Little Piece - A One Piece Crossover

Chapters

1 - Let's get this Party started
Pirate Hunter Dash: Part I
Pirate Hunter Dash: Part 2 - Retreat to the Tavern
Pirate Hunter Dash: Part 3 - Ready to Fight?
I Got a Crew
6 - Forest of Monsters
Flutter's Island
The Little Filly in the Hospital Bed - Unspoken Words of Families Revealed
A Blue Mare's Past
A Blue Mare's Past II - Silver's Lining
Meanwhile, Back at the Plot...
The Invasion Begins - Vinyl's Secret Weapon

1 - Let's get this Party started

Let's get this party started!

A long time ago, a great pirate, named Starswirl The Bearded, gathered the biggest treasure known to pony kind, the Little Piece. But even such a strong stallion could not flee from the marines forever. As he kneeled at the chaffote, he spoke his last words: "You want my treasure? Fine. Have it. Somewhere I've hidden the greatest treasure of this world." And so the era of the pirates began. Thousands of outlaws and criminals began their journey to the Grand Line, in order to find the Little Piece.

It was a sunny day in the East Blue. A luxurious ship sailed the seas, carrying rich mares and stallions from everywhere. Inter alia a white unicorn, sporting a purple, excellent styled mane. But that's a matter for another time. Right now, all that is interesting is that one little barrel floating on the surface of the water.

"Hey Joe. Looky here", a stallion shouted to his friend.

"Woo hoo. Jackpot. What do you think's in there?"

"Dunno. Beer, wine, cider. Everything's good right about now."

While these two were busy hooking up the barrel and draging it on board, another one on the look out saw something that sent shivers down his spine. A pink ship, coming from behind a rock. A swan as figurehead and a black flag with skull and heart on it.

"Pi- Pi- Pi-. PIIIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAATEEEEEESSSSS."

The two stallions ran off to inform the passengers. Their barrel rolling all over the place, before it bounced down a ladder into the galley.

The pirates got ready to pilfer everything they could find. And one obese mare stepped in front of them. Her cherry and crimson colored mane looked like a stream of blood across a pale yellow desert, which was her coat. Her face was completely distorted by fat and the warts didn't make it more pleasant to look at her.

"Alright ma boys. Cherry Jubilee is now talkin'. Take whatever little earring you can find. And remember. No hostages.", her voice was cheerful and motivating and yet surprisingly tough, "Pipsqueak. Get ma mace." A young colt, white with brown spots on his coat and brown mane, trotted out from the shadows, dragging an enormous, spiked iron club behind him, obviously too heavy for him.

"Are ya little brat useful for anythin'? Gimme that."

"I-I'm so- sorry, Lady Jubilee. Mo- Most b-beautiful of them aw."

"Don't apologize." She brushed through his mane, as if to calm him down. "You're a pirate now and pirates don't apologize for nothin'." Those words sent tears rushing into his little eyes, but he hid it as good as possible.

The pirates rammed the cruser and jumped from one ship to the other.

"What are ya waitin' for, Pipsqueak?

"I-I-I d-daan't fin' I'm ready for this."

"Are ya disobeyin' ma orders, little one? Get on that ship!" She kicked him right off the spot, sending him flying towards the other ship, crashing into a wall on the other side. Stunned for a moment he quickly got back up again as Cherry Jubilee leaped towards him, taking a huge swing with her weapon, only to miss him by a few inches. He immediately jumped up and ran into a random area on the ship, just trying to get away from her and somehow ended up in the galley.

The tears from earlier started to come to the surface as he remembered everything that happened, since the day he got swooped by Cherry Jubilee. He hid behind a big barrel of whatever, hoping they would just forget him and leave.

But not for everypony was this attack something negative. The white unicorn, mentioned earlier, saw the chance to change from her dress into a much less restrictive burglar outfit and jump onto the pirate ship while they were all off.

Back to Pipsqueak, whose plans of hiding and being forgotten were shattered by three of the pirates, who just had to look for the booze.

"Well, look who I found. Look for something to drink and you find a coward."

"Be grateful that we found you here. If Lady Jubilee had come down here, you wouldn't even be alive by now."

"Nah, g-guys. I was just, uhm, tryin' ter get this ba-barrel on deck."

"Well isn't that just the sweetest thing. His first time stealing something." He grabbed the spotted colt and held him above his head. "Listen kid, if I hate anything, it's being lied to. Waht do you think? Should we teach him what happens when somepony lies?"

