Pirates of Equestria

25: War

The Sparrow Hawk and the Crystal Princess sail headlong into one another. A dark storm front follows each ship like a vulture following a dying animal, waiting to pick at the soon to be carcass. As the distance between each vessel shrinks the storms shift to a more aggressive appearance, as though they have grown tired of waiting and move ahead to clash with one another. The two vessels ready their weapons as the crew of each cries for blood.

The Sparrow Hawk makes the first move, firing a volley of mortar shot followed in quick succession by a volley of chain shot from its bow. The Crystal Princess is slower to react but still fires its own bow volley. At the exact moment each ship roars its battle cry the storms clash. Lightning flashes and thunder cries out as the Sparrow Hawk’s mortar fire rains down on its opponent. The Royal Guard crew takes cover from the raining fire as the chain shot grapples and snaps rigging. The pirate crew ducks to avoid the smaller volley from their prey. The damage is minor and each ship pushes forward, intent on ramming the other.

Just before impact, the Crystal Princess veers to port prompting the Sparrow Hawk to follow suit. The warring ships spew fire as the roar of the cannon fire drowns out the sound of the thunder. Cannon shot tears apart the ships, sending wood and metal flying in all directions. A few ponies from both sides are killed in the volley. The ships continue their turn but the Sparrow Hawk drops four flaming barrels into the sea. Shots ring out as small deck guns fire at the barrels, causing them to explode. The explosions rock the Crystal Princess, throwing off its volley from its stern guns.

The ships continue to come about to bring their undamaged sides to bear, yet the Sparrow Hawk continues its relentless assault. Another spray of fire come from the deck as another mortar volley rains fire down on the Crystal Princess. With the turn nearly complete, the small deck guns of the Sparrow Hawk screech and fire on a few vulnerable sections and cause several small explosions. The ships complete their turn and fire their next broadside. Fire spews from the ships as cannon shot slams into the sides of each ship. The small guns of the Sparrow Hawk cry out again as they fire on several more vulnerable sections of the Crystal Princess. Fire begins to spread on the damaged vessel, making for a horrific sight in the stormy waters. A final spray of fire from the Sparrow Hawk rains down more fire, sealing the Crystal Princess’s fate. The mighty frigate rocks in the raging waters waiting the coup de grâce, one which never comes.

Sky Runner brings the Sparrow Hawk around and makes his way to Shining Armor’s dying vessel. “Ready the grapples and prepare to board!” he cries over the storm.

“Are you sure Captain?” Jack shouts. “This storm could easily sink them! They’re finished! We should escape before it claims us as well!”

Sky ignores the changeling and continues to navigate the foul ocean. The waves double the time it takes to cross the short distance and lightning threatens to strike the high masts. Several ponies scurry about the deck putting out small fires from the previous barrages and begin throwing over the dead.

A massive swell hoists the Sparrow Hawk high, giving Sky a clear view of Shining’s ship. Below, an explosion from a powder magazine blasts away the base of the rear mast bringing the heavy timber down on the wounded ship. Sky takes a quick note of the ferocity of the raging storm and shouts out a change of tactics.

“Forget the grapples!” he cries, angling towards the rear starboard side.

“What?!” Jack cries. “Then how…” His voice trails off at the realization. “BRACE FOR IMPACT!!!”

Shining looks around the burning vessel. All around flames lick the soaking timbers and scorch pony hides.

“Sire!” one of the ponies cries.

Shining spins around to the stern and watches as Sky bears down from a large swell aimed straight as the side. “BRACE FOR IMPACT!!!” he cries as he grabs hold of the main mast as best he can. Moments later the brig slams into the Crystal Princess, its ram tearing away at the lower side as it slides across. Rigging lines and standing masts catch and tangle locking the two ships together.

“Repel boarders!” the prince commands, drawing his sword.

Sky steadies himself from the impact and shouts to Jack and Vinyl. “Focus on the guards, keep them off me! Shining is mine and mine alone!”

Before Jack can argue, Sky charges and leaps from the helm taking to the sky. A pegasus flies towards him to intercept with a sword in his mouth. For the half second that passes, Sky recognizes the Wonderbolt uniform and black mane of Soarin. Without hesitation, Sky grapples with Soarin. He kicks the younger pegasus in the jaw with his right hoof and flips forward before bringing down his rear hooves on Soarin’s back. The Wonderbolt sails towards the deck of the frigate and slams into a guard below. Sky then soars towards the center where Shining waits.

