Pirates of Equestria

24: Preparation

The Sparrow Hawk drifts across the calm, quiet ocean. Despite being at full sail, the waters and wind are all but dead. Not a wave to be seen as far as the eye can see, not a breeze to be felt. Sky Runner sits at the helm, guiding the slow moving vessel through the calm open waters.

“An eerie sight for such a bright day,” Jack says. “Something foul is amiss.”

“It’s the calm before the storm,” Sky says, never taking his eyes off the ocean.

Jack looks at the sky only to see clear blue and a bright sun. “No clouds, no wind, nothing. Are you sure there is a storm brewing.”

“I never said what kind of storm,” Sky says before releasing the wheel. “Take the helm. I need to walk.”

The changeling grabs hold of the wheel as Sky heads down the stairs of the helm with Vinyl Scratch following close. Jack watches as Sky heads to the bow to stare out at the calm ocean with his love standing close by. Something is bothering the captain, that much is obvious. Yet, he seems to be preparing for something inevitable. Jack can only guess at what that may be.

Shining Armor peers out at the still ocean waters from the bow of the Crystal Princess as ominous storm clouds slowly follow behind. His mind can only think of his latest encounter with Sky. For all the rage, anger, and hatred that the pegasus carries, he stayed his blades instead of killing the prince. Why? Despite whatever bloodlust drives him forward, he still cannot kill his old friend. Or can he? During their first encounter Sky nearly killed Shining, yet the final volley only struck water. Did he really try to kill the prince or just scare him off? Their second encounter saw Sky brutally kill Braeburn and nearly kill Shining again. But that time the rough seas had intervened. Or did Sky hesitate once again, regardless of the state of the waters?

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

Shining turned to see Soarin walking up the deck and stand beside him. The pegasus stares out across the eerie calm ocean without a word. The two sit in silence for a moment watching the calm waters.

“He needs to be stopped,” Shining finally says, “one way or another. The only thing I’m not sure of is my own reasons for stopping him. As much as I may want revenge for Braeburn, killing Sky won’t change anything. We’ve known each other for so long, I wonder if either of us can kill the other.”

Soarin looks back at the grey mass of clouds following the ship like a scavenger following a doomed animal. He looks ahead again as he speaks.

“There’s a mighty storm brewing. Looks pretty bad.”

Shining continues to stare out at the ocean. “That may be, but the storm I see coming is far worse.”

Soarin looks over as the prince who continues his staring contest with the vast ocean unsure of his meaning. What other storm could be worse than the one he sees coming? He thinks for a moment before the realization strikes him. Worry takes over as he looks out at the ocean once more. The end of this long and arduous journey is fast approaching.

Sky stares out at the eerie calm sea while Vinyl stands only a few feet away. Though he does not show it outwardly, his mind can only think back to his latest encounter with Shining. He had a moment, a chance to kill his old friend. But he did not, could not, make the final strike. Why did he hesitate only to back down in the end? He had personally killed dozens of ponies since this whole ordeal began. And yet, he could not kill Shining Armor. Why?

Over the past several months he had developed a new persona, one of bloodlust and revenge. He thought he had put the past away, killed and burned it. But had he really? He thinks back to each encounter. Each time he had attempted to kill his former friend, only to fail in his attempts. Was it destiny that he should kill Shining at a set time and place, or not at all? Or was it all on him? Were his failures a result of the attachments of the past that he desperately holds on to? Or was he just weak?

As the thoughts swirled in his head, he hardly hears the hoof steps of Vinyl as she steps forward. Without a word, she nuzzles close in an effort to ease her love. The two sit in silence for several minutes, staring out at the calm sea. A bizarre feeling overcomes the pegasus. Building behind his ship is a mass of storm clouds which grow darker by the second. In the distance ahead he can feel the change in the atmosphere, another set of storm clouds. Beyond the atmospheric changes, another sensation sends a chill down his spine. This storm could be the last he sees.

Vinyl feels Sky shiver and shifts closer to him. “Whatever happens, I will be there by your side.”

Determination and anticipation begin to flow through the pirate captain as excitement starts to build. It is strange that he went from depressed to excited in such a short time but he will need that desire for battle if he wants to fight, even kill, Shining Armor. He moves quickly back to the helm as the winds begin to pick up and the dark clouds roll over the ship. He embraces the foul winds and ominous clouds as he takes the wheel.

“Lads!” he cries out to his crew. Each pony stops their task to listen to their captain in muted anticipation. “We are about to face off against the Prince of the Crystal Empire and those ponies loyal to him. You know that Canterlot has all but ignored us out of fear but not Shining Armor. He desires to stop us. Will we take that?” The crew shouts their disapproval. “Then what say ye to killing him and ridding us of the scourge? Who wants to help me kill a prince? It’s time we took our rightful place as rulers of the seas!”

The crew gives a mighty cheer before readying for battle. The cannons are loaded and loose rigging tied tight. Sky can feel the fury and bloodlust from each pony as they scurry about the deck. Vinyl stands to his left giving an approving, and seductive, smile. Jack, on the other hoof, is not so sure.

“A rousing speech but how much do you believe yourself?”

Sky changes his demeanor from excitement to one of mixed anger and worry. “Not a bit. But Shining is out seeking me and I need to end this one way or another. He, like I, won’t let this rest until one of us is dead.”

“Is he that intent on killing you?”

“I doubt it, but given recent events he will likely be more willing and able than ever before. I will need the crew in a frenzy if I wish to end this.”

Shining watches as the seas begin a shift for the worse. He looks behind at the dark clouds following them to see them build and darken. Ahead he sees another storm front closing in from out in the distance. He takes his spyglass and peers through at the edge of the now churning waters. Moving with the opposing storm is another ship, Sky’s ship. The prince puts his spyglass away and turns to his crew.

“Gentlecolts! Since this ordeal began, we have seen many a pony fall at the hooves of Sky Runner. Some were young and inexperienced like the earth pony Braeburn who was viciously killed not long ago. We have but one opportunity to end this once and for all. We fight for Braeburn and the many others who have died!”

The crew gives a mighty shout as Shining and Soarin head for the helm. The pegasus voices concern for the oncoming fight. “The clash of the storm fronts will cause a tremendous storm. One I do not believe either ship will survive. This battle is a suicide mission, you do know that right?”

“I know,” Shining replies, never losing focus of what was to come. “But this needs to end. If I must kill Sky with my own hooves then so be it, even if it costs me my life as well.”

Soarin grabs Shining and turns him so the two are looking eye to eye. “I’m not just talking about you, I’m talking about the rest of us!”

“Then what would you do? Wait for another time which may not come and give him more time to kill?” Soarin stares in disbelief and realization, unsure of how to answer. “This may be the last chance we get to end this. I cannot let this opportunity slip by. I have to avenge Braeburn.”

The pegasus releases Shining and hangs his head as he makes his way to his post. “You’ve become just like him. You’re just as blind as he is to see how far you’ve fallen in such a short time.”

The prince stands for a moment before realizing that Soarin was right. He had become just like Sky. But still, what other choice did he have?

Sky peers through the spyglass at the approaching storm and ship. It was Shining’s ship that he encountered last time they met at sea, though repaired from the fight. He puts the spy glass away and steers towards the oncoming vessel. This is the beginning of the end for at least one of them.