Pirates of Equestria

23: Confrontation

The sun slowly sinks towards the ground as the rundown port town below begins shifting from the open daytime activities to the secretive activities of the night. Wandering through the filthy cobblestone streets is the prince of the Crystal Empire, Shining Armor, wearing a grey colored cloak to try and hide his identity. His secret does not go unnoticed as a second pony walks across the ragged rooftops. The second pony stalks the prince as he wanders through the thinning crowds until he comes to an open back alley.

Shining listens to the clicking hooves on the roof tops and watches as a pony gallops from roof to roof before gliding down on vulture like wings. Before him stands Sky Runner in his black, gold trimmed coat. His black hat is tipped down, partially covering his face as the pegasus looks up and tucks in his wings. The tips of his wings rest on the hilts of his swords while Shining throws off his cloak and takes a ready stance.

“You didn’t come here to kill me did you my old friend?” Sky says, adding sarcastic emphasis to the last two words.

“And what about you Sky?” Shining asks, still holding his ready stance. “Will you talk to me or would you rather just kill me now?”

Sky begins a slow circle around the prince as he speaks. “I suppose since you came out all this way to see me, I’ll listen. I take it you still have questions.”

Shining keeps a close eye on the pegasus circling him like a shark. “Why didn’t you come to me for help after the assassination attempt? Why did you have to handle things by yourself, do the things you did during your escape?”

“You’ll have to forgive me for not trusting any pony,” Sky replies, anger beginning to build in his voice. “I was betrayed by the Royal Guard and even the high-and-mighty Princess Celestia herself. They were going to kill me for something I was not involved in and I wasn’t overly fond of that idea.”

“I still would have helped you. You could trust me.”

“Trust you?!” Sky stops for a moment and stares at Shining with burning hatred. “Trust you? The last time I trusted you, two ponies died! You caused their deaths as though you had killed them yourself!”

“Is that what this is about?”

“No Shining this is about revenge! This is about getting what I deserve!” Sky continues his circling, moving quicker than before. “I gave you the truth about the conspiracy so go do something with it! I could care less if they try again and go so far as to kill you and Cadence next time! I have lost so much because you were favored more than me and then because of some pony who didn’t like who was in charge! I didn’t deserve any of that and now I have everything I was owed in life!”

“What’s happened to you? This is not the Sky who was my friend!”

“My eyes were opened, that’s what happened! I realized that life only takes things from you. You can never earn anything, you can only take it. Now you see that as well. You came after me trying to restore what was lost only to lose much more than you were willing to give. For everything you ‘earned’ life has now taken away.”

Sky stops once again in front of Shining, staring away from the prince. His wings slowly grip the hilts of his twin blades as Shining readies his own sword. Sky speaks once more just loud enough for Shining to hear. His voice is filled with rage and hatred, though with only the slightest hint of sorrow. “And now you will lose everything else.”

Shining draws his sword as Sky draws his twin blades and performs a spinning slash. The prince brings his blade to bear with but a split second to spare, blocking Sky’s blow before it cleaves his head off. With the blades locked, Sky throws out his front hooves, kicking Shining in the face and sending him stumbling back. Shining recovers just in time to block another slash and duck the one following. He leaps to the side to add a bit of distance as Sky gives a shout of rage before charging.

Shining meets Sky’s advance, clashing with the twin blades. Each fighter parries and dodges blow after blow as they kick at one another with their front hooves. Move for move, the fighters stand as equals as Shining’s magic compensates for Sky’s duel wielding. The clashing blades ring out a song of hatred which echoes in the alley.

Sky blocks a blow with both swords and twists, wrenching Shining’s blade from his magical grasp sending the blade clanging across the cobblestone. The prince ducks his head to fire a magic blast as Sky continues his turn. The pegasus gives the prince a sharp buck in the jaw just as he fires. The shot goes wild, illuminating the night sky. Shining sprawls back and lands on his back as Sky pounces bringing his blades down to run the prince though. Shining kicks out all four legs sending Sky flying back into a wall and knocking the wind out of him.

Shining stands and calls back his sword with his magic and charges the stunned pegasus. Sky blocks and kicks Shining in the face once again with his forelegs. As the prince is sent sprawling once more, Sky sheathes his blades and ascends to the rooftops to catch his breath. Blood drips down Shining’s mouth as he watches his opponent circle around and fires a magic blast. The blast strikes in front of Sky, just short of his legs, stopping him.

Sky leaps down, drawing his blades in midflight. He knocks Shining’s sword away again and pins the prince to the ground, crossing his blades before his neck. Shining waits for the final blow that never comes. He looks up to see Sky staring in rage and hatred but unmoved. The blades grind against one another drawing dangerously close to the prince’s neck. Yet Sky does not kill his former friend.

“Aren’t you going to kill me? Take away everything from me?” Shining mocks.

“Shut up!” Sky shouts, still unable to make the finishing blow.

“You don’t want to kill me do you?” Shining’s voice is now soft, almost caring. He eases and lets the look of rage slip from his face and stares in compassion. “Life has not been kind to you, I get it. Every time something good happened, it only took a turn for the worst. But revenge and slaughter won’t change anything. Sky-”

“JUST SHUT UP!!!” Sky shouts as confusion and inner conflict mixes with his rage and hatred as a single tear marks his eye. “What do you know about what I’ve gone through?! Nothing! You got everything! I worked so hard, struggled through so much and still lost it all! Now I have everything I could ever dream of. Power, riches, respect, love. Who cares if I had to pave the way with blood? I took everything I deserved and gained more!”

“But are you trying you regain what was lost or replace it and forget the past?”

Sky continues to stare at Shining, rage boiling over. He moves closer to cut off the prince’s head only to gently slide the blades across his neck and draw a small amount of blood. Sky fights with himself, struggling with the choice to kill his former friend or let him live. Finally, Sky stands and turns as he returns his twin blades to their place.

“I gave you the information about the coup so do something with it,” he says, never looking back. “Save your precious kingdom and never pursue me again. If we ever meet again, it will be the last time. Nevermore shall we meet after that, in this world or the next. Mark my words.”

“Sky!” Shining calls out, but the pegasus spreads his wings and takes to the sky. The prince watches as his former friend soars behind the ragged buildings and disappears. “Are you so sure of that my friend.”