> Ballad of a Pirate
>  by Skywing the Mutant
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Surprise, surprise 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	I stood on the docks of Baltimare, staring out over Horseshoe bay. The dark blue water reflecting the sunlight in a brilliant display of light. I pulled my panpipes off my back using my magic as I walked, and began to play a simple, relaxing melody.

Before I go any further, I should probably introduce myself, right? I am Star Whistle the unicorn, born and raised in Hollow Shades, a small forest town northeast of Canterlot. I am a minstrel by trade, and my preferred instrument, as you would guess, is the panpipe. I used to own a music shop at home, but one day I decided to get away from it all for something exciting. What could be so exciting, you ask? Why, traveling, of course. I’ve been over the northeastern province of Equestria, and a bit into the Crystal Mountains. Not much, but enough to learn just how bad it is to be frozen in a block of ice. When I heard there was a pony with a ship, looking for a crew, I felt a need to at least check it out.

I stopped a few minutes into the song, as I didn’t have much time to waste wandering around. I turned, and calmly walked down the pier. Looking for a ship by the name of Posideon's Compass, and it’s captain, Skywing.

Eventually, I found what I was looking for what I was looking for. The ship was a bit retro in the style of which it was built, by which I mean it uses sails, rather than one of the new zeppelin attachments, making air travel impossible. It was a relatively small ship as well, and I could see a couple ponies running around on deck, doing various tasks.

I put my panpipe away in it’s case, and stood on a small platform, which I then levitated over the small distance, onto the ship.

A light blue earth-pony stallion stopped as he ran by, and just stared at me, before asking, “What the buck was that?”

I rolled my eyes, “I levitated the object I was standing on with simple magic, thereby giving myself a temporary flight. Now, may I speak with the captain?”

He just pointed to the area near the wheel, where a bright-green mare with REALLY messy hair was standing, just watching everything. I slowly approached the mare, and said, “Hello, ma’am, my name is Star Whistle. I heard that you are currently looking for a crew, and came to try to join.”

She only stared at me before hitting me from behind hard with something made of glass. “Don’t you dare call me that.” 

“Don’t call you what?” I asked, holding my head, and thinking Damn, of all kinds of people, the captain has to be a crazy pony.

The mare turned to the crew and ignored me completely “Alright this is your final chance, make sure you have everything you need!” 

“Yes sir!” 

… Sir?... Oh, NOW I see what I did wrong!... Oops. I thought as I slowly stood, making sure my panpipes weren’t broken, then myself... What? They were damn hard to make right, and I don’t want them breaking on me!

The captain turned to me with the look of distrust, I can’t really blame him. “Don’t make me rethink letting you on board.”

“Yes sir.” I said, trying my best not to begin to rub the spot he hit to try to soothe the pain. “I won’t.” Well, at least I get to try sea-travel out I wonder how different it will be from boating on the rivers.

The crew scrambled to make their final preparations. “Caramel, up here.” Skywing ordered from his spot.

The well built, light amber stallion made his way to us, “Aye, Captain?”

“We’re short on room at the moment, so I’m forced to have the colt stay with you. and tell Thor she has the wheel.” Skywing then immediately turned around and descended the stairs and retreated to his quarters.

“Aye sir,” He said and ran over to a light brown mare with a Hammer and lightning cross cutie mark.

I walked down the steps to the pony Skywing had called Caramel, “Need any help?”

“Not particularly, why d’ya ask?” He said, as he hefted a barrel onto his back, and began to take it below deck.

“Just thought that since the captain say’s we’re sharing a room, I might as well try to help as much as possible.”

He paused, before pointing to a pile of barrels and crates “Get as many of those to where I’m puttin this one.”

I nodded, and charged my magic, picking up nearly all of them at once, organizing them into a straight line, and having them go behind him, following him directly to wherever the storage area of the boat was.

“So you’re the Captains last decision?” The light brown mare trotted up to me. “You don’t look like much, yet again I don’t look like I could kick caramels ass.”

I processed what she said for a moment, before responding, “If you’re judging me by my physical characteristics, a lot of things will be surprising.” I said as I slowly made the trail of barrels follow caramel perfectly down the hallways, and picking up the rest as the first were put down.

“Yeah, uh’huh” She didn’t seem that impressed. “Listen, you’re going to need more than magic to make it on the high seas.”

“I know that, and one doesn’t exactly become weak after spending their life traveling through forests and swamps.” I said as I looked around the ship.

“Good, now we know you won’t wimp out.” I honestly think she’s just trying to get me mad.

At that exact moment, I put down the last barrel in the storage area, and turned to face Thor. “I came here for one reason, to see things I haven’t seen before, and there is no way I would back down from it.”

She grins at the end of my sentance starts to trot off. “Just remember your place, and I’m his second in command.”

I decided that I should at least see the inside of the ship before we were moving, and went below deck. To my surprise, the technology used on the ship was top notch. Almost everything on the ship ran on magical power, stored in gems. Lamps, locks, cannons, and such. The fact that Gem-powered cannons are actually being used outside the royal navy itself was a shock, especially considering that this looks a rather modest ship from the outside.

“Piece of beauty ain’t it” I spun around to see Caramel had followed me down below deck.

“Yeah, I’ve only heard of gem cannons, and from what I had heard, they aren’t even available for purchase because the materials are so rare.” I said, eying one of the cannons, and getting an... Urge to tinker with the mechanics a little. You know, see how it worked.

“Well I’m not sure where he got these, but something tells me there’s more to it.” The light amber stallion rubbed his neck as a dark thought passed through his head.

“I wonder...” I said looking at the cannon for a few more seconds, before looking up, “Eh, I’ll think about it later. How long ‘till we set sail?”

“Not sure, let’s get top side and wait for orders.” Caramel seemed eager to leave, as interesting as the equipment is I couldn’t help but feel slightly nervous down here.

“Lead the way,” I said, and followed the light brown earth pony out.

As soon as we got topside Thor trotted up to the wheel. “Raise anchor we set sail now.”

A black glow covered the chain’s holding each anchor, and began to be lifted out of the water, and set up properly.

“... How did-” I began.

“Shush,” A yellow pegasus with a golden and black striped main and tail said, “Wait for orders, you don’t want to anger Thor.”

“Permission to come aboard?” A commanding voice came from the docks just before we set sail, the same kind that always comes from a Royal Guard.

Thor trotted to the side of the ship to get a good look at him, with the rest of us following. “State your business.”

“We are looking for a wanted criminal that we believe is here at port.” The guard stood like a statue, something that confused me and at the same time fascinated me. How do they do that?

“New guy, get the captain.” Thor looked directly at me when issuing her orders.

“Yes ma’am!” I said as I ran up the steps, and into the captain’s quarters. “Sir, you’re needed on the deck, something about guards looking for a wanted pony.”

The captain’s quarters was surprisingly empty, only Skywing and a board made of stone. “What now?”

“Royal guards are asking to come onboard the ship to look for a wanted pony they believe is at this port.” I quickly explained.

Upon hearing that, Skywing stormed out with the board. I followed him and looked just in time to see him jam the board into the guards neck. “Is he the only one?”

“... I don’t know.” I said, staring at the dead guard, “He was the only one I saw, but there could be others.”

“Yeah, we’re in deep shit.” Thor look into the sky as an airship controlled by the Royal Navy came our way. I followed the direction she was looking in and felt my jaw unlatch.

“Let me guess, we’re fighting our way out of this?” I said as I face-hoofed.

Skywing took the dead royal guard’s armor onboard, then spoke. “Damn right.”

I levitated my panpipe off my back, and held it up, “Very well, I’ve been working on this amp.” Oh, did I not talk about that? My panpipes are enchanted to have various effects on all who hear, which I call ‘amps’.

“I want all of their armor.” Thor made the command as the ship came within striking distance.

I didn’t respond, beginning to play. Another thing about my amps, the sound of other instruments just seems to... come out of nowhere while I play. Anyway, the song was mostly just a buff for the purpose of making those who hear/heard it temporarily stronger.

Cannon fire came from the airship, and one managed to hit the very tip of the bow. “Hey, I just bought that! Okay, I’m pissed.” I heard Skywing say.

“You’re always pissed.” Thor stated.

As I reached the end of my song, I opened my eyes to see that the guards had managed to not yet reach a distance they could have heard my song from. I grit my teeth, and began to build up magic in my horn, using a small amount to put the panpipe down against the mast of the ship. I then flowed all the magic underneath my hooves, and jumped. The magic shooting me up toward the guard ship, and slamming me through the wall of the ship, as well as two guards.

“STOP RIGHT THERE, CRIMINAL SCUM!” One of the remaining 4 guards in the room shouted, running toward me. I picked up the sword of one of the fallen guards in my teeth, and charged the guards. About a foot away, I cast a fire spell, creating a cone of flame from my horn, and roasting them alive. I then killed the flame before it could become too much to control, and looked over my work with a single thought. Well, shit.

Skywing appeared on the other side of the airship, and as I looked at him, it became apparent that he is extremly pissed. “Y-yes captain?”  I asked, dropping the sword.

As soon as he stepped aboard the airship, his board flew to the right. He remained silent as he approached me, and stopped a foot away from me. A moment later the board came back and hit me on its broad side. Before I could realise what had happened, the board’s sharp side was at my neck. “You listen to me, and you listen good. You don’t do anything without my order, got it? You don’t fight, you don’t jump ship, you don’t even use magic without my order. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?”

“Yes captain, I understand.” I said, my eyes wide as I tried both to listen and keep the sharp part of the board from getting my neck.

“Good.” Skywing lifted the board off of my neck. “You’re taking everything down, after you set fire to this ship.” 

“I understand, just one question,” I said, “Immediately, or on a signal?”

“Now.” Skywing got back on his board and flew back to his ship.

Looking around, I noticed crates all throughout the room, as well as the fact that I was bleeding from my head and neck a little. I decided to ignore the latter for the moment, and focus on the former, prying open a crate with the sword in my mouth, I found that inside was, of all things, smaller boxes filled with gunpowder, and felt an evil grin spread across my face. Oh, I know what to do here... but first... I thought as I turned to the guards that had been killed, and began to remove their armor, weapons and such, and put it into an empty crate that was in one corner. I moved the crate to the edge where I had burst in, before turning around, shooting a ball of fire onto the crate of gunpowder, and jumping out with the crate of equipment held firmly under me. I then used a more complex levitation spell to slow my descent enough that when the crate touched the ship, there was not so much as a small cloud of dust that formed beneath it, and at that moment, the guard ship exploded.

Thor grinned as I landed back on the ship. “That was impressive, you got all their armor and still pissed off Skywing.”

I paused for a moment, “In what way is that impressive?”

“Killing that many guards would make him happy, normally.” Thor smirked. “I know I’m happy.”

“He was pissed because I acted without orders, at least that’s what he said.” I said, rubbing the spot where his board nicked my neck.

“You’ve earned your place in the crew” Thor patted me on the back as Skywing came out of his quarters with a rolled up flag.

The light blue earth pony from before looked at him, and said, “We setting sail, captain?”

Skywing brought down the Equestrian flag and raised a new one in it’s place. The flag unraveled, to reveal itself as a modified Jolly Roger. The flag was that of a particularly pissed off mare’s skull with the captains cutie mark over forehead. Why am I not surprised? I thought as I stared at the flag, Eh, it’s better than being wanted for just killing the guards on that ship. “Welcome to the Mutant’s Crew... What was your name again?”

~End of Chapter One

> A new life
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Star Whistle's POV

Skywing the Cloudsdale Mutant. Not only is he my captain, but also one of Equestria’s most wanted criminals. It’s been two weeks since I joined his crew, and so far things have been pretty quiet, except for the fights the crew get into. They’re not daily, but they are frequent. Also, I ended up getting introduced to the rest of the crew... Lets see...

The most interesting of them was actually invisible for the first few days. Her name is Crimson Haze, and apparently is one of the most well known of the entire crew for sinking two whole fleets of the sky-ships the RN (Royal Navy) controls by herself before joining up with skywing. She is also one of the greatest illusionist’s I’ve ever met, and is pretty damn good at destruction magic as well. She is a blood red mare with a black mane parted in the front, as well as a cape constantly covering her back. She also changed what she looked like every once in awhile.

The light-blue earth pony was called Northern Sprint, of the frozen north. He’s generally an idiot in most situations, but in combat, and running, he’s a few leagues above the majority of us. He boasts of being the fastest runner from the north. That isn’t saying much. Also, I’m not sure if the hoofmark on his flank is a cutie mark, or a burn.

The yellow pegasus went by the name Stormy Night, and she, for lack of any other descriptive term, was an assassin. Though she wasn’t that successful, and was caught in the act several times. We all agree never to give her anything that would require stealth.

“Star, get over here. Caramel and Northern Sprint are going at it in a drinking contest!” Thor had a competitive streak, but also liked watching others compete. Honestly, when I first got on the ship, I thought she would be my biggest problem. I couldn’t have been further off.

“Oh, this I gotta see.” I said as I trotted over to watch the two ponies drinking.

“They’re already seven cups in.” Stormy Night wasn’t much of a drinker, but she wouldn’t deny a drink. “I think Sprint’s going down first.”

“20 bits say you’re wrong.” I said with a slight grin.

“You’re on.” Stormy was a sucker for a good bet, not to mention pretty good at calculating the odds. That’s not always the case. I think Sprint’s got Caramel beat.

“How’s the captain?” Crimson Haze looked past me at Skywing who was slouched over looking at his drink. He has to be the biggest lightweight I’ve seen. I wouldn’t say that to his face though. “Somepony go check on him.”

As everypony looked at each other, Thor took it upon herself to make sure he didn’t die on us. With a nudge Skywing went from slouched on the table to on the floor with a thud. “Yeah. I’m in charge again.” Third time this week.

I looked at Stormy “Guess both of us were wrong on who went down first.”

“That doesn’t change anything.” Stormy grinned as she put her hoof on the table.

“I know, but seriously, how can anyone get drunk that quickly, and with so little?”

“Skywing could never hold his alcohol. I think it has to do with his system.” Thor came back to the table as the competition went to round nine, and both competitors were starting to sway a little with their drunken state of mind.

“Care to back out while you can?” I asked Storm, watching the two, and noticing Caramel’s sways being a little further.

