Pirates of the Alicorn: Legend of the Silver Spirit

While Shimmer and her crew had their troubles in Prance, there was another pair that was having their own troubles on the other side of the world. After sending Fedora off to recruit Brokenhorn for her dirty work, Chrysalis had Heatwave once again sneak into Canterlot and steal a mode of transportation for them to get to Trotkyo to find their first key, unfortunately the only one he could get between the time it took to sneak into Canterlot and escape the guards was a small blimp that was only big enough to fit at least ten ponies. Now Heatwave was stuck powering the blimp with his flames while using a pedal powered propeller to steer and drive it forward, needless to say neither Heatwave nor Chrysalis were happy with the situation.

“Go after the Silver Spirit she said,” He grumbled under his breath as he pedalled “Steal the Crystal Scrolls she said, steal a bloody airship she said, now here we once again where I am stuck doing all the dirty work while her royal highness…”

“What was that Heatwave!?!” Chrysalis snapped, just catching a small fraction of his last few words.

“Oh, uh… nothing your grace.” Heatwave said nervously.

Of course Chrysalis wasn’t doing the slightest bit of work, as far as she was concerned, Heatwave could do everything she wanted him to do without question, and the look of fear in his eyes, both normal and burnt, assured her that he would. So instead, she focused all her efforts in studying the map Heatwave stole from Canterlot, making sure everything was on track, suddenly her concentration was interrupted by Heatwave asking her a question.

“Not to question your judgement my lady,” he said through gasped breaths. “But why recruit another pirate to steal Silver’s key and maps? And Brokenhorn of all ponies!?! Surely you must know how dangerous he is.”

“That exactly WHY I recruited him you fool,” Chrysalis snapped. “Plus there is also the fact that stinking pirate owes me a debt, which I will not discuss with you, understood?”

“Clearly, but are you sure Fedora will be able to give your message to him without being killed first.”

At those words, a sly grin appeared on Chrysalis’s face.

“Oh I assure you that she is quite well Heatwave,” she said. “She has already delivered my message and is on her way to Prance on board Brokenhorn’s ship.”

“Wait, how could you possibly know all of that?” Heatwave Asked with a raised eyebrow. “And more to the point how’d you know there is a key is in Prance if we don’t even have all the scrolls.”

“I managed to overhear a few ponies while I was undercover in Canterlot that there was a pair of ponies trying to hitch a ride to Prance on the only ship that wasn’t docked because of YOUR little escapade a few days ago,” Chrysalis explained, putting an aggravated emphasis when referring to Heatwave’s failure. “It wasn’t too hard to figure out what that ship was and who it belonged to, as for how I know what’s going on with your little girlfriend, I took the liberty of enchanting her glasses just before she left, therefore I can see whatever she does. Needless to say all is going according to my plan… Fedora seems to be a bit more competent than you Heatwave, it’s a wonder how she could ever fall for you.”

However those words only put Heatwave’s temper into overdrive, hearing that insult at his expense really made him scowl with fury.

“That wench is nothing more than a means to an end!” he snapped. “It’s not my fault that she’s too stupid to realise that she’s the only one with those petty feelings.”

“You don’t share the same feelings then?” Chrysalis asked with a raised eyebrow.

“The only reason I keep that stupid bimbo around is so that I can exploit her skills and so that she can provide protection for me,” Heatwave growled. “As long as I let her believe that I share that stupid love crap with her then I get to keep those assets.”

Hearing this Chrysalis could only look neutral, she neither cared nor worried about Fedora and Heatwave, to her they were only a means to an end, still she couldn’t help but feel sorry for the poor Pegasus who was in love with this heartless pony with burns.

“Such a shame,” she said, turning back to the map. “I could have used a snack right about now, the love would have been much sweeter when you’re apart from your loved one. Still at least now we are on our way to Trotkyo and that much closer to the Silver Spirit.”