"I don't know, dude. I'd feel like a real flankhole for beating a child. Well, a little alcohol will probably fix that."

He rose his blue hoof over a nearby barrel to smack it back down and reveal the exquisite liquid, but things didn't go like that. His hoof just came down before ...

"WWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

... a pink earth pony staight up jumped out of the barrel, knocking him out point-blank. Her flat hair puffed up big time, almost making her strawhat fall off, and her flanks were covered by three baloons.

" (yaaawwwwn) Oh boy. I needed that nap." She said in a very high pitched voice. She opened her light blue eyes afer stretching and saw what she did to that stallion and smiled embarassed. "Oopsy. Seems like I need to look around more often. Sorry 'bout that, buddy. You okay?"

He didn't answer. Totally blacked out. But his friends were even more awake after they recovered from the shock. And angry.

"We're not your buddies, sister."

"How did a scrawny scarecrow, like yourself, send him sleeping like that?"

"I dunno. Maybe there's a little more in my hooves than you expect."

They got even angrier, which could be told by them waving their swords like crazy.

"Don't you try to mock us. Don't you get that you're joking with the greatest pirate crew in the East Blue?" Pirate Pony #3 stated.

"And don't think you get out of this without payment." Pirate Pony #1 threatened.

Both of them charged up against the barrel. Their swords lunged out to cut the pink pony in three thirds. But, to their surprise, all they did was fly against the wall, caused by the hind legs of the mysterious mare.

"Let's get outta here."

They dragged their friend up the stairs again, to get to the deck and get backup.

"Well those where some baddies", the pink mare stated.

Pipsqueak remained in the corner throughout the entire charade. Every bone in his body shivered.

"What's with you there, little one?"

No answer. He was too traumatized. An endless seeming amount of questions raced through his head. Well, actually just two. 'Who was she?' and 'How could she do such a thing?'

"Can't find any words, huh. I'll be looking for some food, if you can scramble something together." And with that she walked over to the door and was about to open itas she felt something tugging on her leg. It was Pipsqueak.

"Ya 'ave to get off this ship. When Lydy Jubilee finds ya, it will be your end."

"The only thing I have to do is get something to eat."

"No. Don't. Wait.", Pip said wih every new step she took. He tried to stop her, but all she did was haul him along into the storage room.

Meanwhile, on the pirate ship. The white unicorn lit up her horn to perform some kind of spell. Presumably led by the glow, she jumped down a trap door and found her way through the labyrinth, that is the inside of the swimming behemoth.

She knew exactly where to turn left and when to turn right, which room to inspect for bits and gems and which to leave be, until she came to the very end of the hull, where a single stallion was sleeping in the dark. Her horn began to glow even brighter, causing the guard to flinch and eventually wake up.

Still drunk from sleep, he looked at the intrudor .

"Hey. What are you doing here, missy?"

She quickly smiled at the half sleeping stallion and and answered: "That is a very good question, my dear sir. And the equally good answer to it is-"

The guard could do nothing but distort his face in pain. He went to the ground, because of the blue magical aura that gathered in the area around his hind legs.

"I steal stuff, darling." And away she was.

The young colt stayed in the storage room, thinking it would be better than go out to his "associates", looking at his savior stuffing apple after cupcake after pie in her mouth.

"S-So, wha-hat's your name?" he finally managed to ask. She quickly gulped the three apples in her mouth and answered.

"My name is Pinkamena D. Pie. My friends call me Pinkie, though. What's yours?"

"I-I'm Pipsqueak", he replied, still with his head down. "Why were ya in that barrel, Miss Pie?"

"My ship rammed some rocks. Lies on the bottom of the ocean, right now. Thank god for that barrel. I sink like a stone, tied to a bigger stone." She chuckled a little as if the thought of drowning was funny. "And, like I said, call me Pinkie!"

Pips ears perked up from hearing that. Was this completely strange to him mare actually calling him her friend?

"Are thou o' oth the pi'ate'?", she asked, forcing more and more food down her throat.

"Nah, I'm not. 'eaven and 'ell, ... it's complicated. Wot brought ya so far away from dry land?"

Pinkie had the biggest smile on her face he has ever seen, when she gave him the answer to his question.

"I'm gonna become Queen of the Pirates."

Pipsqueaks jaw dropped through the floor.

"Seriously?"

"Yep"

"But but but but that would mean ya 're a pirate."

"I am."

"A- and your crew?"

"Still looking for candidates."

"'re ya nuts?"

"A little bit."