“Fat chance!” Storm didn’t often back down, and only did when she knew she couldn’t win.

Sprint and Caramel downed their drinks in a couple seconds, the motion causing them both to nearly fall over from the momentum. The tenth was poured, and the did they same, only this time, both fell out of their chairs at the same moment.

I stared for a couple seconds, at the scene before me, and said “I think... That’s a tie.”

“Doesn’t matter now. Let’s get topside, we need to make sure we’re on course.” Thor made her orders from the stairs, as we all looked at the drunken ponies laying on the floor. “Let the drunktards sleep it off.”

“Aye-aye.” I said as I walked up the stairs, a little disappointed in the outcome of the contest.

“I think Sprint started falling first.” Haze muttered just loud enough for us to hear her clearly.

“Lies!” I shouted, and ran like a wanted man... Partly because I am one now, but still.

“But I’m pretty sure Caramel hit the floor first. So technically that would mean Sprint won.” Haze added as I left ear shot, makes me wish I had stayed to hear.

Anyway, the above-deck area was calm enough, and as far as I could tell, we were still going the right way. Oh, another thing, during the first week I was with the crew, we ended up raiding a town. While I was there, I took a few new instruments with me. I could actually play very few of them, since the majority required claws, or something similar to work, but at least I could sell them

“Oh crap, I think we might be off course.” Thor looked at the map on the wall next to the captain’s cabin, then the compass.

“Wait, what?” I asked, looking up. “How much?”

“My guess is just a few knots.” After answering my question, she trotted up to the wheel to try and correct it. “Skywing wants to go to this market, down south and sell the Royal Guard armor.”

I thought for a moment, “How much do you normally make per suit of armor?” I asked, looking up at the stars.

“Don’t know, Skywing is good with foreign currency. Ask him when he wakes up.” Thor watched the bow as she focused on my question.

“Yeah... I don’t think I will, it just doesn’t seem like a good idea to talk to him when he has a hangover.”

“Give him an apple to calm him down, that always works.” Something to consider when talking to Thor when it’s about Skywing; She always tries it first.

“Nice to know. Still, I think I’ll wait until it passes before I ask him.” I said as I put the violin away.

“Who’s sober?” Thor darted her eyes at each pony.

I held up a hoof “Can’t speak for the others, but I haven’t had so much as a drop.”

“Good take the wheel tonight.” Thor trotted down the stairs. “Make sure we don’t drift off course. Everypony else, get some shut eye. We should be at shore about noon tomorrow.” With that, she disappeared below deck.

“Yes ma’am.” I muttered under my breath, and took the wheel.

I won’t go into detail of the rest of the night, as nothing actually happened. Anyway, in the morning, the familiar black glow of Haze’s magic covered the wheel, and she said “I got it from here.”

“Thanks,” I said, and slumped down in the area next to the wheel.
______________________________________________________________________


Thor’s POV


Uhg, morning already? I’ll never get used to this. How anypony lives like this is beyond me. I threw myself out of the hammock and onto my hooves. “Today better be worth it.” I need to stop talking to myself. Trotting back to the storage shouldn’t bug- oh right, the drunktards. At least I won’t have to face the sun until I get something in my stomach. Trotting by the table I notice I’m not the only one up.

“Morning Thor.” Stormy said, before chugging a cup of coffee she had. “How’d you sleep?”

“Mmng” I’d tell her I slept really well, but I’m not a morning pony in case you haven’t noticed.

She chuckled, “Oh, also the newbie fell asleep on deck this morning. Guess he isn’t the kind to be up for a full 24 hours.”

I only nodded as I got my coffee. I’ll see where we are afterwards. “If they aren’t awake by the time we find shore, wake the drunktards up.”

Stormy gave a salute, and walked back to the coffee to get more. I swear, she drinks more of that stuff than most could handle. The weirdest part is that she doesn’t seem affected by it.

As relaxing as being around another mare is, I was tired of seeing these sorry asses lay about the floor. I took a few drinks and got topside. I prefer when the cool air runs through my coat in the morning. Guess that’s one good thing about being on a ship. As much as I like it, It was time to get back to work. Like Storm told me, the new colt was asleep. I turned my attention to the map and held up my compass.

Surprisingly, the new guy did better than I thought he would, by the distance we had left to travel, I would say he kept us going perfectly along the path the whole night. I cast a glance at him, curled up into a little ball a few feet from the wheel, which from the black glow around it, I could tell Haze was controlling it. “Haze, where’s the spyglass?”

“Up here.” I’m sure as hell not trotting up there, then to the bow.

“Just toss it down here.”

“Here.” She said, as the spyglass floated down, held in her magic. About an inch from the ground, the aura around it disappeared, and it landed without a sound. Grabbing the spyglass with my teeth, I trotted to the bow and extended it.

“See anything, Thor?” About time Storm started cutting back on the coffee.

“Something small. Might be another ship” That’s what I thought it was, but it was too small to tell.

“Hey Crimson, do you think you could take on the captain?” Stormy seems like the one for light talk.

“In what sense?” If I didn’t know better, I would say that was a slightly seductive tone she was using.

“Well you took down two fleets of the Royal Navy. So I think you’d be the stronger fighter.”

“No, I used more underhanded tactics to take them down. I used invisibility to get onboard the ship that had the most gunpowder, and lit it on fire, then jumped to the next, and repeated the steps until the entire fleet was down, but in a fair fight, I would probably lose.”

She underestimates Skywing, I don’t like it. “Not to mention Skywing took on the captain of the Royal Guards head on. He proved  he was more than a match when they’re fighting one on one.”

“Now that, I would have loved to see.” Stormy said with a chuckle. “On another note, we’re out of coffee.”

“Damn it storm, I was going to go get some!” Crim complained, suddenly poofing into the space near us. “Why do you always drink it all?”

She just grinned evilly, “Why not?”

“Can it, both of you!” Looking through the spyglass again, I saw what we all wanted to see. “Get the captain, I know he wants to see this.”

“Aye-aye!” Stormy shouted, and flew below deck faster than I thought was possible. So that’s what she drinks all that coffee for.

“Should I wake up the new guy?” Haze asked, pointing to the ball of white and purple near the wheel.

“Not yet. He kept this ship steady all night” He deserves that much.

“Ok, let me know if you need anything, I’ll be in the crow’s nest.” And with that, she teleported to the top of the middle mast. Not a moment later, and Skywing came topside. Makes me wonder if he was waiting for us.

“What is it?” And pissed as usual.

“Look.” With that he levitated the spyglass to his eye.

“Wake every sorry ass, lazy ass, and drunk ass! It’s time to sell the loot. Why the hell is he sleeping next to the wheel?”

“I put him in charge overnight.” He’s never been one for mercy, not since I found him.

“Guess it’s time to wake him up.” I hate it when he makes us do all the work.

“And what will you do, sir?” If I’m waking him up, I want to know.

“Adding a price to the merch.” He’s done so many crimes, he would be the best choice for that task. I trotted up to Star as Skywing went below deck.

I almost wanted to give Star one of my usual wake up calls, but decided against it at the last second. “Hey, wake up.”

After a few seconds, a black glow covered his tail, and pulled him, still asleep, to the base of the mast. Moments later, a small rock fell on him, hitting his gut, and knocking him awake.

“AGH! Ok, ok, I’m up...” He shouted, before mumbling something I couldn’t quite hear, but I did hear the words “Infernal she-devil” somewhere in there.

“Ugh, remind me why I drank last night.” I turned my head as Caramel came upside. Suffering the effects of his hangover. I wish the captain would let them ride it out in their cabins.

“Because you haven’t backed down from a single challenge related to alcohol so far?” Star said, clutching his side where the rock hit him, and wincing a little.

“So where’s the captain?” Northern Sprint followed shortly behind Caramel. “Also remind me to never get into a drinking contest with you again.”

“I think he was down there earlier, fell over a bit before you did.” Star said with a slight shrug.

“He went down to put a price on all the things we looted.” I looked at each of them as we neared shore. “So until he comes up, I’m in charge.”

“Thankfully,” Star said “I’m not entirely sure why I’m saying this, but honestly I prefer when you’re in charge. You’re less brutal about things.”

“That’s because he dealt with a lot of shit in the past.” I trotted up to the wheel and looked at all the crew members. “I don’t know why Skywing chose here, or where here is, but when we dock you are to make it be heard that we have valuables to sell.”

Suddenly, Star got a look like he just remembered something, “Exactly, where is it we’re docking, anyway?”

“There’s supposed to be a dock on the other side of that  plateau.” Hurry up and get your ass up here Skywing.

“... Supposed to be?” Crimson asked, suddenly appearing behind me as a yellow mare with a white mane and tail, “You made it sound like you had been there before. Guess we’re all a little clueless on this one.”

“That’s just what I was told. I’ll have the Captain explain when he gets up here.” at least I now have a distraction. “Would you mind explaining what happened.”

“A disguise. If it goes bad, I don’t want my face to be known. Duh.” I looked at Crimson Haze but decided to go along with it.

“Better let Skywing know you’re still you.” Skywing might actually attack her first though. I looked at the stairs as I waited for him to show up.

“You’d better have a good reason to keep me out here, captain.” Sprint shouted at the stairs due to a fit of rage because he had a hangover.

“Because these things aren’t always friendly towards ponies.” I laughed as Northern sprint pissed. I didn’t expect him to answer so quickly, but I’m glad he did. He got topside and looked at Sprint first. “You’re cleaning that up.”

“Hey captain,” Haze said cheerily, and I could see a slight shimmer in the air around her.

“What?” I’m glad he’s too pissed at Sprint to look at Haze right now.

“Haze changed her colors to disguise herself in case the whole selling our stuff goes to hell.” Star explained.

Skywing looked at Haze for a moment before speaking. “That’s probably the best.” He actually sounded less pissed than usual. “And while you’re at it Sprint, clean the whole deck.”

“Ah, like what you see, do you?” Haze said, trotting around proudly.

“You look too much like Stormy.” Skywing retorted. “At least I can tell you two apart.” He then stared at Stormy.

“I changed her colors too... Not that she knows yet.” She said with a slight grin.

“Wait, what?” Star asked, staring hard at the golden pegasus, “I don’t see it.”

Haze chuckled, and shot a small blast of magic at Storm, the air around her simmered, and her coat turned purple, and her mane and tail pure black, “I hid it.”

Skywing didn’t utter a single syllable as he watched it transpire. “Once we’re docked I want you all to bring the loot topsode.”

“Aye-aye” Most of the crew spoke in unison. Sprint and Caramel were slower on the uptake as they were still recovering from their hangovers, and flinched slightly at the sound.

Skywing then proceeded to the wheel. “Once we get there let me do all the talking. Many of them don’t know our language.”

“Sir, I’ve been wondering... Where are we going, anyway?” Haze asked, stretching a little.

Skywing only looked at her before grabbing the wheel. “Heavy Anchor Port.”

        ~End of Chapter Two

> Heavy Anchor Port
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	
Star Whistle’s POV

        
As we brought everything up I, couldn’t help but look at the locals when I was topside. While some of them were Minotaurs, others looked like Minotaurs without heads and their faces on their chests. “These things just don’t look right.”

“That’s because there are a lot of Minotaurs, Blemmyae, and a few Satyrs.” Skywing didn’t seem pissed at all. Maybe it’s because we’re selling things, finally. Caramel and Northern Sprint had recovered from their hangovers considerably, and were bringing the armor up. 

“So... Exactly how much do you think we’ll make from this, if we sell all of it?” Stormy asked, still looking at her now purple coat.

“About seven thousand bits, in their currency. which is called zennie for some reason.” Skywing sat upright as he looked at the merchandise as it came up.

“Seven... Thousand?” She looked up, wide eyed, before regaining her composure, and walking normally around deck.

“Well, twenty one thousand zenny.” Skywing didn’t act like it was that much, but to me that sounded like more than a lot.

I put down the last box of the first load, “So then... three zenny is equal to one bit?” I asked.

“That’s what I’ve come to know.” Skywing seemed sure of himself, but not entirely sure. Skywing looked back over the ship at the bipedal creatures walking around.

As we finishes bringing out the loot I thought of selling my instruments that required hands to play. “Captain, how long do we plan on staying?”

“Three days and that’s it.” Sounds reasonable enough.

“How likely do you think it is that I could sell a few things... Of a different variety from the armor?”

“That depends on what the customer wants.” Skywing talks like he knows about bartering.

“Well, I can try.” I said, and ran down  to where I kept my instruments. Unfortunately, more than half of them had broken somehow. Leaving me with just one guitar, two ocarinas, two flutes, and a black violin. I carefully brought the instruments up to the top deck, setting them out gently on a rug.

“This is it?” Skywing looked at the instruments laid out on the rug.

“The rest broke.” I muttered.

“Oh, make sure you know what you want for them.” Skywing trotted off but stopped as I started speaking.

“I can tell they're in good condition, and have barely been used, despite not being able to play them myself.” I said, looking over the violin for any damage from whatever broke the rest of them, thankfully finding not a single scratch on it.

Skywing nodded “Wir jetzt verkaufen, was wir haben.”

I blinked in confusion, “... What?”

“I said in a language native to here ‘we are now selling what we have’.” 

“... Oh.” I said, and quickly went about making sure the rest of the instruments were undamaged... which they were.

Skywing trotted off as Caramel startled me from behind. “What’cha got there?”

“Wah!” I shouted as I jumped over him, landing neatly on all my hooves. “Oh, it’s just you.”

“Sorry about scaring you like that.” He looked fine, but you could see it in his eyes that he was still hungover.

“It’s fine, anyway,” I walked back to my stuff, “I’ve just what few instruments didn’t break on our way here.”

“They all look quite unique.” Caramel looked at the instruments until his eyes landed on the violin.

“They’re designed for creatures with hands, like a minotaur, or a satyr to play.”

“But I’ve seen a pony play a violin back at Ponyville.” Caramel looked at me.

“... What? But... the hooves! That shouldn’t be possible!” I shouted, feeling my grip on reality fading slightly.

“There’s another pony who can play the cello, too.” I wanted to reject everything, but something in his voice told me he had nothing to lie about.

“I’m going to stop questioning it here.” I said blankly.