“Yeah, I’ll bet.” Heatwave answered still huffing and puffing through each turn of the peddles. “Personally I still don’t understand why those stupid pirates those to travel by sea when clearly there is Air-travel all over Equestria, I suppose it’s something to do with tradition or…”

“Just shut up and peddle!” Chrysalis snapped.

At those words Heatwave silenced himself and quickly continued his peddling.

Meanwhile out in open sea, on board the Broken Unicorn, Fedora was standing on the upper deck watching Brokenhorn’s crew at work. All across the deck every crewmember were hard at their jobs, while half of the crew were hosting the sails and prepping the cannon’s for battle, the remaining half just scrubbed the deck with old wire brushes and sea water. If any stallion were caught being lazy or goofing off the Sea Rose would give them a kick to the gut and put them back to work.  After giving a couple of slackers what they deserved, Sea Rose went off to the upper deck and spoke to the Quartermaster, who was at the helm.

“Steady as she goes,” she said with a stern look in her eyes.”

“ Aye-aye, ma’am,” The Quartermaster answered, sweating a little bit.

Needless to say that no matter who it was, every sailor on board the Broken Unicorn looked at Sea Rose with a hint of fear, and even Fedora had to admit she was impressed.

“Wow, Sea Rose,” She said with a smile. “How you do it? I mean how can just one mare take control of a whole ship filled with stallions?”

“Oh please, these lazy bums are nothing compared to me.” Sea Rose said with a chuckle. “You just gotta show them that even Mares like me and you can take charge. It also gives me an excuse to beat them to a pulp if they push me too far.”

“Hmm, I see…” Fedora said, clearly intrigued.

As A researcher by heart Fedora was completely fascinated that so many stallions could fear just one mare, perhaps if she had this kind of enthusiasm and gusto, maybe her beloved Heatwave would see her in a better way

“Sea Rose!” Said Brokenhorn’s voice from behind them.

Both mares then turned to see Brokenhorn standing in the doorway of his quarters.

“Yes, Captain,” Sea Rose said with a salute.”

“Make sure you get the lads working till nightfall,” he said with a gruff tone in his voice. “I want to get to Prance by tomorrow, got it!?!”

“As you wish…Father” Sea Rose answered with a smile.

Satisfied, Brokenhorn then closed the door and retired to his cabin, leaving Sea Rose and a surprised Fedora alone to talk.

“FATHER!?!” Fedora gasped. “You never told me you were his daughter. Heck, I didn’t even know Brokenhorn was married, from all the stories I heard about him I didn’t even think that was possible.”

“That’s because it ain’t!” said a deep, booming voice from below them.”

Hearing this, both Fedora and Sea Rose looked to the lower deck to see a large stallion, carrying a wooden crate of cannonballs on his back with ease. He had a dark red coat, a grey mane and tail and was wearing a filthy stitched up vest and two iron rings in his left ear, upon seeing him Sea Rose suddenly gained an annoyed look upon her face, clearly this particular stallion was someone she didn’t like.

“The Captain ain’t her real father,” he said setting the crate of cannonballs down. “He just took her in cause no pony else wants her.”

“For the last time Cannonball, mind your own damn business!” Sea Rose snapped. “Now why don’t you make your worthless hide useful, and get the cannons ready for tomorrow’s attack, that shouldn’t be a problem with someone of your brain power.”

However Cannonball only smiled and once again picked up the crate of Cannonballs.

“Whatever you say… Miss Orphan.” He smirked.

“ WHY YOU…!!!” Sea Rose growled as she attempted to run towards Cannonball who began to walk away, only to be held back by Fedora. “By Celestia I hate that stallion.”

“I can see why,” Fedora said nervously. “And here I thought Brokenhorn was the mean one, who was he anyway?”

“Cannonball, our resident weapons expert,” Sea Rose explained, regaining her composure. “Found him after the idiot decided to try and blow up Canterlot castle, what use Brokenhorn can see in that short-tempered fool is beyond me.”

“But is that whole orphan thing true?” Fedora asked. “That is if you don’t mind me asking.”

