Pirates of Equestria

17: Devotion

Sky Runner walks the streets of the rundown port town with Vinyl Scratch by his side. While he still does not fully trust his changeling quartermaster, he has left Jack in charge or acquiring supplies for upgrades and ammunition as well as recruits to make up for the losses sustained during the attack on the guard outpost. Assuming that the changeling was not likely to leave with the ship and crew he decided to give him a bit of trust.

The pegasus captain wanders through the streets of the town curious as to what, if any, information he can gather regarding the assassination attempt and the coup. The shape of a pony in a back alley catches his eye. The pony turns and quickly heads into the alley prompting Sky to follow with Vinyl close behind. He follows the pony through the twists and turns of the rundown town until he ends up in an opening behind the houses. In the center is a well and the pony who is wearing a hooded cloak.

Sky approaches cautiously with a wing resting on a sword hilt as the mysterious pony simply stares into the well. Sky’s eyes dart back and forth, searching for an ambush until the pony at the well speaks.

“I’ve waited so long for you.”

The familiar voice stops Sky dead. Even Vinyl cannot seem to move. The pony turns to look up at Sky and pushes back the hood, revealing her true identity.

“I’ve missed you my love.”

Sky stares in disbelief, releasing the hilt of his sword. Standing before him is Octavia. She is robed in the same enchanting beauty that he knew before with her soft, dark grey hair resting on her shoulder. Her smile is filled with love and care, but something is off. Hidden behind the veil of love is a tinge of fear.

“Please my love,” she says, taking a careful step forward. “Please come back to me. Throw away your hatred and revenge and return to me.”

Octavia takes a few more small cautious steps towards Sky before Vinyl moves to intercede. She begins to speak but Sky places a wing on her shoulder.

“And what do I get in return for leaving with you?”

Octavia is taken aback at the response. Her love was…bargaining with her.

“What do you mean?” she asks. Her smile fades as she is unable to maintain her loving tone. “You would be free from this life of hatred and violence. I don’t want to see you do any of this. And Vinyl-”

“Liar!” cries the unicorn pushing forward and causing Octavia to back step into the wall of the well. Sky is silent for a moment before turning to leave without a word.

“Sky Runner!” Octavia cries as she steps forward only to be blocked by Vinyl.

“You’re a traitor Octy.”

“What? Vinyl, what are you talking about? Sky, come back!”

Octavia can only watch as her former lover leaves her with her now former friend.

“You claim you love him but you left him alone!” Vinyl continues.

“He left me!”

Octavia stops short of continuing her retort as she realizes what she had just said, and how. Regret floods her head and she stumbles into the wall of the well, trying to support herself.

“He left me,” she repeats, tears beginning to build in her eyes.

“I’ve always loved him not because of my own reasons but because I could see the empty hole in his heart. The sadness that he hid from so many even you. I wanted to heal that hole and I have vowed never to leave him alone.”

Octavia can scarcely believe what she is hearing, but Vinyl is right. She did love Sky out of her own reasons never truly thinking about him. Vinyl continues her rant.

“I have witnessed the things he has done first hand. I have begged him to stop those horrendous acts. But still I follow him. I know why he does what he does and I will help him to achieve his goals! I will always stand beside him unlike you!”

Octavia stares in disbelief at her friend and her mad eyes. The unicorn she once called her best friend is gone, replaced by some pony as bloodthirsty as the one she once loved. What has happened to make these two change so much?

“You’re perfect for him.”

Vinyl is taken aback at the statement, unsure how to react.

“You’re perfect for him,” Octavia repeats as she turns her head in disgust. “You’ve fallen into madness and a lust for vengeance just like him. What happened to you Vinyl?”

Vinyl remains quiet. Each statement hits her like a physical blow. She looks into the sorrowful eyes of her friend, unable to respond.

“Vengeance is not the answer,” Octavia continues, looking back at those mad eyes. “Violence only breeds violence. Death only brings more death. Why can’t you see this? You’re not tainted like he is. Your eyes should be clearer than his. Stop this mad quest for his revenge!”

“YOU DON’T KNOW ANYTHING!!!”

Vinyl screams and leaps at Octavia, pinning her to the ground. She draws her sword and holds it close to her former friend’s neck ready to slice her throat. Rage fumes as she prepares to take the life of the one who was once her best friend. Seconds pass and Vinyl simply holds her pose. She stares into Octavia’s eyes which are filled with sorrow and regret, almost begging the unicorn to make the final blow.

Vinyl screams once more before rising and sheathing her sword. She steps back, staring in rage at the grey pony on the ground, crying in pain. No words are spoken. No words can be spoken. The message has been sent. The actions have spoken for themselves. Vinyl walks out of the alley, leaving Octavia to mourn the loss of her best friend and her lover.

Vinyl walks through the town in search of Sky. She needs to know she loves him, know that she is right about the path she has chosen. It is the right path if made out of love, right? She hears the scream of a pony and rushes to investigate. She turns into another alleyway to find Sky standing above four members of the Canterlot Royal Guard, each hacked to death. Blood covers the ground and the walls of the buildings. She looks at Sky as he releases another, drawing his sword out of the pony’s abdomen and allowing him to drop to the ground.

“What is this? What happened?” Vinyl asks.

“An ambush for me. They were lying in wait and Octavia was likely the bait, willingly or not.”

Sky’s tone is cold and unfeeling, despite having recently seen his former lover and having spoken her name just now. He wipes his blade on one of the guard’s uniform before returning it to its sheathe. Sky walks over the bodies and past Vinyl as he leaves the bloody alley. Vinyl simply stares for a moment, questioning her devotion to him. Was she right in following him, helping him? She puts her thoughts aside and follows after the pegasus. She has to be right. It has to be right to follow your heart even if the path is paved with blood.