Caramel nodded and stayed in place as he watched a slim Minotaur walk up to me. “Combien êtes-vous facturer pour l'ocarina?”

I glanced at Caramel “Do you know what he just asked?”

He returned the look to me. “I have no idea.”

“He said, ‘How much for the ocarina?’” Skywing spoke out.

“... Oh, I would give it... 360 Zennie.” I said.

Skywing said it in the foreign language and the Minotaur showed  me the money. He then took the smaller one and left.

“Which language was that?” Caramel whispered to me.

“French.” Skywing looked directly at us as he spoke.

I looked down as I thought to myself. Is he hiding something? Maybe I’m overthinking it, but still...

I looked up just in time to see a blemmyes come aboard and walk up to one of the armors. “Ist das authentische königlichen Garde Rüstung?”

I’m really starting to wonder what everypony is saying.

Skywing only looked at him. “Ja.”

It got that look in its eye when you find something you want. “Sag mir, wie viel?”

Skywing only glanced at it before saying. “700 Zenny.”

“I think I understood that!”  I blurted, immediately becoming embarrassed as Stormy gave me a look that said ‘Just shut up. You’ll be doing us all a favor.’

Skywing looked at it as it looked at the armor. “Zahlen.”

The blemmyes handed over the zennies and took the armor. Skywing looked them over and pulled out a Gem powered handgun and pointed it at it. “Du bist kurz!” 

It stopped and turned around, fear in it’s eyes. Skywing watched it closely and It stayed still. The standoff seemed to last hours, though it was only minutes. The blemmyes started scooting backwards and the captain shot it between the eyes. “Nichts niedrigen Kugeln mich.”

“Um... What just happened?” Crimson asked, popping into existence next to me, causing me to jump a little.

“The armor is priced at 700 zennie, the blemmyes had 500.” The captain looked at us with a piercing glare before putting the armor back.

Crimson and I just looked as Skywing threw the body overboard. “Let this be a reminder that everything must be paid for in full.”

“Oookay...” I said quietly enough that Skywing probably didn’t hear it. Skywings ear flicked and before I could hold my breath, he turned his head away.

Things started picking up as others started coming aboard and buying things, I’m only wonder why none of them are buying my instruments. Some went to the other crew and were directed to Skywing.

“Il ya beaucoup de mane-d'œuvre mis dans cette.” the Captain looked at the sturdy Blemmyes.

“Seven hundred zennie” The blemmyes looked at Skywing as if it was looking for something, perhaps he looked familiar to the blemmyes.

Thor came up from below deck with a barrel of rum. “Skywing, we should probably get more booze before we leave.” She put the empty barrel down and tapped. “Seems we’ve drank more than we thought.”

The blemmyes eyes lit up as it looked at the captain as he trotted to Thor. “Later I’ll take Caramel and Whistle. Until then haul up all the empty barrels and put them by the wheel.”

“Aye-aye” Thor picked up the barrel and Skywing trotted back to the blemmyes, who surprisingly hasn’t run off with with the armor.

“So you speak this language too?” The blemmyes seemed more interested in the captain all of a sudden. I want to say something, but I also don’t want to piss off the captain.

“Yeah, what of it?” Skywing looked at the armor as the blemmyes walked around it.

“Oh nothing, I just didn’t think anyone else spoke this language.” The blemmyes stepped towards Skywing, constantly sneaking a glance at him.

“It is rare around here-” Before Skywing could finish his sentence the Blemmyes kicked him to the ground.

“Captain!” Stormy shouted, landing right next to Skywing as I aimed a bolt of magic at the Blemmyes’ legs.

The Blemmyes dropped onto Skywing and pinned him to the ground. “After years of searching, I’m not going to be denied the rights to the Shadow Nightmare!”

I released the blast of magic, cleanly hitting the Blemmyes off of skywing, and into the mast, almost hard enough to knock him out. “I have no clue what you’re talking about, but I won’t stand by and just watch this.” I said, glaring daggers as I stepped forward.

The Blemmyes looked at me, with hatred in it’s eyes. “I’ll make you regret ever doing that.” creepy little bastard.

“Caramel,” I said, charging up even more magic, and drawing my panpipe, “Watch my stuff for me.”

Caramel nodded and trotted to my mat. “Stormy get the cap-” he stopped mid sentence as Skywing got to his hooves.

The Blemmyes, though shaky, got to its feet “Bring it on!”

I inhaled, and released my breath and magic into my panpipe, beginning the third amp out of four, which is a spell of falling into sleep, a coma, or even death, if I focus enough for it. It also was, thankfully, the only one I had learned to focus on a single target. Yes, I realize this is the second I’ve told you of, but it was the third I made.

The spell instantly took effect and the blemmyes started to sway more. “What... the hell?” The blemmyes looked to the ground then to me.

As the last slow, haunting notes faded from the air, the Blemmyes fell forward, landing on it’s face. It was either dead or unconscious by the time it hit the ground. “Wow, it’s been awhile since I used that one. I just hope I didn’t kill him yet.”

Thor trotted up to it. “What do you mean ‘didn’t kill him yet’?”

“That was a spell designed to do one of three things, it can put the target to sleep, put them in a coma, or kill them by simply stopping the heart.”

“There goes the Captain’s good mood.” Thor stepped back as Skywing stepped to the Blemmyes. Moments later spikes started poking out of the body, as soon as one left another appeared. Soon the Blemmyes was nothing more than a bloody mess.

“Never call me that again.” Skywing looked at the body with what was unmistakably pure hatred.

“Well that was interesting,” Stormy muttered as she walked back to where she was before.

Skywing took a scroll with handles from it before throwing the blemmyes over board. “Pack up, we’re leaving early. Thor, how many barrels do we need?”

“Well, Crimson’s still out getting a few things of coffee beans, but other than that we’ve got everything we need.”

Skywing looked at Thor, still trying to look calm. “You came up here and told me we were low on rum before that asshole threw a cheap shot at me, how many barrels do we need?”

“About five more, sir.” She said, cringing a little.

Skywing nodded. “Caramel, Whistle, you’re with me. I want the empty barrels topside.”

“On it sir,” I said, before charging my magic again, and moving all of the empty barrels up to the deck in a straight line.

Skywing looked over the barrels. “Okay, we need to find a brewery.” Skywing turned around to face Northern Sprint. “Make sure everything is put away. I was hoping to sell it all.”

“Aye-aye.” Sprint said just before Skywing turned around to look at Caramel who nodded. they both turned to look at me.

“All the empty barrels are topside, captain.” I spoke as I put the eighth barrel on the deck. She said we only need five barrels. ‘might as well get them all filled.’ Skywing looked at the barrels then back at me.

“Remind me to talk to Thor later.” Skywing said as he picked up all the barrels with his magic. Me and Caramel looked at him in question.

“Uh, why are you having us come along if you-” Caramel was cut off by Skywing.

“Because this is called Heavy Anchor Port for a reason. Here, these bastards will attack you just because they don’t like the way you look.” Skywing stopped just before getting off as he answered. Me and Caramel looked at each other before following him off the ship.

_____________________________________________________________________


Stormy Night’s POV, some time later


To be fairly blunt, the rest of the day was rather boring, some people came and left, most of the time without buying anything, and when they did, half the time it was just one object. So, I took a nap. I woke up from that... an hour ago? Yeah, that’s about right. Anyway, as I was looking out from the crows nest for who know’s how long, I saw a faint glimmer of green, purple, and brown pass through the crowd of creatures below, focusing hard, I managed to locate the captain, the newbie, and the brown guy... I mean Caramel. “They’re back!” I jumped down as the shout came out, landing on the deck moments before Skywing made it out of the crowd.

Northern Sprint started to look over the railing at the docks. “Took you long enough.”

“Can it. The brewery is buried in downtown.” Skywing growled at the somewhat ungrateful Sprint.

“So, we taking off?” I asked, looking from one to the other, hoping to break the tension a little.

“Yeah, there’s a small island with a fortress about 183 knots or so north east from here we’ll call home. There’s just one catch though.” The captain spoke loud enough for the entire crew to hear.

“... Which is?” The newbie asked after several seconds of waiting.

“We’ve got to evict the current tenants.” Skywing grinned. “All hooves on deck, prepare to set sail!”

“Aye-aye!” The crew shouted as the newbie took the rum below deck.

Crimson Haze trotted past me then began to raise the left anchor with her magic as Caramel and Northern Light lifted the right. In the meantime, I was dealing with the unfurling of the sails. Thor took the map from the captain and went to plot our course, as the Captain trotted to the wheel.

~End of Chapter Three

> Shit goes down
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Crimson Haze’s POV


“Ugh, it’s too fucking bright today...” I muttered as the sunlight hit me like a slap to the face.

“Then go below deck if you hate it so much.” Stormy stated to me as she put her hooves on the railing.

“With only a few more hours of sailing till we reach the island? Hell no.” It was true, we had been sailing for almost two days, and the island was finally in sight.

“Fine.” Stormy shrugged. Sometimes I think she just tries to make me mad, then I’m reminded of why she joined this crew. “At least we know that Skywing isn’t very good at judging distance on a map.”

“Yeah, so much for just 183 knots.” I muttered, sitting in the shadow of the main mast, looking at a cloud in the distance, and tried to turn it invisible, I smiled when the cloud shimmered out of sight, and let the spell go.

Stormy looked around the deck briefly before turning to me. “Hey, where’s the new guy? I thought he’d be up here by now.”

“Eh, he’ll turn up eventually...” As I spoke, I heard a familiar sound from above me, in the sails. More specifically, a panpipe. “Well, as I said, he turned up.”

“That thing again, are you serious?” Stormy and I turned to the captain who was looking at Star Whistle.

“Oh come on, I’m not that bad.” Star said from the sail, “Besides, I can’t play very many instruments out of the ones i didn’t sell without fingers.”

“You can always find those ponies who play the string instruments in Equestria.” Caramel suggested as he trotted towards Star.

Star let out a huff, and dropped out of the sail, using his magic to levitate himself down, gently hitting the ground, “I refuse to converse with those who break the laws of physics.”

“I wouldn’t say they’re breaking the laws of physics. Looked to me like they were holding the bow in their wrist.” Caramel held a calm demeanor. I think he was hoping for a last minute discussion.

“But what about the strings? How did they press the individual strings?! HOW?!”

“This is only my guess, but I think it was with the tip of their hooves.” I think we’ve learned one thing today, Caramel likes to try to bring out more talent in ponies he’s around.

“Allow me to rephrase it: HOW THE HELL DO THEY PRESS MULTIPLE, SEPARATE STRINGS WITHOUT FUCKING IT UP?”

“You’re probably better off asking them in pony.” Caramel began to trot off after speaking.

Unfortunately, it was too late to stop the rant with words, “And what about the instruments themselves, even if they could press the strings right, the instruments would still have to be held up somehow, so unless there is some way that you ca--” Thankfully, a certain yellow pegasus learned over the last two days that a good hoof to the face quickly stops him in his tracks.

“No point in going into detail if you don’t believe it.” Stormy pulled her hoof from Star.

“Okay, last chance. Make sure you have your weapons ready before we go to battle!” Skywing ordered as he stepped away from the wheel.

“Yeah, I’ve been meaning to ask, captain. What are we fighting?” I asked, stretching a little

“Some half baked pirate crew, probably blemmyae.” Skywing seemed to not care about the enemy. “My guess is that they're still just starting out.”

“Any idea what they’ll be using?” Star asked, placing his pan pipes on his back, and putting two knives and a short sword into a belt he somehow got.

“Whatever the hell they brought aboard when they joined my crew.” Skywing stated as his eyes shifted to Thor, who was carrying a war hammer on her back.

“... That doesn’t even make sense.” Star face hoofed as he spoke.

“Quit being so stubborn.” Thor groaned. “You do this every time we prepare for a raid.”

“Well It’s better to know what we’re going up against.” Star said matter-of-factly as he tucked a hatchet on the other side of his belt.

“But the important thing is that we’ll have the fortress, and they’ll be dead.” Northern Sprint said pulling his crossbow out.

“Oh stop it, we need to get ready,” I muttered, heading down the stairs, looking for somewhere quiet to prepare.

______________________________________





Thor’s POV, later


The next few hours passed in an instant. Charging up energy in the gem cannons, preparing weapons, and all that jazz flew by as a blur. With only three minutes until the attack left, we were pretty rushed.

Star and Crimson were the first to finish with their assignments. “Gem cannons are charged, and ready to fire, sir.” Star said, going over his gear one last time.

“Ship is cloaked well enough that they won’t see us coming.” Crimson reported, climbing down from the crows nest.

“Regular cannons loaded and set into position.” Caramel came out of the door, some gunpowder stuck to his hooves. “And Sprint is done securing the rest of the cargo so nothing breaks.”

“Good, remember that we want collateral damage to minimized as much as possible.” Skywing instructed.

“If i can.” Northern Sprint remarked as he stepped back from a gem cannon, before being pinned to the wall by Skywing’s board.

Skywing glared at Northern Sprint like he was going to rip his entrails out. “What was that?”

“Y-yes sir.” Northern Sprint spat out, frightened for his life.

Skywing paused for a moment, before returning the board to his back. “Better. Now keep our agenda in mind.”

“Yes sir!” The crew shouted, before running to their positions for the attack.

“This is it Star, any last words before we start?” I honestly felt like it was up to me to ask him.

“Hmm... Nah, can’t think of anything that would go well on a tombstone.” He said, stretching to prepare as he stood at the front of the ship, his panpipes sitting next to him, and his weapons on his belt.

“Prepare to dock, make sure nothing leaves this island alive.” Skywing almost hollered. “Caramel, you keep guard of the ship.”

“Yes sir!” Caramel gave a salute, strapping two daggers in parallel to his hooves.

“I’ve been itching to crack some skulls.” I spun my warhammer in my hooves. In truth I’ve been itching for some action almost to the point of starting a fight with the crew. I looked to Sprint who was loading his crossbow, than to Crimson who disappeared as we made eye contact, before focusing on the island again. The ship inched forward and got to the point in which we could jump onto the docks without too much effort, then the anchor slowly dropped until it was mostly under water, then we just let it drop. 