“I don’t want to talk about,” Sea rose said sternly.”

“I… I know it’s not my place to meddle in your personal business,” Fedora continued, knowing that she was pressing her luck but tested her courage none the less. “But I once helped a stallion who felt neglected just like you clearly do while he was in prison. So… maybe I can help you too.”

Sea Rose then looked at Fedora with a careful eye, after all she is so used to environment filled with hateful stallions that she was curious as to why this mare would offer to help, finally upon seeing the truthful look in Fedora’s eyes she gave into her offer.

“Alright,” She sighed. “It is true, I’ve been an orphan since I was a filly.”

“Oh… I… I’m so sorry.” Fedora said hanging her head slightly in shame for bringing up an obviously painful memory. “Did… did something happen between you and your parents that forced you to run away?”

At those words Sea rose couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle.

“No actually,” She said. “To be honest I had a pretty good life as a filly. I lived with my parents in a small fishing village near the main land, but all that changed when pirate raiders invaded our shores, I was only five years old when I watched them burn down my home and kill my family in cold blood.”

“By Celestia,” Fedora gasped in horror.

“Since then I ended up on the streets,” Sea Rose continued. “One day I got caught by this crew while I tried to pickpocketing the Captain himself. Luckily instead of having me killed Captain Brokenhorn saw that I had potential, after that he took me in and raised me as his own daughter. I owe him everything for that.”

“I’m so sorry Sea Rose,” Fedora said placing a hoof on her shoulder. “It must have been awful.”

“Loss and suffering harden the heart Fedora,” Sea Rose said with a cold expression on her face. “Without it, what would I be today?”

“Um, uh…happy?”

Those were the words that turned Sea Rose’s expressionless face into an angry glare pointing in Fedora’s direction, luckily as a reporter in her old life, Fedora knew when to stop asking questions.

“I’ll uh, just see what I can do below deck then Shall I?” she said nervously as she quickly walked away, trying to avoid Sea Rose’s gaze.

Once Fedora was below deck, Sea Rose regained her composure and continued shouting orders to the crew.

“Alright you worthless layabouts!” She screamed. “The Captain wants this ship arriving in Prance by tomorrow. So let’s get this moving! Double time!!!”

“AYE-AYE, SEA ROSE!!!” the crew replied in unison.

Back in Prance, in the Tavern, Gem Le Stone was just finishing up introducing all her friends to Pearl, her little sister now grown into a beautiful young mare.

“Oh Gem, I so happy you back home,” Pearl said giving her sister a hug. “Guess what, I have wonderful news to tell you.”

“What is it Pearl?” Gem asked.

“ Your little sister has been engaged for marriage.” Pearl said with a happy squeal.

Needless to say Gem gasped in surprise, after all these years at sea, she gets to hear that her little sister, who was no more than a filly when Gem left  was getting married.

“Oh, that’s wonderful darling!” Rarity said with a smile.

“Congratulations miss,” Rocky added.

“Oh, Pearl, I’m so happy for you,” Gem said, giving her sister another hug. “So who’s the lucky stallion? I hope it’s not that colt you were friends with when we were fillies, the one who always carries his baby blanket and sucks his hoof.”

At those words, pearl couldn’t help but giggle.

“Of course not, Gem!” she chuckled.  “Zat colt moved to ze countryside with his parents years ago. Ze only stallion I attend to marry is my dear Storm Breaker. See!”

Pearl then showed the group a diamond encrusted engagement ring on her horn, needless to say Gem was more than impressed, as a gem inspector for a profession on board the Alicorn she knew quality when she saw it.

“He asked me to marry him last night.” Pearl continued. “It was so romantic.”

“Well, congrats,” Dripfang said, clearly tasting the love in Pearl’s words. “So when’s the big day?”

“The day after tomorrow.” Pearl answered with another smile.

“Ooh, then that’s gives me enough time to throw you the biggest bachelorette party ever!” Pinkie screamed, being her usual happy self.