"Do ya comprehend wot ya 'ave ter do ter accomplish that? That title is reserved for the bloody wahn 'oo finds the chuffin' treasure of wealf, fame and power. you're lookin' for the "Little Piece". Do ya even begin ter understand that just abaht every pirate in this world is lookin' for said treasure. It's impossible. Ya will get killed. Ya will get ... "

That's all he could say before Pinkie knocked her hoof on his head leaving him squirming in pain.

"Calm yourself! You really think I wouldn't know all that? 'cause I know all that. I just don't care about it. I promised somepony, that I will become Queen of the Pirates and it is my dream. And if, by any chance, I die because of that, then I die." There was a long silence in the storage room as Pinkie took off her straw hat and gazed upon it in nostalgic manner.

Pipsqueak thought about his little outburst. He sat there, in this storage room, in front of a pony, who, just like that, admitted that she was a bloody pirate and was currently plundering the supplys of a cruise ship. And he raged about something like that? Why did he care more about how this mare would find her end, than the fact that he should hide from just another criminal? There was something about this mare. Just what?

Meanwhile, Cherry Jubilee stood proud on the deck of the cruiser, gushing over her looted wealth. Her iron club firmly held by her right hoof.

"Good work, boys. That has t'be most fruitfull raid we had in months", she exclaimed proud. "Get that on the ship and tonight you get an extra piece of Mama Jubilees cherry pie." The entire crew cheered in response.

The three thugs from before finally arrived on the deck.

"Lady Jubilee, Pipsqueak is hiding down there, in the storage room. He's hiding from us."

"Then why are ya ratbags here and not down there, beatin' him up."

"Well that's the thing. There's a mare down there. A monster. She knocked him out with just one single hit."

Fury started to seethe inside of her. She tightened her grip on the club, only to throw it at them with all of her force. The two awake managed to duck before the massive weapon could hit them, but the other one wasn’t so lucky. It crashed right into his face, making him not only fall back. No, it sent him straight up flying across the ocean, until he was out of sight.

“Where, did ya say they were?”

After a couple of moments of staring at the strawhat, she placed it back on her head and started their dialog again.

"Pipsqueak the Pirate, huh? You've got to admit that that doesn't really sound threatening."

"Neither does Pinkie. Besides, loike I said, I'm not a pirate."

"Then why did you act like you know these guys, Pip? Being attacked by the same pirates, twice, is really unlikely."

Pip was caught off guard by that one. He needed a couple of seconds before replying. A tone shame and regret found the way into his answer.

"It's true I came wif the bloomin' pirates, but i'm 'eaven and 'ell not wahn of them. It ... it 'appened two years ago. I was aahhht on the seaa, fishin'. Sum of the boys in me town told me that the best and biggest fish were further aahhht there, than I usually try my luck, so I decided ter check if they're right.Uunfortunately, I got caught in a current and drifted further and further away from me village and sum nickle and dime mashed potato into lydy jubilees 'appeny dip. I've been 'er slave ever since then. "

Tears rolled down his cheek as he said this last sentence. But he couldn't hold anything back when he heard what Pinkie said next.

"That's stupid. Why didn't you scram?"

"Ya fin' that's easy? I daan't wanna get killed, okay. Lydy Jubilee is brutal, when she gets mad. Even if I manage ter sneak on wahn of the bloomin' lifeboats, I know she'll just persecute me and smack me ter deaf wif 'er iron club."

"You're not just stupid. You're also a coward", she mocked him while continuing to eat.

"SHUT IT!", he yelled at her. Every muscle in his body filled with rage, only to faint away as he let her words sink in.

"You're wite. I am a coward. but I 'ave 'ope that wahn day the bloomin' Navy will take 'er daahhhn. Y'kna? It 'as always been me dream ter join the chuffin' Navy. get rid of aw these bloody pirates aahhht there. nah offense. do ya understand na why I can't just flee ?"

She didn't.

"You can't just wait for somepony to show up and make your dreams come true. If you truly believe in them you have to work for them yourself." He looked at her with utter amazement. Who would have thought that this glutton was so philosophical

The ceiling of the storage room collapsed, covering the entire area in thick smoke. As it cleared away, the contour of an obese pony, holding a massive spiked weapon could be seen. Cherry Jubilee.

"You weren't tryin' to run away from me, were you, scaredy pants?" She took a look around the room and found the pink pony, who stopped eating her cupcake. "And who are you? Are ya that famous pirate hunter Dash, everypony keeps talkin' about?"