“Well, might as well do it now.” Star said, beginning his amp. It was a new one, surprisingly. As the notes played, I felt my mind clear and sharpen, making it easier to focus on things. I could also feel a remarkable amount of stress disappear, as though lifted from my shoulders by an invisible force. From a look around, I could see the others were having roughly the same reaction.

As the notes came to an end. Star placed his pan pipes on his back, and pulled out a hatchet. “The time for action is now, Take no prisoners.” and with that, the captain was the first one to jump ship, followed by Stormy then the rest of us, leaving Caramel behind to watch over the ship.

“I know you’re not use to a stealthy attack, Captain, but think if it as a new experience.” Haze whispered as she trotted next to Skywing.

“Yeah, I kind of figured that much out.” Skywing bitterly stated. “I also figured it was the best method of attack.”

“Speaking of method of attack, you never explained the plan to us. So what do we do?” Stormy asked, looking around.

“Simple; go in and kill everything we don’t want.” Skywing bluntly said as made his way to the entrance. “Something tells me they only found it recently. Thor, you take point I’ll be right behind you.”

“Nice way of saying fillies first.” I almost growled. If it weren’t for the fact I wanted to crack some heads so badly, I would’ve made it sound like I was insulted.

“Shall we?” Star asked, before placing the hatchet in his mouth, and drawing a dagger with his magic.

“Knock yourself out.” Skywing said as he forced the doors open with his board,  then stepped aside allowing Thor to go in first.

“Uh, if you don’t mind...” Star paused as everyone looked at him, “I have an idea.”

Both me and Skywing stopped in our Tracks then looked at the new colt. “Yes?”

“It’s hard to describe, but it could take out at least a few of them.” Star said.

“Wait, what?” Crimson asked, “How?”

“It’s three steps: First, I use something, like, say, a tree, to launch myself high enough into the air. Second, I create a magical shell around me set to detonate when it hits the ground. Third, I use a slow fall spell in the last two seconds, just in time for me to not take damage from the fall.”

“And this won’t damage the structure?” Captain had to ask that. Sometimes I wonder if he really just wants to make Star quit.

“Assuming the spot I land in is far enough from the building, yes.” Star scratched the back of his head as he spoke.

“I say we let him try.” Skywing gave me a look that reminded me of when we first met. He was looking for an enforcer at the time.

“Screw up, and I tie you to the bowsprit for a week.” Skywing growled, before him and I stepped away from the fortress.

“Uhh... ok.” Star said, before walking in a different direction, into the trees.

“... What is he-” Storm was cut off by the sight of seeing Star shooting into the sky.

________________________________________________________


Star Whistle’s POV, that moment.


Ok, let’s see... That’s a good spot to aim for. I thought as I flew into the air, upon seeing a group of about four of the... Damn, I forgot what they’re called. Anyway, there were four of them sitting around a fire, and another two that I could see inside the building.

As I reached the peak of my launch, I began charging magic in an orb around me, and began my descent toward the fire. “Falling Star!” and with that, I began my descent.

After a few seconds, a lick of flame crossed the shell of magic around me, and I realized this was a pretty shitty idea. The flames spreading until I was a ball of fire falling toward the four, who, a moment before I cast the slow fall spell, looked up, seeing me about to crash into them, and began to run all too late.

As I landed, I realized another major flaw in my idea: I got the timing for the slow fall spell wrong. I didn’t quite hit the ground at the speed I wanted. It didn’t affect the explosion, but I slowed down to the point where it just barely got the four that were around the fire... which had been relocated to the trees by my explosion. Oh, one last thing: don’t step on the coals of a fire. Just saying. “Ow ow ow ow ow.”


_____________________________________________________________


Thor’s POV


“Go, go, go!” The captain yelled once the sound of the explosion stopped ringing in our ears, before following me in to meet a satyr and a minotaur. Must be a multi-species crew. While we were doing that, Crimson used her magic to put out what fires there were from what Star did, and Stormy flew up to a top floor window, leaving Northern Sprint to fight whatever we don’t kill.

About two or three minutes into the fight, we managed to reach the building, to see Star already in the lower levels, putting away his panpipes as a crowd of various races lay around him. None breathing, and blood pooling from their ears.

“Shit, I thought you’d’ve broken your legs.” I’m genuinely surprised to see him walking.

“Nah, just a couple burns on my hooves for landing in their fire.” He said, looking over the bodies. “I’m surprised I had to go that far to kill them all...”

“Okay, reunion over.” The captain ordered before galloping off in the left corridor.

“Follow me.” I told Star as I turned to the other direction. Star said nothing, but he did turn and follow me as I readied my hammer for an overhead blow. The satyr tried to skewer me as I sidestepped his spear, before burying my warhammer in his skull just above his ear. “I love doing that.”

“Uh-huh.” Was all Star said in a dulled tone, before throwing his hatchet, hitting a minotaur further in the chest, before pulling it back out with his magic. “Let’s just get this over with.” 

“How many would say you’ve killed with that?” I ran just below a full gallop as I asked that question.

“... I’d rather not talk about that...” He looked down, not really trying to watch where he was going. I only shrugged it off as we came to a spiraling staircase.

“Watch yourself.” I spoke quickly as I started up the stairs. No reply came, but from the fact that he didn’t fall, he was probably listening. “We can safely say that the first floor is done.”

Star muttered something, but it was too quiet for me to understand. I would have responded, had a minotaur with dual axes not began running down the hallway at us. Before I could even react, Star had him pinned to the wall, and had stabbed him in the chest with the knife. As the Minotaur bled out, Star’s lips moved, making words I recognized easily: ‘I’m sorry.’ Though no sound came out.

“You’re not going soft on me are you?” I swear if he is, Skywing will leave him here to rot.

“No, I... You saw all those bodies down there, right?” Star wiped the blood off his knife as he spoke.

“The ones at the crater?” If this has to do with wildlife...

“No, on the first floor of the building...”

“Oh, Yeah.” I think I know where he’s getting at.

“I... Several of them... They were children... I... I killed children.” He said, tears forming in his eyes. “I’ve never had to do that before... I never thought I would have to... I just feel so empty. The reason I said what I did to this guy,” He gestured to the dead minotaur on the floor, fighting the tears back as he spoke, “Was because he looked like one of them.”

I can almost sympathize with him. “I’m not sure how the captain will react if he hears you talking abou-” I cut myself off with a scream as a blemmyes almost buried the pick side of it’s battleaxe into my head. I blocked it just before it pierced my skin.

After a few moments of holding back the axe, the tension released, and a warm liquid trickled down it’s throat, which had a magical aura holding it. A quick glance back told me that it was Star choking it. “You should know better than to interrupt someone who’s speaking.” He muttered, before a sharp snap came from the neck, and the blemmyes collapsed. “I’m not going soft. I’m feeling remorse, you know, like any relatively normal pony would after doing what I did.”

“Let’s talk later.” After a big sigh, I began to focus on killing whatever came at us.

______________________________________________


Same POV, later on


We met up with the captain and Stormy again on the third floor. “Fortress successfully captured.” Stormy chimed happily.

“You don’t say?” Star asked in an icy tone, causing Stormy to wince. Skywing looked at Star with question.

“What should our next course of action be?” I had to keep the two from talking to each other.

“Isn’t it obvious? Throw out the corpses and put everything we don’t need here.” Skywing trotted past us, presumably going to the ship.

Star’s glare shifted to the captain, “That’s it? You’re just going to throw them out?”

He in turn stopped in his tracks, and without so much as looking back at Star, answered. “What more do you want? Most of their skulls have been impaled so they won’t make good trophies, not that I’d want any as ugly as those.”

Star scoffed, “So they’re nothing but trash to you? Oh, right, I forgot, you don’t feel remorse, or any emotion but hate from what I’ve seen. Like you’re any better.”

Maybe I should have warned Star about this. “Don’t you dare talk to me about remorse.” The captain opened a slit in his board big enough to hold Star by his neck to the wall. “Killer Mutant attacks Manehattan, do you remember a headline like that!? A title pinned to a pony who wanted nothing more than to fit in who no longer exists!” Skywing began pushing his head against Stars as he began his ear splitting rant. “Did anypony show him remorse!? Did anything that interacted with him show him any remorse!? The short answer is no! So don’t you dare ever speak of remorse around me ever again!”

“Why? Will you kill me?” Star asked with narrow eyes, “Go right ahead... If you can.” As he spoke, his horn glowed, and he forced the blade away from his neck, before walking away. I stepped back as the captain began to grit his teeth. He then turned to look at Star and launched his board at him, then severed his left hind leg just below the cutie mark.

A sharp clang ran through the room, as Star blocked the board, drawing the short sword with his mouth, and redirecting the board into the wall. The aura around the board faded as it fell to the floor. the next thing that happened caused me to wince and Stormy to yelp, as Skywing forced spear-like objects to jump from the walls and into Stars legs.

Star winced as the spears tore through his legs and, forced to stop, stared right at Skywing with dead eyes. “Do it.”

The board began to glow again, then Skywing drove it into the other wall, obstructing Star Whistle’s view. “This is a whole new extreme, even for you Captain.” From what I could see, Star had pretty much collapsed, barely holding himself up, and leaning a little against the wall.

“Woah, Crim, when did you get here?” Storm asked, looking at a blank area to her right. A moment later, the air shimmered in that spot, and Haze appeared.

“I’ve been here long enough to know the situation.” Crimson Haze looked at Skywing who now trying desperately to get a ring off his horn. “I’m glad I got that magic suppressor now. I think we should lock him up before he does any more harm.”

“Okay, you and Stormy do that while I talk to Star.” The two saluted, and Haze proceeded to pick Skywing up with magic as I trotted to Star.

“Yes?” He asked, looking me in the eye.

“Come on, lets get you somewhere so you can rest.” I did my best to get Star to lean on me, but I’m not sure if I should go ahead and carry him, due to the holes through his legs.

“Yeah, sure, like I’ll be getting any real rest after a day like today.” He complained, but didn’t resist at all.

“Why the hell did you have to go and say that?” I really wish the two of them had found common ground by now.

“Why? Why? Did you not hear what he said, or is everyone on the crew too afraid to disagree with him for fear of decapitation?”

“I saw what made him like this. He is like this because he was never shown compassion, and beaten because he’s thought to be nothing but destructive.” I don’t want to pick sides, but Skywing has been through far more than he knows, more than any of us know.

“And so you give him free reign? That doesn't sound very logical... Oh to hell with it.” Star reached for his panpipes, and began to charge it with magic. “I can’t take this pain any longer.” With that, he took a short breath, and played a short, simple tune, the holes in his legs closing up as he played.

“We put up with it because we want him to act like he did before all this.” I noticed as Star began to put less pressure on me, I’ll ask him about this afterwards.

“Really? Because it looked more to me like no one wanted to get in his way for a different reason.” He said, drawing a hoof across his throat with the last word.

“Think for a moment, why do you think he was sitting alone getting drunk and passing out every time we drank?” I really think he should understand.

“... I have no clue, maybe it’s the fact that he seems antisocial?” Star asked with a shrug.

“And why do you think that is?” I turned my head and looked at his face.

“How should I know?” He retorted, “Obviously, it has to do with his past, but that’s all I got on the subject.”

“That’s part of it. He treats others others like he does, because others have beaten on him.” I turned to look at the floor in front of me. “Last year he use to be much worse, Killing anypony who’d disagree with him.”

Star just stared at me for a few seconds, as though I had suddenly started floating or something, “Huh... I guess I was a bit out of line, but still.”

“Only a bit. A different choice of words might have changed the outcome.” With any luck, the two might get along after all.

“Yeah, I bet if I got it just right, I would also be being thrown out with the rest of the corpses.” Star said bitterly.

“You were spared because Crimson Haze was there all along.” I suppressed the urge to facehoof.

“What I’m saying is he would have been faster about it, and probably would have succeeded.” Star rolled his eyes, before looking around a little, and then continuing to walk. “Now, If that’s all you wanted to talk about, I’ve got a mass grave to dig.”

I finally sighed and gave up for the moment. “Just stay away from the captain.”

_________________________________________________________


Caramel’s POV


“Guess they got them all.” I said to myself as I watched the fortress from the ship. I watched the doors for several minutes before an object in the sky caught my eye. It took me half a minute to find the spyglass, and nothing prepared me to see the Royal Navy within striking range. I dropped the spyglass and galloped to the fortress as quickly as I could. The first pony I ran into after entering the fortress was Thor. “Where’s the captain?”

Thor wheeled around and looked at me “The Captain is unavailable at the moment so I’m in charge for now, but I’m also a little busy so this better be important.” Just as she finished the fortress began to shake. “What was that?”

“Royal Navy zeppelin.” I simply answered.

“Hmm, Skywing can’t stay mad at us if we capture it. Stormy Night said there are grappling guns on the top, take one and anchor the zeppelin.” I saluted then ran off to find the way up

___________________________________


Stormy Night’s POV


“Ugh, dammit, we just finished a fight.” I complained, after hearing Caramel’s not-so-detailed explanation.

“I can’t help that the Royal Navy decided to attack today.” Caramel stated. That’s something that creeps me out a bit, he keeps a calm expression except when actually fighting.

“Yeah, well, the grappling guns are on the roof. I’ll head up and get started on the attack.” I said, picking through the weapons of the Minotaurs, Satyrs, and Blemmyes that had died, before grabbing out a rather nice sword.

I turned around and saw Caramel still standing there. “Nice sword.”

“Yeah, looks pretty good. I wonder what we’d get for it.” I pondered this for a moment, before getting my mind back on the task at hand. “Oh, right, well, time to get started.” Caramel bolted out of the room first and I followed immediately, I followed Caramel until I came to the first open window in my path. I dove out and got my first look at the air ship, Skywing’s gonna love us for this, I think. I began to fly at it and one of the onboard cannons takes aim at me. 

Thankfully, a slight descent caused the beam from the gem cannon to miss me by a few feet, allowing me time to get right under the ship, and slowly move around the back. Just before I got to the stern, the sound of wood breaking rang out. I looked around and a grappling hook dug itself into the hull if the zeppelin, I need to thank Caramel for this distraction. Getting on the ship was easy enough. Slipping into an unused suit of armor was even easier. Hell, these guys work like clockwork. Know the right words, and they won’t suspect a thing. The only problem was that not many soldiers were yellow female pegasi.