Suddenly Dripfang’s face twisted  as if he caught a whiff of something terrible, it was though if allergies were acting up again but there wasn’t enough of the scent to make him lose control, at first he was confused but as he turned his head towards the window of the tavern a look of fear spread across his face.

“Fraid that party will have to wait Pinkie, Look!” he said, sweat dripping down his forehead.

Everyone then turned towards the window where Dripfang was pointing, to see a large black crow tapping its beak against the glass trying desperately to get in.

“If that’s the same crow we saw earlier then the Prance Police aren’t that far behind,” Rainbow Dash said with a look of worry.”

“Oh man, this is it we’re screwed!” Dripfang said, clearly panicked.

Needless to say the panic spread throughout the entire group, especially between Gem and Pearl, suddenly their train of thought was interrupted by the Bartender’s voice.

“Quick! Behind the bar!” he told them.

Seeing no other option the group and Pearl followed the Bar tender’s command and went behind the bar where he banged the floor three times with his hoof before a trapdoor opened up to reveal what appeared to be some sort of escape tunnel.

“Follow ze tunnel,” the Bartender instructed the group. “It will lead you to ze catacombs. Pearl, you know ze way I trust?

“Oui,” Pearl said with a reassured look. “Zank you Splash Down.”

“Just go quickly before zose fools come in.” Splash down said quickly before ushering everyone down the trapdoor.

When the last pony was in, Splash Down quickly closed the trapdoor, leaving everyone engulf in darkness, luckily Pearl, Gem and Rarity were able to light their horns to at least see where they were going.

“Zis way,” Pearl said in a quick whisper.

At those words, the entire group followed the turquoise light of Pearl’s horn down the tunnel, after a few rocky surfaces, the group suddenly found themselves hoof deep in water surrounded by broick walls that donned several torches that appeared to have been burnt out for quite a while, needless to say the very atmosphere was unsettling.

“Ooh, this tunnel’s spooky,” Rocky said, taking a whiff of the air only to cringe in disgust. “Ugh! And stinky!”

“I agree,” Rarity said covering her nose in disgust. “This odour is simply destroying my delicate nose!”

It was true, the air down the tunnel was indeed foul, it was the kind of smell that mixed the aromas of rotten seaweed and petrol, whatever this tunnel was, no pony even wanted to know what was causing the smell.

“Splash Down found zis tunnel about a year after Gem left,” Pearl explained “Ze smell is just ze water were walking through, it used to be a burial chamber for ze revolution a few centuries back, now it’s just used as an abandoned waterway zat leads to ze harbour.

“Revolution?” Rarity whispered in Gem’s ear.

“Long story,” Gem quickly answered. “I’ll explain later.”

“It may not be pretty but few ponies know about it,” Pearl continued. “So it is ze perfect travel route if you want to get from ze Tavern towards ze manor.”

Hearing those words, Gem suddenly stopped, her eyes widening in shock.

“M… Manor!?!” she stuttered “You mean zis tunnel leads to…”

“Oui big sister,” Pearl said, turning towards Gem with a smile. “Zis tunnel leads back towards La Stone Manor… Home.”

Meanwhile in the back streets of Prance, Le Fox was leading Jack Silver and his group through the city while avoiding the Police who are still on the hunt for them. As it turns out, Le Fox drives a hard bargain, she agreed to help find the others but as Jack expected, she came with a steep price for her services.

“I still can’t believe you promised her HALF our loot for her services.” Shimmer whispered in her father’s ear.

“What choice did I have?” Jack whispered back. “Besides, she only wants the jewels, we have more than enough bits on the ship to tide us over in the vault.”

“Silence!” Le Fox said  as she and the group hid behind an ally corner. “Zey are talking about you”

At first No pony knew what Le Fox was talking about, but after taking a peek around the corner of the wall, they realised what was going on. Two ponies, not members of the Police but rather a pair of civilians, were walking across the street and talking amongst themselves, needless to say no pony could help but to try and overhear some gossip from the passing ponies.