"N-N-NoNoNoNoNo, Lady Jubilee." He choked a little, due to his lunch trying to come back to the surface as he looked her in the face.

"Hey Pip, who's that fat lady?" Pinkie just blurted out for everypony to hear and back away from Jubilee as possible.

"Don't listen to that brat. She wouldn't know what true beauty looks like, if it smacked her in the face with your club."

Cherry's teeth almost broke from the sheer pressure she made them endure. Every single muscle in her body was clenched as she jumped down the hole, ready to hit the outrageous mare, but she just took Pipsqueak and leaped onto the deck in a huge arc.

The pirates started to reform themselves, encirculing Pinkie, who threw Pip away to put him out of danger. They all attacked her at once. Swords and hooves simply flew across the wooden planks of their battlefield.

Pinkie Pie dogded and blocked every single one of them, smacking her hooves on their faces so hard they felt completely numb. One charged up on her from the back, but the mare in the strawhat just turned around , grabbing her head and throwing her at several others.

"Attacking from behind is unfair.", she yelled, not noticing the crowd that formed behind her. They were to many. Pinkie could only run as fast as she could, hoping for an opening.

Which she got soon enough, at the next mast. Her front hoof grabbed onto it, but she just kept running, as if her leg would expand. Surprisingly, to all present, that's exactly what it did. Her leg just kept becoming longer and longer, untill she streched it far enough.

The pirates constantly switched back and forth from looking at the hoof to its owner, who let her leg retract further and further to its original lenght, making her speed backwards against her confused enemies.

"PAAAAAARRRRRTYYYYYY -", she screamed, as her attack sent all of those, who stood near the point of impact, almost off the ship. "- ROCKET."

It took a couple of moments untill somepony could speak again. This long silence was broken by Cherry Jubilee, who, by that time, managed to get out of the stoorage room. Her voice was cold at the sight of her crew being beaten up, but one could certainly sense a large amount of curiosity in her tone.

"That's quite a powerful unusual technique you've got there, kid. Tell me, did ya eat one of the Devil Fruits?"

"Uh huh. I ate the Party Fruit." She demonstrated her powers by, once again, extending her leg and pulling a blue konfetti cannon out of absolutely nowhere. They knew it was a konfetti cannon, because that stuff was scattered all over the fat captain.

Relatively unfaced that that action, she began muttering about that new information.

"So it is true. They really do exist. Ah've heard that they're called the true treasures of the Grand Line. Grantin' their eaters godlike powers from just one single bite."

"That's them", Pinkie answered, still keeping her smile.

"Well Ah guess that just works for ma advantage. As soon as Ah'm done with ya, you'll be nothin' but a bubblin' corpse on the bottom of the ocean." She spotted Pipsqueak out of the corner of her eyes and called him over. He stayed a coupke of feet away, right next to Pinkie Pie, but still close enough.

"Tell me again, little one!" Her almost creepily calm voice sent not just one wave of shivers razing over his spine. "Who is the most beautiful of all pirates?"

"You, Lady Jubilee, are ... are", he started, but found himself unable to speak the rest of the lie, he had to say at least three times, every day for the past two years. The thought of already being so long under her tyranny, mixed with the talk about the Navy and his dreams he had with Pinkie earlier triggered something inside him.

"YA 'RE THE BLOODY FUGLIEST 'OODED CRA TER EVER SET A 'OOF ON A 'APPENY DIP."

The crew, again, either just stood there, petrified and jaw hanging, or they fled onto their own ship, in fear of what they knew was about to happen.

"WHAT DID YA SAY YA LITTLE SCUMBAG?"

"You heard me right. I'd rather die right now, than be your slave again. I'm gonna join the Navy and hunt you down or I'll die right here where I stand."

"Your wish shall be granted."

She swung her club with as much force as she had towards the spotted little colt, who just now began to understand the heavyness of his actions. But, before she could hit him, Pinkie Pie lunged forward and stopped the blow with her body. She seemed to be squeezed down to 3/4 of her height.

"That's it for her", the pirates thought to themselves, "Nopony can withstand a blow like that."

But that made Pinkie only giggle as she quickly regained her full height.

"That's not gonna work on me."

"WHAT?" Normally every single one of her victims would be nothing but a squashed corpse. But this one still stood. And, what's even more, expanded her leg as far as she could, wide beyond the reiling, until it couldn't possibly stretch any further.

Fear spread across the fat sweating face of the red maned pirate captain, as she watched the thing come closer and closer to hitting her and she could do absolutely nothing to stop it.

