan magazine on top(6), and finally a weapon she couldn't tell the type of that also had the magazine behind the trigger.

"Hey Gears... what's this weapon here?" Sprocket asked as the Stallion finished reassembling the pistol, he walked over and looked at the blueprints she was pointing at which turned out to be the last weapon Sprocket looked at.

"That Sprocket," He began, "Is a brand new weapon concept I got after designing the new long-recoil Sniper Rifle; It uses a smaller round, though not too small, than the 11mm the G82 uses. The idea behind it is to give our infantry forces more offensive firepower as admittedly most of out weapons are more defensive in their roles, if this new concept works it would allow our infantry to storm enemy positions like a tide in a form of shock-and-awe attack. I call this new weapon the "Storm Rifle(7)."

He adjusted his googles as Sprocket blinked at the possibilities of the Long-Recoil System, Gears then spoke up. "By the way Sprocket, speaking of prototypes, how's the "MK II Land Ironclad" project coming along?"

Sprocket smiled. "It's coming along nicely; right now the biggest block we've hit is the engine since we're not using steam like the MK I did, but I think we'll soon have that figured out. Size is also being a like bit of an issue since the requirements form Razor stated that it must be smaller than the MK I, must be able to hold, operate, and protect a crew of five, must be able to withstand repeated hits from cannon fire, and must be able to put out good firepower of its own. Overall we are making good progress and thankfully crew training isn't that much different from the MK I, we still haven't been able to figure out the slow speed but Razor did say that wasn't much of an issue and we might be able to get an idea once the right engine is developed."

Gears nodded. "My own major projects are also showing potential and I'm sure Razor will love them once he arrives to look, still it's going to take time for any of the projects here to become wide spread."

"At least the Outcasts don't suffer from the red tape crap that most of the nations do." Sprocket grunted, remembering the day she was exiled from her home, though she didn't like to talk about it and her clan had no choice in the matter. She was still in contact with them and her family had even expressed their wish to met Power Gears at some point, Sprocket's mom had even asked when she should expect some Grandfoals.

Power Gears meanwhile knew what she met; since red tape was part of the reason he joined the Outcasts. Gears had once been a student at none other than Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns and in fact got excellent grades despite his... unusual interests. Power Gears at the time was actually making weapon and armor plans for the Equestrian Military, some of which was actually ahead of its time. Sadly... a combination of traditionalists, Noble arrogance, and jealous Foals (who were part of those families) had Gears expelled from the school. Now, this on it's own wouldn't have been that much of an issue... if these same fools had not take the steps to blacklist him from all of Equestria's engineering schools.

Needless to say... Power Gears held a serious grudge against the Equestrian Nobles because of that, if once been said to have roared in anger;

"I'M ADDING THIS TO THE BOOK OF GRUDGES!!!"

And yes; Power Gears did in fact have a book of grudges, most of it listing those that wronged him long ago.

As for how they ended up with the Outcasts; both shared a similar story in that soon after they had hit their lowest points they had been met by Outcast Cove Agents (who at the time were the faction was still small and new), eventually leading the two to met a-then-young Razor Tail in Kirin. The rest, as they say; is history. Power Gears had never looked back since.

'Suck it ya noble buckers' Power Gears thought bitterly to himself. 'I'll show you all one day, my creations will help the Outcasts rule the Seas. Mark my words, you will regret the day you wronged me.'

Power Gears shook his head, burying those memories deep in his mind again. While it had been years since then, it had scared him deep and he knew he would never fully heal, but Razor had given not just him but others as well a home and a purpose again... and each of them were willing to repay that with their creations to end slavery and make the Sea of Legends a place they were proud to call home.

He looked over at his projects laying across several tables. 'I might create weapons now, but one day I'll be able to make more than just weapons.'

Sprocket noticed he was lost in his thought and gently wrapped her long tail around his neck, the bigger Unicorn jumping slightly but almost immediately relaxing into it as she lead him out of the room, stopping only to make sure it was locked before continuing on. Sprocket knew Gears was a bit stressed abut his work despite Razor making it clear he was fine with Gears taking his time, she would readily admit she was also a bit stressed out.

But she knew a very effective means of stress relief, one that was also quite enjoyable for both of them and they both needed a break.




(1): Basically the Frommer Stop Pistol.

(2): Based on the Browning Automatic 5 Shotgun.

(3): There are a few long-recoil rifles, like the Remington Model 8, the French C6, and the Mauser 1902 Prototype. Couldn't really pick out just one so I included all three as reference.

(4): Based on the M1915 Chauchat LMG of WW1.

(5): Based in the GM6 Lynx, a Hungarian Long-Recoil .50-Caliber Bullpup Sniper Rifle. Video here.

(6): Essentially a larger and bulkier Chauchat with a pan magazine on top, based on the Lewis Gun LMG of WW1.

(7): If you know firearm history you'll know exactly what this is.