“I still can’t believe zat zere are Pirates in Prance!” one of them said.

“ Oh, I hope zey are not the crew from The Broken Unicorn.” Said the other. “I heard zat ship was last spotted somewhere just a day off our coast.”

“Well, eizer way I zink its best we head home right now and lock our doors and windows, I don’t want to be robbed by a bunch of zose filthy rouges.”

“Agreed!”

And with that the two ponies walked away and out of site, leaving the group relieved and alone in the empty street.

“Filthy?” T-Cog scoffed. “Cheeky bugger.”

“Guess everyone must have stayed indoors tonight,” Twilight said. “Word must have spread quicker than we first thought.”

“Before we know it, the entire coast will be swarming with Police.” Luna added. “I don’t like this Captain Shimmer, any ideas?”

“Well the best thing we could do is regroup.” Shimmer answered. “I won’t leave any of our friends behind.”

“Well said Shimmer.” Jack said with a smile. “Le Fox, do your thing.”

“Oui!” Le Fox said, quickly putting her nose to the road and sniffing the air.”

Needless to say, the equestrians were a little confused by Le Fox’s behaviour, but Jack explained earlier that since Le Fox was related to Diamond Dogs then her nose was incredibly powerful, thus making her the perfect one to track down any one of their lost comrades. As Le Fox sniffed the area a question couldn’t help but escape Applejack’s mind.

“So what the hay is the Broken Unicorn?” she asked. “Another pirate ship?”

“Are the crew friends of yours?” Fluttershy added.

“I’ll explain later,” Jack said quickly, trying to avoid the subject. “Le Fox, anything?”

“Ze scent is faint but it’s fresh,” Le Fox said, raising her head from the ground. “I can smell ze Police too, Iron Hoof was definitely just here not 10 minutes ago, you know ze ugly one with ze crow.”

Indeed, the group knew who Le Fox was talking about, and more to the point they knew what that meant for their missing friends.

“If that bird gets even remotely close to the others then Dripfang won’t stand a chance with his allergies,” Shimmer said with a worried look upon her face. “They’ll be sitting ducks.”

“Then we must find the others first,” Luna said with a serious tone.

“Agreed,” Jack added.  “Le Fox, can you pick up on anything else?”

“Hold on,” Le Fox said, taking in another sniff from the ground. “Well that’s strange.”

“What is it?” Twilight asked.

“Zere is a new scent, fresher zan ze last,” Le Fox explained. “But it’s… it smells like it’s coming from underground heading in zat direction… ugh, and something else, some kind of foul stench clouding their odour.”

Upon seeing Le Fox clenching her nose in disgust, Jack’s eyes suddenly widened in realisation

“The old catacombs,” he gasped.

“What are the old catacombs?” Luna asked.

“When I last came here I took the liberty of memorising every possible escape route,” Jack explained. “Upon my search I found several waterways that run underneath Prance right towards where we left the boat if Le Fox can smell the others’ scent from underground then they must have found one of the escape tunnels that lead down there.”

“Let’s just hope the police don’t find it too.” Shimmer said.

“You say that they’re heading in that direction Le Fox?” Twilight asked, pointing her hoof eastward.

“Oui,” Le Fox confirmed with a nod. “Right towards ze East side of town.”

“Then we better get moving,” Shimmer said. “I don’t like being in one spot for too long in this sort of situation for long.”

However before Shimmer could lead the group even a few feet down the street, the entire group froze upon hearing a single word from behind them

“Freeze!”

The group then turned and saw 20 or so ponies in blue and white uniforms lead by a large, muscular stallion with a large crow on his shoulder, the Prance Police had found them.

“Halt in ze name of Prance!” Iron Hoof shouted.

“Oh great, these chumps again.” Shimmer  said, face hoofing

Suddenly a single word escaped Jack’s lips

“RUN!!!” he screamed.