26: Legend

“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 Armor wakes from his sleep shouting at the top of his lungs.

“Dear, are you alright?”

The prince looks around to see his bedroom back at the Crystal Empire. To his side is Cadence, caressing his back and placing a soft wing around him. The door to the room bursts open and two Crystal Guards barge in.

“My lord and lady. Are you alright?” one of the guards asks.

Shining puts a hoof to his head to calm the throbbing pain. “We’re alright. You may return to your post.”

The two guards bow and leave the room, closing the door behind them. Cadence continues to caress her husband as Shining struggles to recall all that happened. The dream, or rather nightmare, was real. Sky was dead. Following the violent storm, the prince and the remains of his crew had rowed for several hours after abandoning the Crystal Princess before being rescued by a passing frigate from the Royal Navy. Sadly, two lifeboats did not survive the storm, claiming nine more lives. After arriving back on shore, they aided Celestia in identifying and capturing all those involved in the conspiracy against Canterlot. Those that had been under Shining’s command had been granted lighter sentences for their actions at sea. Soarin had rejoined the Wonderbolts and Shining had returned to the Empire. Since then, the prince has had terrible nightmares, reliving the events of the ordeal.

Shining turns to his wife and grabs her in a tight embrace. “I’ve missed you so much.”

Cadence returns the embrace and continues her caressing. “I know. It’s all over now.”

Vinyl Scratch looks out at the ocean from the helm of the Sparrow Hawk. The brig’s hull and deck still bear the cracks and gouges from the battle which took Sky’s life. Even the sails are dotted with rips and tears along with patchwork. For the past three weeks, Vinyl and Jack had hid out on a small island with the remains of the crew to recover from the battle and avoid the increased patrols of the Royal Navy. They had made a few trips out to the battle site, where the remains of Shining Armor’s ship lay on the ocean floor, in an effort to find Sky Runner, or whatever was left of him. They had recovered his twin blades during the last trip and Vinyl was determined to find her love.

“We’ve been here five times now and still no sign of him,” Jack says from the wheel. “He’s dead Vinyl. You have to move on.”

“He can’t be dead,” she responds in anger. “I can’t believe that he would die that easily.”

“He was badly wounded and caught in the middle of a raging storm. There is now way he could have survived.”

Vinyl starts to object but holds her peace. The changeling was right. As much as she wishes to see her love again, not even Sky could have survived the event. It was time to move on. Before she can give the order to leave, one of the lookouts calls out a sighting. Vinyl rushes to the starboard side and pulls out a spyglass to look at what had been found. Floating in the water was Sky’s gold-trimmed, black coat. Vinyl charges her magic and levitates the coat onto the deck. It still bears the tears from when Sky was cut by Shining and likely blood stains as well but was still intact. A gleam of hope shines in the unicorn’s eyes.

“Jack!” she shouts as she races to the helm carrying the soaked coat. “It’s his coat. He could still-”

“Vinyl!” Jack interrupts. He places a hoof on her shoulder and hangs his head in sorrow. “It doesn’t mean anything. It’s not proof that he’s still alive. It…doesn’t mean anything.”

“Fine,” she says as determination builds within. She wrings out the coat and dries it as best she can with her magic before throwing it across her shoulders. The cool dampness chills her body but the coat surrounds her like a warm embrace. Though tailored for Sky, it sits across her shoulders and down her back as though her love were holding her himself.

“From now on, I am the captain.” Vinyl stares down the small crew for any challengers before looking to Jack. A smile crosses the face of the changeling.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Vinyl turns to the crew once more. “SET SAIL YOU MULES!!!” she commands as Jack takes the wheel once more. Now begins the reign of Vinyl Scratch, the new Demon Captain.

One week later

Two earth ponies sit at the table of the rundown tavern drinking large mugs of ale in dismal silence. A moment later the two are joined by a green pegasus with a yellow mane who plops down in the seat and begins chugging a mug of his own. With the mug half gone, he slams it on the table and give a mighty breath.

“This sucks,” he says, hardly caring how loud he is. “With the navy all over the waters, I can’t seem to get anything done.”

“It doesn’t help none that the demon’s gone,” says one of the earth ponies, a brown pony with a solid black mane.

“Aye,” agrees the other earth pony who is white with a brown mane. “That demon kept that lot away out of fear and now look. Might as well haul in and stay on shore.”

The pegasus gives a sigh as he and the brown pony agree. The three knock their mugs together in a toast to the pirate life and down the remains of their ale.

“Barkeep!” shouts the white pony. “Another round here. We’re gonna need it.”

“You know,” says a pony sitting at a nearby corner table, “I hear the Sparrow Hawk isn’t done yet.”

“What do you mean?” asks the brown pony turning to the shadowed newcomer. “They say the Hawk was taken by the sea tryin’ ta battle that Crystal Prince, Shine whatshisname.”

“Aye,” the shadowed pony says. “But I hear the Hawk’s returned. No pony knows who the captain is now, but the crew is made up of ghosts. They scour the seas preying on ships in search of their lost captain. No survivors and any witnesses only get to see the ship vanish into fog.”

“I heard that too,” the pegasus says. “Course I heard some pony say that Sky Runner is a ghost now and sailin’ the Hawk.”

“Ah, Sky Runner,” the shadowed pony continues. “That’s not what I’ve seen of him. They do say he’s returned, but he’s truly become a demon now.”

“What do ya mean?” the white pony asks. The three incline to hear the new story of the former Demon Captain.

“I saw it three days ago. We were sailing about seeking our prey when a heavy fog rolled in. As we tried to navigate the fog, we came across a brig floating dead in the water. We saw no pony aboard and went to investigate. We found the deck covered in blood and all hooves missing. The ship was undamaged but a battle had been fought. I felt a strange presence and peered over the starboard side to see him.”

The three drunkards leaned closer, nearly falling out of their chairs. The pony continued.

“There, out on the water was Sky Runner himself. His body was bright red and his eyes glowed a demonic yellow. He stood upon the water staring back at me with a look that I feared would take my very soul. Then, just as quickly as he appeared, he vanished within the fog.”

The brown pony toppled and fell to floor as the others leaned back.

“Y-Your daft,” the white pony says. “You saying that the Demon Captain is now a real demon?”

“I’ve heard my share of stories mate and that one is the worst yet,” the pegasus says, struggling to control his shaking hooves.

“Believe what you wish,” the shadowed pony says as he stands, “but I saw it with my own eyes.”

The three other ponies turn as the barmaid brings them another round of ale which they gladly take and begin chugging. With their attention diverted, the mysterious pony walks past and makes his way to the door. No pony notices him vanish as he passes through the doorframe.

Author's Note

It's finally done. After so long and so much effort, I have finally completed my first story. Big thanks to everyone who read, liked, added to favorites, and commented. I would love to hear anything about things that could have been changed or improved or anything else to help me do better. Again, thanks you guys.