Shining watches as Sky rockets down and draws his twin blades. He points the blades forward and spins like a drill, intending to skewer the prince. Shining side-steps and blocks the spinning blades then turns to kick the pegasus in the side. Sky hits the deck on all fours and rolls to avoid the buck then charges again. The prince blocks one blade, ducks the other, then rolls away and grabs the sword of a fallen guard pony with his magic. He bears down on Sky with both swords making slow, deliberate cuts and lunges. But his unfamiliarity with duel wielding puts him at the disadvantage.

Sky easily parries the clumsy blows of Shining then moves in. He slashes right and left, knocking the two swords to the side and kicks the prince in the face. Shining flies back, hitting the deck, and rolls in an attempt to recover but Sky continues his flurry of attacks. The prince barely manages to fend of the pegasus, receiving several minor lacerations. Sky backs Shining into the fore mast and lunges again. The prince side-steps again causing Sky’s swords to stab the timber. He pulls out the twin blades and spins to meet his opponent but not before receiving a double slash across his chest. The pegasus holds his bleeding chest with one hoof and glares at Shining before shouting in rage and lunging again.

Shining parries Sky’s rage attack and bucks him into the portside rail. The force of the impact causes the pegasus to drop his twin blades on the deck and gasp for air as the X-shaped wound on his chest threatens to rip apart. Blood spills from the wound, mixing with the rain, forcing Sky to grab hold of his chest once more. Shining levels his swords at Sky’s neck and gives his ultimatum.

“Give up now! It’s over Sky.”

“So many years. So many fights. You never were able to defeat me until now. Bravo.” The pegasus gives a guttural laugh before grunting in pain and pressing harder on his chest. “Go on then, what are you waiting for? Kill me. Kill me!”

“I’m taking you in to face judgment for the things you have done.”

Sky gives another laugh and grunt of pain. “Judgment? Ha! Even now, when you have a perfect opportunity you can’t kill me.”

“And you couldn’t kill me! Could you?”

Sky narrows his eyes and grips his bleeding chest tighter. “Even if you had the guts to kill me now,” he says in a low tone, just barely loud enough to be heard of the storm and sounds of the battle, “I won’t let you. I won’t go back.”

Sky lifts himself onto the rail and teeters as the ship rocks in the heavy waves. “Sky, don’t do this!” Shining shouts.

“I’m going to make you regret everything that’s happened. You won’t get the chance to end me here. You won’t get to take me back to face my crimes. You will be haunted for the rest of your life because of your actions.”

“SKY, DON’T!!!” Shining drops his swords and reaches out with his magic only to grab the belt which held the twin swords. Sky falls to the ocean as thunder crashes in the sky. Shining peers over the rail only to see foul waves crash against the damaged side.

Across the deck Vinyl and Jack struggle to fight the now recovered Soarin and several guards. The two changelings loyal to Jack lie dead on the burning deck along with several other pirates.

“SKY, DON’T!!!”

Vinyl looks over to the portside to watch Sky teeter over the side. Tears fill her eyes as rage fills her being. Time seems to slow to a near halt as she watches her love fall and vanish behind the wooden deck.

“SKY!!!”

The unicorn screams in rage and begins firing beam after beam of magic. Guards back away as four are shot. Jack grabs hold of her, managing to stop her for a second.

“We need to retreat! The storm is too great, we are losing this fight, and Sky is now dead! It’s over!”

Vinyl screams again and charges her magic once more. A blue glow envelops the side of the Sparrow Hawk before the cannons give off a deafening roar. The point blank shot blasts a massive hole in the side of the frigate and wrenches the two ships free of one another. Jack calls the remains of the pirate crew to retreat and grabs the grieving unicorn before jumping ship. Vinyl sits near the wheel, screaming her rage and sorrow as Jack takes the wheel.

Shining grabs the rail as the ship lurches and watches the portside burst apart as several cannonballs fly out. He turns to see Sky’s ship, now freed, veer to starboard and begin sailing away. The damage and storm slow it but there is no point to pursuing. With Sky dead and the Crystal Princess in shambles, there is no reason or way to pursue.

“Get to the lifeboats! Abandon ship!” he cries.

The crew hoist lifeboats over the sides and drag wounded comrades in. Once in the water Shining watches as the Crystal Princess, the ship named for his loving wife, is claimed by the raging sea. All the better. No need for any more reminders of this disastrous campaign. Half an hour later, the storm subsides. Shining Armor and his crew begin rowing for shore. Only one last thing before this entire nightmare is over.