“Captain, the ship at the dock is suspected to be the same one from Baltimare.” Wait, do they already know who we are? I had to hear this for myself.

“So there’s a possibility that the Cloudsdale Mutant is here. Put his head on my desk.” So that must be their captain. I guess he’s my first target. I reached into my pocket, to make sure i had one of my good pieces of cord in there. Good, it’s there.

I waited for the other guard to leave before I made my move, waiting for the captain to turn around, obviously, before I snuck up behind him, the cord at the ready. 3..... 2.... 1... NOW! I leapt forward, wrapping the cord around his neck in one movement, and pulled on it as hard as I could, while pulling him toward what looked like a closet where I could interrogate him. Almost right as I reached the room, the guard captain fell unconscious, making it easier to pull him into the room, and begin binding him to the wall, after removing the cord from his neck, obviously. I also took out a cloth, and stuffed it in his mouth, tying it around the back of his head. Then, just to be safe, I barred the door before waking the guard up.

“Ngh, mmh?!” The Guard woke up after a couple hits to the face.

I gave the guard an evil smirk, “Good, you’re awake. Now then. I’m going to remove the cloth in your mouth, but if you make one sound that isn’t just an answer to one of my questions, you won’t live long enough to regret it. Understood?” The guard captain responded with angry muffled noises. “I guess that’s a ‘no.’ Your choice.” I hit him in the face with my right hoof three times, each hit likely to leave a good sized bruise.

The strikes caused him to spit out the cloth, along with some blood. “Fine, I’ll cooperate.” He glared angrily at me.

“Good, now, what are your plans, and what do you know of the ‘mutant’ in the pirate crew below?” I asked, picking back up the cloth.

“Wouldn’t you like to know. As for the mutant, I know he’s wanted for countless crimes. I also know how much he’s wanted by non-equins.”

“... I see. Well, how big is the crew of this ship?”

“Big enough to take on a rag tag crew like the one you’re part of.”

Gee, that’s helpful. I thought bitterly, “Well, I guess you’re no longer needed.” I quickly stuffed the cloth into his mouth again, and wrapped the cord around his neck once more, tightening it as much as I could as he flailed to try to get away.

Just as he was beginning to lose consciousness, a loud bang came from the door. “Once more!”

Shit shit shit shit shit. I looked around, pulling the cord tighter, and tying it, so that he would still choke to death, and jumped behind a small pile of barrels I couldn’t see anything, but the door through a small crack between two of the barrels, and the guard captain through another. I managed to see the captain stop struggling, and hang limply for about half a minute before another loud bang hit the door. After the third the door came down. Shock appeared on three of their faces, then one screamed in agony as the guard in back buried his dagger in his shoulder before dying. The second guard went to attack him but took the same dagger to the throat.

“Stormy, I know you’re here.” That voice, Haze?

I looked closely at the remaining guard through the crack, and, seeing a slight shimmer, I assumed it safe enough to jump out. “Took you long enough.”

“Well maybe if you hadn’t barricaded the door...” Haze retorted to me. “but Thor wanted me to tell you two things; Take their captain alive, she has questions, and Star isn’t joining us.”

“Uhh...” I looked at the captain, “Yeah, we might have a problem there.”

“Yeah, I’ve noticed.” Haze sighed. “Look, I’ll take the blame for not getting here sooner, but right now, we need to defend the grappling hook.”

“Got it.” I undid the knot on the cord around the captain’s throat, relieved to hear him barely start to breathe again. “Got any disguises I could use?”

Haze just smiled, “Already used it.”

“Wait, really?” I looked down to see my hooves were white. “How did I miss that?”

“I’m not sure, but we better get moving.” Haze bolted back out the door, and I followed shortly.

_____________________________________________


Star Whistle’s POV, almost half an hour later


I stood over the grave, I had just used one of the last bits of magic I had to pack in the soil, and I planned to use the last available piece to use my panpipe to give them at least a decent funeral song. I felt a few tears go down my face as I played, remembering... Things.

As the last few notes left, hanging in the air for a moment, I felt the last of my magic run out at the same time, and used my hoof to manually put away my pipes. I’m sorry... I didn’t want to do this. I had to... I-

“Star!” I jumped slightly at the voice cutting through my thoughts, and whipped around to not see anyone. After a few seconds of trying to find the source, I looked up, to see Stormy, who was somehow snow white, floating down. Of course.

“Thor says she wants to see you.” Stormy began to hover just above me.

I let out a slight sigh, “Ok, I’m on my way.”

“No, you’re taking the express route.” She grabbed me just under my front legs before beginning to fly back up.

“Wait, why are you carrying me?” I asked, feeling my body wavering in the wind.

“Because the sooner we get there, the longer you can take to get over what happened.” Storm sounds like she’s trying to do some good. “Well, something along those lines.”

“... Hey, Storm... I’m sorry about how I acted earlier. My head... It wasn’t in the right place.” I spoke slowly, remembering snapping at her.

“You mean with the captain? You had every right to act like that.” Stormy responded. “In case you’re wondering, Thor told me.”

“... How much did she tell you?” I raised an eyebrow, at least happy I had something to take my mind off the possibility of falling.

“Everything you told her about killing who you killed.” Stormy tightened her grip slightly.

“I... See.” Why did Thor tell her that?! I thought she would keep quiet about that! “Did she tell anyone else about that?”

“Just me.” Stormy answered as she began to rise above the roof.. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anypony if you don’t want me to.”

“... Thank you.” I said quietly, well, at least she only told one pony. It took me a few more moments to realize something “... Wait, why are we going over the building?!”

“Zeppelin’s on top of the building, that’s why.” Stormy once again answered, this time before putting me down on... a wooden deck.

“Since when do we have an airship?” I asked, looking over the wooden railing.

“Since just now.” Stormy landed next to me. “Come on, Thor’s interrogating their captain.”

“Uhh... Ok.” I followed Storm into the halls, for several minutes, until I heard a muffled scream from a nearby closet. “That the guy?”

“Good, he’s awake. Don’t untie him for anything.” Stormy opened the closet and the captain looked away as the light hit his eyes.

“Uhh... Woah.” I stared at the pony pinned to the wall, several hoof-shaped bruises on his face, and one circular bruise around his neck. “What happened to this guy?”

“I gave him the once around. Now it’s time to give him to Thor.” Stormy forcefully pulled him out of the closet, and began pushing him down the hallway. It took less than ten seconds for Stormy to find the room Thor and Crimson were in. “Okay, just like you said.”

“Good.” Thor seemed pleased to see the captain, who was glaring daggers at whoever met his eyes. “I’m thinking of making our ‘discussion’ into a little game.”

“Umm... Is now a bad time?” I asked, moving slightly towards the door.

Thor looked at me. “No, I specifically told Stormy to bring you here for this.” She then looked back at this captain. “This is a game I like to call ‘Truth of knife’. Every time you don’t cooperate or give us answers that we have reasons to believe are false, Stormy or Haze get to chop something off of you. Ready?”

Damnit, I really don’t want to see this... I thought, looking at the captain, who, after several seconds, nodded, prompting Thor to take out the cloth gag in his mouth.

“Fine, what the hell do you want to know?” The guard captain asked, hate seeping from his words.

“First off, I want to know where I can get Gem Cannons, and the gems to power them.” Thor asked putting her hoof to her chin.

“I don’t know where the Cannons are bought, but rumor says that the gems come from near central equestria. I’ve had to buy them in shadey back alleys though, since we didn’t exactly get the greatest funding.”

“What’s his name?” Thor asked.

“What’s who’s name?” The captain retorted.

“Don’t play dumb with me. I may have more patience than my captain, but I can be just as unforgiving as him. Now tell me the name of the pony you bought the gem cannons from.” Thor asked again, beginning to glare at him.

The captain shrunk back as much as he could from Thor, his eyes widening in fear, “I don’t know his name, and I never saw his face, or his coat. He made a habit of remaining anonymous. He even used a voice changer sometimes”

“Very well, perhaps you can tell me the next cargo ship is passing by in stead.” Thor remained calm despite the fear in his eyes.

“It’s... Umm... I don’t remember.” He saw Crimson twirl the knife expectantly, “There should be a map and list in my quarters, though!”

“Stormy, check. If it’s not there, you get first dibs.” Thor didn’t take her eyes off him during her statement.

“Aye aye!” Storm gave a quick salute, and trotted out, a bit too happy... That scares me a little.

“In the meantime, would you like to tell me about why you came here?” Thor began to smile as she asked.

“We received an anonymous tip that there was a group of pirates here. Obviously, someone had to check it out.” The captain spat out the words.

“And it seems we’ve beaten you here, captain.” Thor responded.

“Wait, what? You aren’t the ones we were after?” The captain turned his head. I met his gaze for a moment, and looked away, remembering what I did.

“I’ve been told that you wanted the Cloudsdale Mutant’s head on your desk. Tell me everything you know.” Thor almost sounded demanding at the end.

“I already told the pegasus bitch that. He’s wanted by the law, and there are non-equines willing to pay for him as well.”

Thor looked at Stormy who was standing in the door seam with a sad look. “Stormy is a bit sensitive when it comes to name calling. Stormy, would you like to hurt the bad stallion who called you a bad name?”

A sickening grin crossed Storm’s face, “Don’t mind if I do.” Yup, she definitely scares the shit out of me now. She walked up to the now shaking guard captain, and plunged a knife into one of his flanks, pulling a shout of pain from him.

“I was thinking of maybe the soft part of the hoof.” Crimson said as the captain gritted his teeth in pain.

“So was he telling the truth, Stormy?” Thor looked at Storm who seemed much happier after stabbing him.

“There was a map, but no list.” She said with a shrug.

Thor looked at the captain. “You know what that means.” The captain really began to shrink in his chair. “Stormy, would you kindly pass the Knife to Crimson Haze?”

“Sure thing,” Stormy said cheerily, passing the bloodied knife to the side.

“Do I really have to watch this?” I asked, feeling my mind begging me to leave.

“You can look away, just stay here in case he begins to bleed out early.” Thor said in a less threatening tone.

“Stormy, would you like to help me? The part that I wish to chop is hidden at the moment.” Crimson asked, making me instantly turn around and tense up.

“Oh, please, not that!” The captain shrieked, “Anything bu-” A blood-curdling scream flew from his mouth, echoing through the room, and making me feel a bit sick to my stomach.

“That was almost too painful to watch.” Thor put her hoof to her stomach.

I’m not gonna look I’m not gonna look I’m not gonna look I repeated it in my head like a mantra, trying not to focus on anything else.

“You’re almost done, One more question left.” Thor stated.

The captain was crying, from what I could tell, “Please, just kill me... Please...”

“Who can I find that has more intelligence than you?” Thor asked calmly.

“G... General Shining Armor, probably...”

“That won’t do, I need somepony who works the field, way out here.” She remained calm.

“He does go into the field sometimes. I hear he has a relatives in Ponyville and Canterlot, ok?”

Thor began to grin widely. “That’s even better. Fillies, do away with him as you please.”

“Will do.” I heard Stormy said, before the Captain started to scream in pain again for another full minute, before it was cut short. After several minutes, I managed to work up the courage to look, and immediately wished I hadn’t. He was lying in a pool of his blood now, his gut cut open, and his insides no longer as such. Thankfully, I couldn’t see where I knew Crimson cut off... That. But I did see multiple other stab wounds throughout his body as well. I felt my stomach begin to heave, and I had to run to a window, jamming my head out, and emptying my guts.

“I’d like to talk to you when you’re done.” Thor put her hoof on my back. “Crimson is taking the body out right now.”

After I stopped vomiting, I waited several seconds before slowly pulling my head back in, closing and sealing the window. “I did not expect to see that... At all.”

“I didn’t expect her to go there so quickly either.” Thor shrugged and looked off to the side for a brief moment.

“I guess today has been a whole day of firsts for me.” I mumbled bitterly, a slight tremble running over my body.

“I wanted to talk to you because Stormy has offered to give you credit for apprehending their captain in place of her.” Thor spoke calmly, it sounded really different when she was talking like that to that captain.

“... What?” I raised an eyebrow, I was expecting this conversation to go in a whole different direction... “Why?”

“Ask her, I just wanted to tell you before we get the captain.” Thor looked at me as she spoke.

At mention of Skywing, I looked away, “... I see... I’ll be looking for somewhere to recover. I used the last of my magic earlier.”

“Believe me, we aren’t leaving the Island until at least tomorrow.” Thor smiled some. “Are you okay with taking the credit for capturing that captain?”

“Honestly, I don’t think I have any right to do so.” I said, the pool of blood catching my eye for a moment, “After all, I had nothing to do with it.”

“Okay, I’ll go tell Storm. You get some rest.” And with that, Thor trotted out the door.


_____________________________________________________________


Crimson Haze’s POV, Island Fortress Basement


Ugh, I can’t believe I did that... I shuddered, thinking over each of the cuts I made into the now deceased guard. Well, I guess I should focus more on what I should tell the captain... I entered the room with the holding room and trotted up to the captains cell. Thankfully he was sitting with his back facing me, and staring at the wall. “Umm... Captain?”

The captain only spoke with a huff. “It had better be good if want me to overlook this.”

“Well... How about that we now have a skyship, as well as a map of RG delivery routes?”

“... Show me.” The captain didn’t move an inch.

I pulled the map out, and floated it over to him, unrolling it in front of him. Geez, I hope this works...

“Everypony in this crew will live.” Strangely specific. Skywing still didn’t move, even as I took the keys off of the hook and unlocked his cell.

“Really, nothing more to say?” I’m starting to question his logic, yet again I chopped a stallions... yeah. He only snorted. “Ooookay, I’ll just help out moving the cargo onto the ship.” With that, I turned around, and walked out.

End of Chapter 4.

> My head hurts
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Thor’s POV


The day before was full of shock, but one thing stood out from the rest. When the captain said ‘I take back everything I ever said.’  when he saw the airship. I’m glad that day is over, but I think it’s that day of the year. I got out of bed and trotted to the calendar I took from my cabin. yep, my cycle start all over today. I yawned as I lazily trotted to a small box I keep my personal stuff in, and pulled out a glass bottle. It’s empty. I stared at the bottle in disbelief.

___________________________________________


Star Whistler’s POV, about a half-hour later.


