Pirates of Equestria

1: Accusations

The moon sits high in the sky, watching over all things that lay below. It shines its light, illuminating the events below as five pegasi fly passed. On the ground a pegasus races across the streets of Canterlot with six Royal Guards in tow. The lone pegasus leaps over and around all obstacles in his way while the guards simply knock over anything that will move. The pegasus turns a corner to find himself caught in a dead-end alleyway. He turns to see the guards blocking the exit, spears lowered, while the five flyers circle above.

“You’re surrounded! Give up and we’ll make this quick and painless!” one of the guards demands.

The pegasus stays quiet and looks around at his surroundings. To his right are three sacks of flour which gives him an idea. He bites down on one and flings it at the guards on the ground. The bag bursts, sending a cloud of white smoke everywhere. While the guards on the ground cough and try to regain their composure, the flyers swoop in. But the pegasus is prepared and kicks a second sack into the air slamming it into the leader, causing another cloud of white to form. A second later the third bag is ripped thickening the smoke.

When the smoke settles, three of the ground guards and two flyers lay on the ground, spears thrust through them while blood runs through the cobblestone street. The others survey the area to find that their target is nowhere to be found. The remaining flyers take to the sky while the remaining guards begin collecting the dead.

Two days earlier

Sky Runner, officer of the Canterlot Royal Guard enters his private quarters. As an officer he is allowed such privileges, this being but one that he thoroughly enjoys. Lying on the bed is a particular guest of his, the lovely Octavia. A cellist in the Canterlot orchestra, she is an earth pony with beautiful light grey and dark grey hair. She sits up, an inviting smile on her face, and signals him to sit next to him. Sky Runner begins removing his guard armor, revealing his dull orange body and brick red mane. His mane is medium length, styled in a kind of mohawk, while his tail is cut short. He stretches his wings as he walks over to the bed a sits next to Octavia, placing a wing around her. The tuft of reddish-orange feathers that stretch along each wing brushes against her cheek.

“So tell me,” she says, “what are the plans for today?”

“I don’t know. You tell me.”

She moves in close to whisper into his ear. “Well, I have a few ideas.”

Sky smiles, thinking of what could be on her mind. Before anything else can happen, there is a knock at the door. Octavia hangs her head in disgust. “What now?”

“Now, now,” Sky reassures her and answers. “What is it?”

“Urgent report! Suspicious activity is being reported across the city! All guards are requested to report at once!”

Sky sighs and gets up. “I’ll be there shortly.”

“But, what about-” Octavia begins.

“I’m sorry but duty calls. I’ll be back and we can continue this.” He kisses her on the cheek and proceeds to don his armor. “It’s probably nothing anyways. No need to worry.” He smiles at his love before leaving but her worrying has only just begun.

Sky Runner arrives at the palace and meets up with one of the squads. They salute and begin their report.

“Sir! The immediate area has been cleared and the perimeter is secured. There is no sign of any intruders.”

“Continue the sweeps and expand the search area outside the palace.”

The guards salute and move out while Sky is left alone. He thinks about the activity and what purpose or goal there might be while considering that the target may not even be in the palace. He passes by two other guards on patrol and decides to investigate an unlikely hunch.

“You two with me. We’re going to check on the princess.”

The two acknowledge and follow. Princess Celestia would been a prime target and normally heavily guarded. But the current situation would have left her personal guard somewhat dwindled leaving her vulnerable.

The three wander the darkened hallways, making their way to Celestia’s private quarters. Things are quiet and Sky starts becoming very anxious. There is a soft noise to his right. When Sky looks, the guard that was there is gone. Another soft noise and the other is gone. He readies his spear and charges to the princess’s quarters, desperate to protect the princess before the assailant can reach her. He flings the door open and is swarmed by other guards. Sky struggles to free himself but to no avail.

“Let me go! I need to know if the princess is alright!”

“I am alright, but you have much explaining to do.” He looks up to see Princess Celestia flanked by two guards.

“You are under arrest for the attempted assassination of her highness, Princess Celestia,” one of the guards says before placing Sky in chains and leading him off.

The next day, Sky is tried in court for the assassination attempt. Though he pleads innocence, naming Octavia as a witness to corroborate where he was until he went off to join the other guards in investigating the activity, it is to no avail. Several other guards and even Celestia herself identify him as the assassin. Ultimately, he is found guilty and sentenced to death for the act.

He sits in his cell a day later awaiting his escort to the execution hall thinking of what he will do. When his escort arrives he follows them until they reach a location with no witnesses. Here Sky puts his plan into motion. He slams into the guard on his right, knocking his head against the stone wall. As the pony reels in pain Sky gets around the other and wraps his chains around the guard’s neck, strangling him. When the pony stops breathing, Sky lets go and focuses on the other guard who has now recovered but still dazed, blood running down his face. Sky grabs the pony’s spear, twists and rends it from its owner then runs it through the pony’s chest, spilling blood across the hall floor.

After the fight, Sky unlocks his chains and dons one of the guard’s armor as a disguise.

He runs out yelling. “The prisoner has escaped!”

Five guards arrive and begin questioning him. “What happened? Where is the prisoner?”

Sky fakes injury as he tells his tale. “We were escorting the prisoner to the execution hall when he jumped us. I’ve never seen any pony move like that.”

“Where did he go?”

“I don’t know. I took a nasty blow to the head and didn’t see where he ran off to.”

“Hurry! We can’t let him escape!” The guards run off but one stays behind.

“Weren’t both guards unicorns?” he asks as Sky feels his plan begin to fall apart. “So why do you have wings?”

The guard lowers his spear and begins to advance on Sky. In a split second, Sky grabs the spear in his mouth and the guard with his wings. He tosses him against a wall, splattering blood on the wall. He yanks the spear away then runs him through. Blood begins to form a puddle in front of the fallen pony. After dispatching the guard Sky makes his way out. The first thing to do is get out of Canterlot and figure out who framed him for this assassination attempt.

Sky flies low across the streets of Canterlot and makes his way to Octavia’s home. The need to tell his love that he was alright weighs on him. He enters the window of her bedroom, waking her from a light sleep. She jumps at the sight of the intruder but Sky moves into the light and removes the stolen helmet to reveal himself before she screams.

“Sky my love!” Octavia rushes over and embraces him, sobbing. “I feared the worst. What happened?”

“There was an assassination attempt on Princess Celestia and I was made a scapegoat for the crime,” he replies as he she lets go.

Octavia hugs him again but recoils after taking a close look at his borrowed uniform. “Is that blood?” She indicates the blood stains that now covers the chest plate.

“It’s not mine but its origin is of no concern,” he says trying to avoid telling her about the guards he has killed.

“What did you do?” she insists.

“I was forced to fight for my freedom. They falsely accused me of the deed and intended to execute me. I couldn’t let that happen.” While he explains his situation to her he is mostly trying to justify the deaths.

“What will you do now?” his love asks, embracing him once again. Sky brushes her soft mane with a wing to try and calm her.

“I have to find somewhere to lay low for a while. After this storm has died down I will begin investigating who was truly behind this heinous act and clear my name.”

“I will go with you-” Octavia begins before Sky cuts her off.

“I’m afraid it is too dangerous.” He strokes her again. “You must stay here where it is safe. I promise we will be able to be together again one day. But for now, you must wait for me.” He escapes her embrace and takes off silently into the night. Tears roll down Octavia’s face as she watches her love from her window.

“I must know that you are safe,” she whispers.