With one single hit to her stomach, Pinkie puched her through two walls, the reiling and beyond what eyes could see, into the ocean. Not even the splash could be seen from where this battle took place.

Everypony was paralyzed and unable to process the outcome of this fight. A needle falling could have been heard, until they were snapped out of it, when they heard a loudspeaker in the distance.

"Attention, all pirates. The Navy is here. Surrender now or we will fire."

Pinkie took this warning as a sign to leave. "Hey, you guys there. Prepare a boat for me!" They did as she said and a boat was ready almost immediately. "Well, Pip, looks like it's your lucky day. The Navy's right there. Go and apply for a job!"

"'re ya 6's and 7's? If I go ter them na, they'll fin' I'm a pirate."

"Okay, then hop in!" And he did. Pinkie streched out her front legs to grab ahold on both ships and clung to the front of their boat. Before she catapulted themselves forward and away from the Navy ship, she could catch a glimpse of a white coated mare on a boat next to them.

As they finally reached normal speed again, they had to ask themselves one question. Where to go next?

"Hey, who is that 'Dashie' the fat lady talked about?"

"Rainba dash is a brutal bounty 'unter. Callin' 'er a monster would be the understatement of the year. Why do ya ask?"

Pinkie smiled again. "I think she could fit in my crew."

"WOT?" Pinkie punched him on the head again. "Wot was that for?"

"You were gonna hold a speech again, why I shouldn't do it. Do you happen to know where she is?"

"I 'eard that she's currently imprisoned on a Navy base. " Pinkies smile faded.

"Well that doesn't seem very impressive. Anyways we should stick together. I'll break her out of the base, she'll join my crew and you will apply for a job at the Navy without being suspected of pirating."

Pipsqueak was okay with that idea and both of them set sail to the island, where the bounty hunter, called Rainbow Dash was located.

Pirate Hunter Dash: Part I

The Prism Head Hunter: Part I

The sun shone high over the sea, across the gold and silver waves, changing into water sprays and the seagull's screaches pierced the ears our two heros, Pinkie D. Pie and Pipsqueak.

"Can't they shut up?" Pinkie sounded extraordinarily grumpy, namely because of her sudden awakening. "Turn the lights off!"

"It's already noon and that's the bloomin' sun. After your sha on the cruiser, it's kinda strange ter clock ya sleepin'. Ya looked loike an energy filled, sugary rubber band, mate. "

"Well that's what you get for eating the Party Fruit. Yawn. I'm kinda made out of rubber, now. Many confuse me for a blob of bubblegum, that came to life. Hi hi." She just streched a little and there she was. As energetic and bubbly as on the cruiser.

Pipsqueak was taking a look on the map, that they had on board - which fortunately showed the location of their destination, the island, and navy-base, Shellstown - while Pinkie was climbing around on the mast. For his age, he had quite some navigation skills. Still, not perfect, but he could bring you from one island to the other. As long as he had a map and, at least, some clue of where he was.

"'ey, Pinkie. Why am I the bloody wahn 'oo 'as ter get us there? Can ya take over for an 'our? I'm tired."

"Sorry, no can do. Can't read maps."

"WOT? Then 'a did ya think ya were gettin' ter places?"

"Dunno. I kinda just thought I'll eventually end up somewhere."

He just adjusted the course and after an unspecified amount of time had passed they arrived at their destination. The island had a small harbour. Not much more than a few wooden planks, but, nonetheless, almost completely occupied.

The island itself is just one big hill. There was the harbour, then some houses on each side of a broad road that leads uphill, on which a street market was held. And at the very top, a huge wall, with the navy symbol on it. A stylized sea gull, basically two arches, holding a horizontal wrench and the word "MARINE" under it. It presumably also has a flight shielding bubble around it to stop Pegasi from entering from above.

They managed to get the last spare moornings to tie up their small boat. An action Pipsqueak was surprised to find Pinkie Pie doing. She, apparently, also has some understanding of how to use a boat.

So, they walked up hill, along the market. There were several market stalls. Some of them had the newest knife variations. Others had self-made wicker baskets. Heck, there were even some that sold guns and swords. But those were mostly in the secluded sections of the fair.

But the thing that was mostly sold, much to Pipsqueak's dismay, was food. Not the fact that it was almost everywhere, no he kinda expected that. It was the fact that Pinkie Pie stopped at every stand that vended anything remotely edible. Pip was, again, surprised at how much she could eat.