I stretched as I got out of bed, looking to my side told me it was 10 AM. After a few moments of just staring at my clock, something clicked in my head. “Huh, I’m surprised I haven’t been woken up yet.” I trotted out of my room, trying to remember where everything was. A few moments in, my thoughts began to wander. It’s going to take me awhile to completely forget what happened here. 

“Morning.” Sprint opened his door as I passed by.

“Morning.” I passed by, beginning to wonder where I was going. Why is this place set up like a maze, anyway?

“Did we remember to get the food off the ship?” Sprint began to trot next to me, I assume he’s headed to the same place I am.

“Yeah, I think everythings been moved.” I felt my stomach rumble in agreement.

“Okay... Hey did the captain say what we’re doing today?” Sprint seems like more of a morning pony now, when he did when we were on the ship.

“Hmm... Not that I can think of. I suppose we could ask.” I turned the corner, finally remembering where I was, and began to head to the kitchen.

“Or ask Caramel.” Sprint said as we entered the kitchen.

“Ask me what?” Caramel looked at us as he ate his apple.

“Did the captain say what we’re supposed to do today?” I asked, reaching into a cabinet and pulling out a frying pan, beginning my raid on the fridge.

“I think we were on cleanup duty today.” Caramel said as he leaned back some.

“... Well damn. I was hoping there was a chance I could just avoid him, thus avoiding work...” I said, pulling out various vegetables, before turning to the cabinet to get spices, a saucepan, a knife, and some rice.

Caramel finished his apple as Sprint went for the macaroni salad and bread. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

After filling the saucepan with water, I added a pinch of salt and put it on the stove, setting it to boil, and began chopping the vegetables. “Not much to gain either way.” I mumbled, nearly cutting myself.

Caramel trotted up to me and almost whispered. “Do you think I should tell Sprint or let him learn in his own?”

“Leave him, one should learn from the past.” I poured the dry rice into the boiling water, and poured a small spot of oil into the frying pan, and began to cook the veggies, using as many hot-peppers as I could handle, just in case someone tried to steal my food. Caramel smiled then trotted to the apple barrel, and took a second apple.

After about twenty minutes, I finally managed to finish making and eating my food. “Well, time to get to work.”

Stormy came into the kitchen wearing blue pajamas with smiling suns on them and stopped in the door frame to rub her eye and yawn. “Morning everypony.”

I felt myself shudder, remembering what Stormy helped do to the poor guard captain just yesterday, and the huge change in personality from then to now. “Morning, Storm.”

She slowly trotted to the fridge, passing Caramel on the way. She opened the door and looked at all the shelves. “Has anypony seen my macaroni salad?” At that point, Sprint stopped chewing, and looked at his mostly eaten sandwich.

Caramel tapped Stormy on the back, giving a quick point to Sprint, who was now sweating bullets, his eyes wide. Stormy began glaring at him as she eyed the opened container that had her macaroni salad. Sprint gave her a cheesy smile. “You ate, my salad.”

“Umm... I... Uhh...” Sprint leapt up from the table, trying to make a break for the door, “SOMEPONY HELP MEEEEE!”

“I’ll make his day miserable later, but for now...” Stormy let out a high pitch yawn. “coffee.”

“Yeah, I’m going to go get to work on... Cleanup duty, right Caramel?” I asked, feeling an urge to leave, and maybe hide in a box for the rest of the day.

Caramel nodded and began following me. I looked back in time to see her hug a coffee can, saying. “I love you, coffee.”

... Note to self,  hide personal stash of coffee so Storm can’t defile it. I thought to myself with a shudder. “Ok, onwards to work. How do you want to split it?” I asked in an attempt to forget what I just saw.

“By doing as much as we can so we can relax later?” Caramel responded. “I’ll start with the west.”

“Ok, I’ll take the east, then.” I stretched my legs a bit, before turning, “See ya later.” Caramel nodded before trotting down a long hall. I made my trip down the eastern hall.

__________________________________________________


About an hour later


Now I see why I was given the east wing. I thought glumly, trying to scrub a fuckton of blood out of the walls. The fucker probably scouted out the areas in advance, and split the work in his favor, damn it damn it damn it! I threw the sponge I was using into the bucket, and, with a deep breath, pulled out the sponge, to find the water was a deep, crimson red.

“Oh of all the fucking...” I muttered to myself, stopping myself mid-sentence. “Ok, ok, I’ll just go get some more damn water.” I picked up the bucket, and began to walk down the hall, the blood-bucket held a few feet away by my magic.

A door flung open after I passed it, and somepony quickly pulled me in. “Scream and I suffocate you.” A familiar voice said into my ear.

I gulped audibly, and nodded, “Ok, ok, I won’t scream, now what was that all about, Thor?”

Thor sighed, and looked at me.“I don’t want anypony else to know about this, but I’m about to go into heat.”

“I... What?!” I almost shouted, it, barely keeping my voice in check, with the shout came a rush of heat to my face, “I... Wha... Just what?”

Thor slapped me then put her hoof on my muzzle. “Shh, I need to keep this a secret. Now can I trust you or will I have to get violent.”

I held up a single hoof, “I vow not to tell another soul about this, living or not.”

“Good, now I need you to keep everypony from my room, that includes the captain.” Thor glared at me as she spoke.

“I’m... Not sure if I could stop the captain... I’ll try though. How much time do you have?” I asked, hoping to not be raped when I do try to leave.

Thor sighed then threw me out. “Just don’t do or believe a word I say until you’re sure it’s passed.”

“I understand.” I said, looking to my side to see that the blood-red water had spilled from the bucket I was carrying, causing this area to get worse. “Oh of all the fucking... Really?” I picked up the bucket, and after moving the bloody water back into container, I continued walking down the area I had come from, once more in search of clean water. Once again, my thoughts began to wander. Why did Thor ask me to help her? I mean, wouldn’t it have been better to ask the captain?... No, wait, nevermind. He would probably just tell her to deal with it. Why not Storm or Crimson? I mean, they probably have something to help with ‘that time of year.’ Although I do understand why Caramel and Sprint weren’t asked. They would probably just use it the their advantage. Was it just that I was the first pony to pass by?

“I want that.” I looked up and Stormy stormed in my direction.

“... What?” I raised an eyebrow at Stormy, as she grabbed my bucket of blood-water. “Why do you-”

“Let go.” Stormy began to glare at me as he held the handle in her mouth.

“Yes ma’am.” I cowered slightly, before following Stormy down the halls. Maybe I could ask Storm about... No, I can’t do that. I promised not to tell anyone...

“Stupid captain making us clean up, when we could be celebrating our big victory at a casino.” I started to hear what sounded like Sprint complaining.

“You stay here.” Stormy whispered to me before taking the bucket in her hooves and quietly stepping towards Sprint before slamming the bucket on his head, then hitting it, causing Sprint to fall to the ground. “That’s for taking my macaroni, jackass!”

Note to self, do not piss her off. I thought to myself, feeling myself shudder slightly.

“You can have your bucket back, star.” She began to trot away as if she didn’t do anything.

“Thanks...” Suddenly, something clicked in my mind. “Hey, Storm, I was wondering...”

Stormy stopped in her tracks then looked at me. “Hmm?”

“What is it like to go into heat?” I asked, trying to be as subtle about my reason as possible.

“Hmm, it’s kind of like feeling an increase in sex drive.” Stormy answered as she began to turn around. “Why, is somepony you know in heat?”

“No.” I said quickly, “Just... wondering what it’s like.” Hell, even to myself I sounded suspicious.

Stormy giggled as she trotted up to me. “Alright I’ll believe you, only because I was right about you.”

Phew, that was clo- ... Wait, right about what what? “... What were you right about?” I raised an eyebrow. If she’s implying that about me...

“About you being the cutest thing in this crew.” Stormy smiled as she stood in front of me.

I said nothing for several seconds, but I felt my entire face grow warmer and warmer. “Uh...” Immediately, I began to try to think of a method of escape for the situation.

“Well, we better get back to work before the captain hangs us.” Stormy began to trot past me. “Take care, cutie.”

“Yeah...” I picked up my bucket with my magic, and began to continue on my quest to find water, my mind going off-topic once more. Wow that was.... interesting. I’m surprised she called me cute... On the other hand, I might be able to help Thor after all, thanks to Storm. I stopped, at a turning point in a hallway, and turned, going in the direction I remembered as the way to where I left my stuff. A heightened sex-drive means that hormones are clouding most thoughts. If something could clear it, she would be fine.

“Cleaning blood stains too?” Why is everypony interrupting my thoughts today? I thought as I turned to see Caramel with a bucket of water.

“Yeah, but I have to get something of mine.” Caramel raised an eye at me saying this, “It’s personal.”

“Hmm.” Caramel responded. “Tell the captain if anything needs to be repaired.”

“I know.” I hurried past him, not taking the time for another sidetracking. Let’s see... I think it was in... This room. I thought, going into one door.

“I told you before captain, somepony has to fix the beds.” The familiar voice of Haze said as I entered the room.

Oh damn it. Why am I running into every single damn member of the crew today? “Wrong pony.” I said, “Also, sorry, I got the wrong room.” I turned to leave.

Haze turned around before I could leave. “What’s on your mind?”

“Umm...” Come on, convincing lie, convincing lie... “Nothing.” DAMNIT! I mentally scolded myself for saying such a stupid excuse.

“Look, you get this peculiar look whenever you go deep into thought. So I know you have something on your mind. What is it?” Haze began to give me a stern look.

“... I promised that I wouldn’t talk about it.” I said calmly. “So I’m going to stick by that, I will tell you that I need to get my panpipes though.”

Haze’s horn lit up and the door slammed shut. “Now what would require you to get your panpipes.” Damn her stubborn streak.

“I... Uhh...” I began to charge magic in my horn, to attempt a small teleportation spell.

“Either you tell me now, or I’ll follow you around and find out myself.” Haze calmly exclaimed. 

I felt the magic flow back from my horn, “I said I’m going to respect my promise to keep it a secret.” I quickly fired a small disabling spell at Haze’s horn, encompassing it in my magic as I teleported away, appearing a foot away from Skywing. “Uhhh... Hi.”

“What?” Skywing answered coldly as he repaired the cracks in the walls with his magic.

“Just trying to find something.” I looked around, and saw my stuff on the wall, “Huh, I teleported to the right room. I guess there is a first time for everything.” I took out my panpipes from the container, and strapped them to my back. “Ok, that’s all.” I calmly went to the door, wanting to get back to what my original goal was.

“Tell Thor she better be out in five.” Skywing said as he finished his work in this room.

“Right away, captain.” I turned, and ran down the hall in an attempt to make my way back to Thor’s room. When I was a few feet away, I slipped on the spot where the blood-water had spilt, causing me to crash right outside the door.

“Oh, just fuck me already!” I heard as I staggered to my hooves. I grabbed my panpipe with my magic and closed my eyes. Please don’t be broken, please don’t be broken, please don’t be broken, please don’t be broken. I finally opened my eyes and one of the pipes was smashed.

“Oh damn it!” I slapped a hoof over my mouth as the last word came out. Damn it, I can’t play the amp with it like this...

“Get in here and end my suffering!” I heard Thor scream out. I don’t think she knows who I am.

Damn it, what do I do? I need a new instrument, bu-... Wait, I have the ones that didn’t sell at Heavy Anchor... It’s worth a shot. I charged my magic again, aiming a teleport to the top of the fort below, hoping not to be off.

When I opened my eyes, I saw that I was off by about twenty feet, as I was on the first floor. I sighed, and, with a sigh, began to walk up the stairs to the room the rest of my instruments were still in. A shiver went down my spine as I passed the door I went in last time. It creaked open a bit then stood still. I ignored it, and went through the next door.

“Ok... Let’s see...” I used a simple levitation spell to move all of the instruments to the area around me. All that was left was the remaining ocarina, the black violin, the guitars, and the flutes. After they were set out around me. I pulled a small knife out of my bag, and placed it against the base of my leg, just above the hoof.

“I never would've thought.” It was too quiet to hear the words, but it almost sounded like somepony was here.

I twisted the knife in my magical grip, and pointed it toward what I assumed was the source of the voice “Who’s there?” After a few seconds, I moved the knife forward two inches in an instant, a few drops of blood rolled down the blade of the knife.

“Ow!” The voice said, this time clearer, and easier for me to recognize.

“Oh damn it Crimson.” I muttered, sheathing the knife, and casting a light spell, breaking Crim’s illusion.

“I told you that I’d follow you around. Now turn off that damn light.” Haze growled as she shielded her eyes with her hoof.

I complied to her request, turning off the light spell. “Fine, you’ve already seen this much, might as well let you see the rest of this.” I muttered, cleaning the blade of the knife, before turning back to the instruments, knife at the base of my hoof once more. “Sanguis ligat omnia. Magicam sanguis faciam ultimum potentia.” At the last word, I drew the knife across my hoof, and let the blood run over it, before flicking a single droplet onto each instrument with my magic, before pouring a portion of my magical reserves into each droplet.

“You’re not getting off that easily. You said you promised not to tell, I want to know who and what.” Haze began to lean against the wall.

“Shh, this is a delicate process.” I said, “ Inveni potest stare instrumentum.” At the second word, one of the drops of blood turned white, on the violin. “Ok, now to...” I felt a shock go through my horn as I directed my magic on my attempt to enchant the violin, causing the flow of magic to stop from my horn. “Owwwww... What the hell? It said it was compatible!”

“Would you look at that, something that’s not suppose to happen.” Haze as pushes herself off the wall.

“Shush.” I gave her a look, before turning my attention back to the violin. “Ok, let’s try a scan spell.” I began to charge magic in  my horn again, focusing on the violin. A small amount of magic seemed to be lodged inside it. Dang, it’s already got an enchantment on it... Might as well see what it is. As I tried to probe deeper, though, it flashed a bright light, and suddenly there was a dark space in the center of the room, “Why the hell can’t I get ONE THING RIGHT TODAY?!” I shouted, looking up just in time to see my panflute flying into the void. Almost immediately, I began to feel dizzy, and another bright flash of light appeared, replacing the void with a pure black panflute.

“Enough with the lights, you ass.” Haze bitterly said as she turned her head away.

“That wasn’t me... That violin was already enchanted. I guess it absorbs instruments or something.” I focused my magic on it, happy to see that the enchantment on my panpipes was still there. “It looks like this will work just fine.”

“Good, now tell me what you’re hiding.” Haze began to trot up to me.

“Umm...” I picked up my panpipes, and slung them over my back. “I’ll tell you if the pony I’m helping agrees to it after.” As I finished speaking, I shot another small disabling bolt at Crimson, who jumped out of the way, but not quickly enough to stop me from teleporting to what I hoped was the deck of the ship.

Oddly enough, I landed right where I wanted to be. Getting back to Thor’s room once again was easy, and I was both glad, and a bit angry that the blood-water had partly dried, as I wouldn’t slip on it this time.

I quickly held the black panflute up to my lips, and began to play the second amp. As I began, my body began to feel heavy, which was rather unusual. Oh that fusion better not have had any side effects. That was my last thought, before completely losing myself in playing the amp, and passing out as I hit the last note.

____________________________________________________


Stormy Night’s POV


He’ll be begging for mercy after this. I thought after I loaded a simple cross bow with a beanbag tipped bolt. Shouldn’t have eaten my macaroni salad. “Be very, very quiet, I’m hunting Sprint.” I mentally giggled as I began my trip down the hallway.

As I turned a corner, I came to a sight that made me freeze, Star was lying in the middle of the hall, blood pooled around his head. Not the old blood from the battle, this was fresh.

Oh no, Sprints torment will have to wait. I threw the crossbow and galloped to Star, the crossbow fired down the hall leading to the right.

“Ow, what the hell Storm!” Oh no, did the bolt hit Crimson Haze? I worriedly thought as I turned my head just as I got to Star. Blood was flowing from his ears, eyes, mouth and nose, and he was barely breathing. “No seriously, what the hell?” Haze rounded the corner and glared at me.

“Haze, get the captain!” I shouted, before looking around for something to absorb the blood from his fur with.

“Use this.” Haze rang out the cloth that we assumed Star used to clean the blood with, then draped it on my hoof. I wiped the blood off of star’s muzzle, well, I smeared it actually, but it unblocked his airway, and his breathing immediately improved. I then worked on getting the blood off of his eyes, only partly succeeding, before finally wiping his ears. If the situation weren’t so serious, I would probably have made a joke about the shade of pink the smeared blood made him. “Think you can carry him?” I instantly looked at Haze.

“Probably not, honestly...” I looked to the side, and saw a pure black version of Stars panpipes a foot away from star. “Hey, where did these come from?”

“I think that’s the product of whatever Star was doing when I saw him last.” Haze answered, after a few moments, her eyes lit up. “I’ve got an idea.” Crimson’s horn began to glow, and my body began to light up with her magical aura. “Testosterone spell. You have about five minutes before it wears off, which should be more than enough time.”

I easily lifted Star over my back, “... Wow, when did you learn to do that?”

“It’s a basic spell, I learned it about three years after getting my cutie mark, now go.” Crimson stated before putting her hoof on the door.

“Yeah... Wait, where am I going again?” I asked, face-hoofing.

Crimson sighed. “Find a room with an unmade bed and call it an infirmary.”

I gave a quick nod, “Got it.”  With that, I walked down the hall, quickly finding an empty room, which I made a small red cross on the door with the blood at hand. I then walked in, gently placing Star on one of the beds. A quick look around the room told me that, oddly enough, I chose an actual infirmary to make the infirmary. “Don’t worry, I’ll find out what to do.”

________________________________________________________________


Crimson Haze’s POV


I watched as Stormy galloped off. Now to find out what this is all about. I opened the door and trotted in.

“What the hell are you doing here!?” Thor yelled in rage at me as I closed the door.

“Learning why Star was so deep in thought when I saw him.” I answered. Thor got the angriest look, the like of which I haven’t seen of in years.

“That son of a bitch, I told him not to tell anypony!”

“And he didn’t. I just figured it out just now.” I answered before she could do anything. I then trotted up to her. “Come on, we’ve known each other for a long time. You don’t have to keep secrets of being in heat from me.”

On cue, Thor’s face turned beet-red, despite her light-brown coat, “H-how did you-”

“You reek of it.” I answered as I began to hug her.

“Uhh... What are you doing?” Thor asked, hesitantly returning the hug.

“I guess it has been a long time.” I released her after saying that. “I’ll go see if Stormy and I can make something to help. Don’t worry I’ll pass it off as thinking ahead.”

“Ok. I’ll be here.” She said, calmly looking around, “Tell Star... Tell him I said thanks for trying to keep it a secret.”

“Something tells me that you should.” I stopped in front of the door as I answered.

“What do you mean?” Thor gave me a look of confusion.

“Just trust me on this one.” I left the room after that and began looking for Storm.

__________________________________________


Star Whistle’s POV, some time later


I awoke with a loud yawn, and an IV in my foreleg. “Oh fucking...” I tore the IV out and sat up, and my first thought was ‘hospital,’ but then common sense got hold, and I realized I couldn’t be in a hospital. A quick look over of the room, and a glance out the window told me I was in an infirmary on the airship. The airship also seemed to be moving

“I’m telling you, Stormy found this shit in...” Sprint came into view with something white in his mouth and a big dopey grin. “Oh hey, you’re up.”

“Hey, what happened to me... and what’s that?” My attention was brought to the object in Sprint’s mouth.

He sort of staggers into my room and gets really close then begins to whisper. “They call it, a blunt.” He takes a deep breath and exhales with his mouth wide open. “All gone.”

“Really? You’re smoking weed in an infirmary?” I paused for a moment “This is an infirmary, right?”

Sprint began to wobble around before bringing his face uncomfortably close to mine. “... What?”

“Just get out.” I gave him a glare I had been practicing since I had joined the crew, and it seemed to work so far.

He shook his head around and turned around. “Fine, be that way.”

“You know he can’t hear you.” Somepony said to him as he left the room.

“That’s not true, he’s alive.” Sprint retorted.

“Out of my sight.” That voice...

“Thor? Is that you?” I asked, my question answered by the sound of something falling over.

Thor shoved Sprint out of the way, and dashed into my room. “You’re awake...” I saw tears slightly well in her eyes.

“Umm... Did something happen?” I asked, “I tried asking Sprint, but he was too baked to understand, I think.”

“You were found bleeding from your face, outside my room.” Thor answered. “Listen, I want to thank you for trying to keep my secret.”

“Trying? I had to seal Crim’s magic twice. Twice. Do you know how hard it was to take her off guard two times?” Outside her room? What was-.. Oh yeah... I played an amp on the panpipes right after... “Hey, were there black panpipes near me?”

“I’m not sure, Crimson Haze must have picked it up after she found out.” Thor shook her head.

“I see... Wait, how long have I been out for?” I asked, looking out the window, “and where is the ship going?”

“You’ve been out for three days. As for where we’re going, we’ve raided a small satyr village, now we’re headed back to the fortress.” Thor smiled as sat down.

“Three days, and all I missed was a raid?” I asked with a weak chuckle.

“We’ve also robbed two cargo ships,” Thor responded, looking off to the side. The smile was still there, but her eyes were sad. “but that was yesterday and the day before.”

“Is something wrong?” I asked, tilting my head slightly.

“Let’s just say, I was deep in thought while you were asleep, and...” She began to veer off for a bit.

“... And?” I asked, in an inquiring tone.

“Well, you can sleep in my cabin so long as I’m not in heat.” Thor smiled and began to blush.

I felt my face growing warmer. Woah, that’s blunt... Then again, how else would you expect someone who uses a warhammer to confess. My thoughts slowly grew more and more complicated, yet, for some reason, the only thing I could get out when I opened my mouth was “I...”

“I’ll give you some time to think about it.” She smiled then kissed me before turning around. “I’ll be topside in the meantime.”

As she left, I felt my brain shut down, not really understanding what just happened. For at least twenty minutes I just stood there, staring out into space, before snapping out of it. The first movement I made was slowly raising a hoof to my mouth, as a smile covered my face.

~ End of Chapter 5

Monday’s note: I’ve become rather sarcastic in the naming of these recent chapters, haven’t I? I mean, I named this chapter what I did because that’s how I felt after reading over what we wrote.

> Arrival
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Star Whistle‘s POV


The next few weeks passed rather calmly, despite me still not finding my black panflute. It turns out in one of the raids Thor found a medicine for her being... you know. Anyway, that passed, we... Sort of moved into the same room. The captain protested despite not caring either way, obviously, but he didn’t stop us. Since then, plans to raid ponyville to gain the General of the royal guard to come out into the open had been written up, and we had begun our travel to the area.

Anyway, I woke up to the sound of Thor snoring softly next to me. I felt a warm, fuzzy feeling inside as I just watched her sleep. No, we hadn’t done anything, but we still shared the bed. I looked down and suppressed a slight chuckle at the fact that she was lying on my foreleg, effectively holding me to the bed. I tried to slightly shift it, which caused her to move slightly, and pulling me closer with her forelegs. With a soft smile, I returned the embrace. We lay like that for several minutes, until Thor eventually woke up.

“Good morning.” She smiled as she looked at me with tired eyes, before letting out a yawn.

“Morning.” I returned the smile, and undid my hug so we could both get up.

Thor got up first, then popped her back. “Remember what we’re doing today?”

“... Will you take ‘no’ as an answer?” I asked with a slightly embarrassed grin.

“We’ll be in North Brickwood. We’ll be able to relax and have fun there.” Thor smiled then kissed me before stretching her front legs, then back.

I rolled out of the bed, landing on all fours. “Yeah, it’ll be nice to have a break from being on the ship all day.”

“I think the whole crew will benefit from it.” Thor smiled and opened the the large cabinet with most of their stuff. “That we’ll have tonight... Heat pills, don’t need them until next week... Ah, this.”

I glanced in the mirror, deciding to run a comb through my hair, getting it to a good point in a few seconds. “And what will we do in this night?” I asked with a slightly lopsided grin.

Thor’s smile changed ever so slightly, as a light blush crossed her face. “Probably after the red wine.”

I paused, and turned to look at her, my head tilted ever so slightly in curiosity, “... Huh, I didn’t see you as the wine type.”

“Actually this will be my first.” Thor commented as she laid two sticks on the table.

This time it was my turn to blush, “First, as in...?” I twisted my hoof uncomfortably.

“Well Yeah, that too.” Thor answered then looked at herself in the mirror.

“So I’m not the only one onboard.” I whispered to myself.

“Maybe this isn’t for me. Star, could you bunch up my mane and put the sticks in a cross pattern?” 

“I can try.” I used my magic to pick up the sticks, and the hairbrush nearby, and began to fix her mane slowly, trying to get it right. Eventually, I managed to get the hair into a bun, with one of the sticks holding it in place. It wasn’t equal to a professional, but hey, I didn’t do bad.

Thor tilted her head and looked at her mane in multiple directions, before shaking her head. “Well, It was worth a try, but this doesn’t seem like me.”

“Yeah. I say you just wear it like you normally do.” I suppressed a yawn, and scratched the back of my neck. “It looks better that way.”

Thor suppressed a giggle and smiled as she looked at me through the mirror. “Aw, and do nothing with it for the special occasions?”

I gave a warm smile, “I’m sure it would just get in the way.”

“Ah, you’re no fun.” Thor trotted to the door after taking the sticks out of her mane. “Guess we should let the crew know we’re up.”

I took a quick glance at the clock, and, seeing the time was only 7AM, I felt my smile widen, “Eh, I don’t think anyone else is up yet anyway.”

“Well, then we can enjoy the morning air together then.” Thor smiled as she pushed the door open while looking over her back.

That’s one thing we could do, I thought to myself, before smiling and following her up to the deck.

Though the hallway was big enough for us to trot side by side, I still chose to follow Thor topside. “I thought he was over that.”

“Who?” I asked, looking past Thor to see Skywing at the bow, looking over the front of the ship. “Oh.”

“Skywing used to have a habit of waking up at five, I guess it was only temporary.” Thor said as she began to paw at the ground before looking at me. “Remember after we moved into the same room, I said that we’d be able to avoid future conflicts if you were to find common grounds with the captain?”

“Yeah, I remember.” I said with a slight sigh. “I’ll avoid it if I can.”

“Now’s your chance to find common ground.” Thor stated as I stood on the deck. “Trust me it could mean the difference between once tonight, and as long as you can hold out tonight.”

... I can... no... I must do this. I gave a nod. “Any ideas for what to talk to him about?”

Thor shrugged. “I don’t know, maybe why you acted the way you did when we overtook the fortress?”

“... That’s one option... Ok, I’ll give it a try.” I gave a small nod. After a few deep breaths, I took my first step, walking until I was next to the captain “Hey.” He stayed silent even as I sat next to him. “Look, I just wanted to talk to you for a moment.” The captain looked at me out of the corner of his eye only briefly. “You know that feeling when you‘ve done something that you want to forget?” After a few more seconds of silence, I turned away, “You know what, just forget I said anything.”

As I trotted away he said something that I don’t even think Thor would have expected. Something that caused me to freeze in my tracks. “My first, kill was... a six year old colt.”

I turned back to Skywing, “... What happened?”

“Deathmatch.” Skywing simply answered. “... I was only five.”

That... Woah. “How anypony sleeps after that is beyond me.”

Skywing closed his eyes then took a deep breath. “It took me a week before I could get any sleep.”

“... Let me guess, nightmares?”

“Trauma.” Skywing responded. It’s amazing that can sit so still as he talk about this. “I literally did not get any sleep.”

“... Wow, even I didn’t have it that bad after my first kill.” I said, looking out over the railing at the land below. “Then again, I wasn’t a colt at the time...”

“Remember, I kill because I was raised to kill.” I began to watch as Skywing stood up then went below deck. Thor then trotted to me.

“At least he didn’t blow up like last time.” Thor looked at the stairs as she spoke, then turned to me.

“That... I did not expect.” I said, leaning against the rails, my hoof on my face.

“Expect what?” she tilted her head some.

“I... Don’t think the captain would appreciate me repeating stuff about him.”

Thor put her hoof on my shoulder as she sat down. “Trust me on this one, Skywing is the kind of pony that unless he tells you, he wants to keep it a secret.” The tone I easily recognized as the ‘tell me now if you want to live,’ kind of tone.

I decided to take my chances, “Still not saying.”

Thor sighed, then leaned on the rail behind me. “At least tell me if you two found common grounds.”

“... In a way, I guess.” I turned to face her, “I think that actually wasn’t a bad idea.”

“Well, it’s a step in the right direction.” Thor hugged me as the cool morning air began to pick up.

“Yeah...” Something inside told me that it would be best if I changed the subject. “So... What’s the plan for today?”

“Spend some bits and have some fun in North Brickwood.” Thor smiled, before releasing me from the hug.

“I meant,” I paused to peck her on the cheek “What do you want to do while there?”

Thor blushes slightly. “I don’t know, I’ve never been to this area.” She then kissed me on my lips. “I don’t think any of us have been to North Brickwood.”

“Today’s just a whole list of firsts, isn’t it?” I said with a small laugh.

Thor giggled softly, then nuzzled me. “You’re the one to talk.”

“I never said it wasn’t like that for me.” I said, returning the sign of affection.

“Well isn’t this precious?” We heard Haze say, causing us both to jump at her sudden appearance next to us. “Oh, don’t mind me. I’m just waiting for ms. preppy to turn down the lights.”

I gave haze a look, and cast the strongest light-spell I knew. “Don’t ruin the moment.”

Haze turned away shielded her eyes with her hoof. “You asshole.”

Thor closed her eyes as the light began to sting her as well. “Can you turn it down, please. Crimson Haze and I go way back, further than me and Skywing.”

“... Fine.” I stopped the flow of magic into my horn, “but still.”

Haze took a moment to regain her vision before rolling her eyes. “It’s better than being caught by Stormy when you two finally french kiss.”

I felt my face grow hot, and looked at Thor, and seeing her just as surprised as me caused a grin to break across my face, “You know, she has a point there.”

“Yeah, I’d hate to think of what she’d do.” Thor almost seemed relieved with the bittersweet end of our morning.

“Hmm... About when should we be arriving at Brickwood?” I asked, looking off the side of the ship.

“About an hour from now, give or take a few.” Haze shrugged.

“Well, I guess I’ll grab a few things. See you in an hour.” I turned, and walked down the stairs, into the ship.

“Okay, I’ll take the wheel then.” Haze casually trotted to the wheel as I went below deck.

After several minutes of walking, I finally made it back to my (and Thor’s) room. I closed  the door behind me before walking over to the bed, which I then used my magic to move, and reveal a small box, out of which I pulled a small bag. What was in the bag, you ask? Money. I quickly moved the bed back into place, and grabbed a small knife, hiding it in my tail, Always be prepared.

“Hi Star!” I jumped as Stormy called my name, and nearly scaring me half to death.

“Don’t do that, Storm.” I said, regaining my composure as I spoke. “So, how are you?”

“I’m fine.” Stormy answered as she stood in the doorway.  “So...”

 I let out a slight sigh, “Yes? What is it?”

“How are you and Thor doing?” Stormy asked, getting straight to the point. Sometimes I really wonder about her.

“Um... We’re doing well. Why?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Just wondering,” Stormy happily chirped. “I think Thor is really lucky to have such a cute stallion as a coltfriend.”

“... Uhh...” Is she flirting with me?... I guess I’d better escape. “I’m going to head back up top.”

“Okay, I’ll start planning my day then.” Stormy began to trot back to her room. “Have somepony tell me when we’ve landed.”

“Will do.” I turned the other way, going back to the stairs.

“Find what you were looking for?” Thor asked as I got topside.

“Yeah, I’ve got what I need.” I said, flicking my tail in a way that showed the knife and bits.

“Ever heard of a saddle bag?” I heard Haze say from the wheel.

I let out a sigh, “Saddle bags are uncomfortable.”

“Maybe we can find you a padded saddle bag while we’re in Brickwood, Star.” Thor suggested as she began to stand upright.

“Maybe. I can’t confirm I’ll wear it though.” I said, looking down at the city as we approached.

“If you want to keep yourself from getting stabbed in the ass, you will.” Thor responded. “What’s with the knife anyways?”

"It's a habit." I said with a shrug, "If I have any need to use it, you'll see."

“I just realized I don’t know where we’re going exactly.” Haze looked off the bow with a worried expression as she held the wheel.

Thor looked at Haze, then me. “Go get the captain, tell him we need to know where to dock.”

"Yes, milady." I said, doing an over-the-top bow, before beginning to head back below deck.

“That was really cheesy.” Haze said as she leaned over the railing, looking at Thor.

I turned back for a moment, "I know. That was the point."

“Try to not be cheesy too often.” Thor raised her head after giggling to herself.

I was already below deck, so I wasn't really able to respond, but I did smile to myself as I trotted down the halls.

“That’s got to be the cutest thing I’ve seen you do all week.” I sighed in frustration as Storm trotted up to me. At least Caramel was behind her this time.

"Hey Storm, Caramel." I forced the annoyance I felt to the back of my mind as I spoke, "Do either of you know where the captain is?"

Caramel shook his head. “I saw him go into his room.” Stormy answered, in her usual chirpy tone.

"Thanks." I turned down a different hall, and continued my trot, this time with a set destination.

“You’re welcome, I’ll see you when you get top side.” I heard Stormy call out as I walked further down the hallway.

It took about four or five minutes to get to the room I was looking for. I gave a short, rapid knock, before opening the door. I looked around and found the captain laying on his bed, looking at the wall. "Captain?" I asked, taking a step into the room. He didn’t answer, only sighed. It didn’t take much but I knew something was really different about the captain compared to earlier. I wonder if this is about before... "Captain, is something wrong?"

“The memories of days past is something I’m never fond of.” Skywing responded, but didn’t move. 

I sighed, seeing where this was probably going, “Do you want to talk about it?”

“I’d rather have a distraction.”

“Well, Haze doesn’t quite know where to land the ship. Once we’re in town I’m sure you’ll have distractions galore.” I was trying my best not to sound condescending. The captain rolled out of bed then walked out of the room, at a pace that I would describe as ‘not quite a trot.’ Well, better than nothing. I thought as I followed him to the deck.

“Captain, we need a place to dock and I don’t know where.” Haze spoke up as I got topside with the captain. He went to the bow then looked around.

“Try down there.” The captain pointed to what looked like zeppelin docks that I could barely see.

“Aye aye.” Haze said, somehow making the ship go downward toward the dock. As we approached, I saw at least fifty airships. of various sizes.

“At last, a chance to strike it big.” I could hear Sprint talking to himself as he came topside.

“Just don’t lose too much of our funds this time.” Haze warned, giving Sprint a small glare.

“I ain’t gonna lose money.” Sprint retorted. “I’ll have you know that I’m going to get the jackpot.”

Haze seemed to be struggling to keep from laughing at him, “Pfft, sure, you go on thinking that.”

“Oh, come on. Have a little faith in him.” Stormy said as she glomped Sprint.

Sprint screamed. “Stay away from me, she devil!”

“Could we just focus on landing the ship now?” I asked, feeling a bit worried that we might crash if everyone is shouting and not really paying attention.

Haze sighed. “Come here Stormy.” Stormy began to trot up to Haze as she tried to keep herself from crying, though she was really close. “He’s just deathly afraid of you, which I admit is very funny.”

“Hey!” Sprint began to glare at Haze.

Oddly enough, despite all the bullshit going on, Haze managed to get us into the dock without so much as a scratch on the hull of the ship. “Well, I guess we should get going.” I said, jumping down, and using a slow-fall spell, making me gently touchdown on the wooden planks.

“Well hold on, we don’t even know how long we’re staying.” Caramel pointed out.

“Four days, at most.” Skywing answered. “Longer if we have reasonable cause.”

“Ok, well,” I levitated Thor down, placing her next to me on the docks, “Onward!”

“Hold on, aren’t we forgetting something?” Thor put a hoof on my back.

“... Are we?” I looked at Thor who nodded towards Sprint and Caramel as Stormy glided to the ground. “Oh, right.” Yes... Forgot... Haze teleported next to us as I levitated pretty much everyone else down, except for Skywing who just jumped, and surprisingly didn’t break anything.

“Now, like you said, onward.” Skywing stated as he trotted ahead of us.

~ End of chapter 6

> Brickwood (Incomplete)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Stormy Night's POV, beginning of day 1


Ok, first thing's first: coffee, I thought to myself as I flew away from the group. It didn't take long to find a target: a small time café.  I made sure I had what I needed and, with a shifty glance around, entered the establishment. One camera above the cash register... "Hello, may I take your order?" a chirpy unicorn made asked behind the counter.

I leaned in close, motioning for her to do the same, and whispered, "I want all your coffee." With the words, I dropped a rather large bag of bits on the counter.

 "Y... yes ma'am." Said the rather surprised mare, who turned around, and began brewing. I walked over to one of the chairs, and sat down. 

"You know, from the look on your face, I thought you are going to rob the place," a stallion sitting near me said in a joking tone.

“Oh believe me, I was considering it.” I said plainly, stretching in the chair, which was surprisingly comfortable by the way.

The stallion began to lean away from me, probably looking for an escape. “Um... Okay...”

I let out a small chuckle, “Don’t worry, I’m not going to do anything.”

The stallion stopped leaning and looked directly at me. “Okay, I’m going to trot away now.”

“You do that.” I muttered as I curled up on the chair, and waited for my coffee to be done.

Nearly two hours later, I walked out of the coffee shop, the owner of which was actually dancing with joy. I pulled behind me a cart with eight barrels of coffee, a really long straw, and a fuckton of change. After a little bit of walking and drinking the coffee from the barrels.

It didn’t take long for something to catch my eye, four guys on a four person swing. One earth pony stallion, one satyr, and two slim minotaurs with their hands on the crossbar. I decided to stay and watch since they were making it halfway up, until one of the minotaurs fell on the crossbar then landed behind the second one in the dirt and the swing hit him on the way back. I laughed so hard I spat out some coffee. The swing stopped and the guys gave me a funny look. “I’m so sorry, I just haven’t seen anything like that before.”

The satyr scoffed, “You must’a been livin’ under a rock or somethin’. We’re tryin’ ta prove our skills.”

I managed to calm myself down as the minotaur who got off with the satyr hit him in the shoulder. “Damn homes, you really need to lighten up.” He spoke with a mexican accent.

“Well it’s true. We’ve been trying to show off what we can do for weeks now!” The satyr said, with a huff, “The crowds throw off our beat, though.”

“You don’t need to insult her like that. She’s a filly.” The Minotaur retorted, as the stallion went to help the other minotaur. “What’s your name anyways, filly?”

“What’s it matter to you?” I asked, raising an eyebrow questioningly, as I sipped from one of the barrels of coffee. By Celestia this straw is useful.

“Maybe you want to hang with us, I don’t know.” The Minotaur answered, as he scratched his head. “Maybe uh, we could do- OH!” The satyr punched him in the balls, causing the minotaur to lean forward and grab his crotch.

“That’s Skinny, I’m Shorty, and behin’ me is Crazy and Pony.” The satyr explained. “Now that you know who we is, what’s ya gonna do?”

I sighed, knowing he did that so I would feel obliged to tell him my name. Still, not going to tell them the real thing, “I’m Lighting Chaser.” I said, getting an urge to mention how their ‘names’ aren’t even that, just minor observations.

“So is that your real name, or is just what you want us to call you?” Asked  the one I assumed was crazy.

“I could ask you the same question.” I retorted.

“They’re just some names we came up with last sunday. See, we were calling each other names just for the hell of it and... those names just sort of stuck.” Pony answered as he trotted in front of the group.

“I’m gonna to get your ass for this.” Skinny pointed at Shorty as he began to stand upright.

“Jus’ try it, Skinny.” Shorty said, a grin on his face

“While they’re settling their thing, can I ask you if you want to hang with us?” Pony asked while Skinny and Shorty had their argument.

“Of course you can ask.” I said bluntly, “What you say is up to you.”

“Okay, suits yourself.” Pony turned to the other guys. “Hey come on, let’s get to that sign. I wanna see if we can break it.” Shorty and Skinny ended their momentary feud and looked at Pony.

“Last chance, but here’s something to think about. We know this city and you look like you just flew into town.” Crazy said as the four of them began to walk away.

Fuck, they used logic. I never expected that from them... I thought, but what he said was true, I didn’t know my way around. I let out a sigh, and followed them.

“Trust me, you won’t regret this.”Crazy said as he looked at me before turning to Skinny. “Hey Skinny, didn’t you want to get those nunchucks?”

“Hell, yah! Let’s get go get ‘em!” Skinny shouted, breaking into a run that, with a cart of coffee, it was hard to keep up with.

“It’ll be nice to see him use something other than those foam childrens toys.” Pony said out loud as he galloped behind Shorty.

I just hope none of the crew sees me with these guys... I thought to myself, feeling a shudder running down my spine, as I watched Shorty trip and fall, Pony tripping over him. Definitely not my kind of crowd. Skinny rushed into a convenience store and the other three stayed outside.

“Anyone else thinks think he’s gonna hurt himself?” Shorty asked as he watched his friend in the shop.

“Isn’t that the fun of it?” Pony said, laughing slightly.

In less than thirty seconds later Skinny came back out. “Deal done, I has the chucks.” He raised them into the air.

“All right, let’s do this!” Shorty shouted, eliciting a very small cheer of approval from the others. Ok, I’ll just watch them hurt themselves a couple times, and leave. That’s all. I thought to myself.

Skinny started out pretty good, swinging the chucks close to his body. But it didn’t take long for something to happen. He cried out as the chucks hit his crotch as he tried to switch hands. His friends began to laugh at him. “Help, I need mouth to balls resuscitation.”

Ok, so this is definitely just these guys laughing at each other's pain... I thought to myself, Eh, a good bit of slapstick never hurt anyone... Other than these guys. I added the last part as Skinny began to get up, clutching his... you know.

__________________________________________________


Northern Sprint’s POV, beginning of day 1


Everyone trotted in different directions, with the obvious exception of Star and Thor. Me? I went to a high-end establishment where one makes informed guesses for possible outcomes on which money is placed... Otherwise known as a gambling den. The place itself wasn’t anything special, just your average back-alley games house. Though it seemed to specialize in cards more than anything.