"Come on, mate, we 'ave neither the money nor the time ... You're eating wax fruit, for Poseidon's sake." Pinkie took a second to look down at her hoof and what she saw confirmed that, what her friend was talking about, was, indeed, true.

"So that's why it tastes like nothing." Pipsqueak had to laugh at that last comment. "You're right, I guess. Let's go find that Rainbow Dash."

As soon as she spoke Rainbow's name, the entire market went silent. Heads turned to face the pink pirate and her entourage.

"I guess she's popular around here."

"Nah wonder. Accordin' ter 'earsay, it took an entire Navy ship, led by Captain Spoiled Rich, ter capture 'er. "

As the town heard the name of the navy captain, who led this navy base, they ran off. Every single pony that stood in the streets quickly jumped into barrels, narrow alleyways or ducked behind the stands of the tradesponies. Some of them still peeked out of their hiding place to see what Pinkie and Pipsqueak would do next.

"She's apparently even more popular."

Without a care for what just happened, they strolled off towards the big wall in the middle of the island. They walked around it, only to find that there is only one big gate and it was guarded by dozens of guards.

"So where do you think they keep her?", Pinkie asked her spotted friend.

"I'm not sure." While he thought of some ideas for where such a dangerous mare could be kept, Pinkie used her rubber legs to grab a hold of the top of the wall, which actually wasn't that high as it seemed to be from far away, just 4-5 meters tall, and catapulted herself up there.

"She's prolly locked up in the bleedin' deepest of dungeons, behind a labyrinf of 'allways and dozens of locked doors, guarded by crocodiles wif ..."

"Or she's just bound to a pole, out in the open", Pinkie screamed down, before pulling Pipsqueak up to her, to witness the display in a spacious, plane area of the base. One wooden cross, a couple of worn out ropes and one mare.

A mare who has a cyan blue coat and rainbow-colored mane and tail. Around her waist was a royal blue haramaki, a garment that is worn around the midriff and which is supposed to both provide warmth and serve as a talisman to ward away harm (learned something?). Bound to her head was a bandana, which seems to be black, but when the light hit it right, shimmered dark-blue.

Her body was limp. Only her forelegs being restricted so low, that it forced her to lay on her back. The rest just kinda laying on the ground. And her head floppily fallen forward. To be honest, she seemed to be as dead as anypony could look. And also sounded like it.

"Hey, you two. Get lost. I don't need any spectators." Her voice was as raspy as extra rough sandpaper, grinding a pile of extra crunchy cornflakes, on an overused, tarred street.

Pipsqueak almost fell down the wall as he heard the mare proclaim her discomfort with the two of them staring at her defeated form, but Pinkie caught him and pulled him up again and found a ladder being placed right next to them. And up the ladder climbed a little, red maned filly, whose purple glasses fell off her muzzle as she jumped down the 4-5 meters.

She eventually put them on again and made her way towards the devestated bounty hunter. "What are you doing here, kid?" Without saying a word, she grabbed inside her saddlebags and pulled out some candy canes. Rainbows look turned into terrified and the tone in her voice more pressing. "Get lost. If they see you here ..."

She was interrupted by another filly entering the open prison. "Well, well, well. Look what we have here." Her coat is a pale magenta and she is sporting a light, grayish violet mane, with white streaks running through it. She was also a little taller than the intruder, who was about as tall as Pipsqueak. But the most noticable thing about her was the shiny crown thingy on her head.

And now Pinkie and Pipsqueak knew why Rainbow was forced to half lay on the ground. So that even this filly could talk down on her.

"Is that the Captain who captured her?", Pinkie whispered over to Pip. Both of them have decided to duck, in order to not be seen.

"'re ya kiddin'? She's just a foal."

Meanwhile, the pink filly proceeded to circle around the cream colored one. "I may be mistaken, but I am pretty sure we don't provide visiting hours for our prisoners." Then she saw the candy canes in her hooves and her expression changed from devious smirk to rage mode.

"Especially when they want to mess up an agreement." She took the candy canes with one clean motion and grabbed the red maned filly by her hair. "You know damn well why she is here and what the conditions are. If you try something like that again, I'll have my mother, Captain Rich, execute you and your entire family. Understood?" The filly nodded in response.

"Did ya 'ear that, Pink?", Pipsqueak whispered to momentary supervisor. "'er mother is Spoiled Rich. That means she must be 'er daughter, Diamond Tiara."

Diamond Tiara released the frightened foal from her grip and took a second look at the candy canes. They looked pretty tasty. She swipped them from the cream colored hooves with one quick motion, causing her to fall and tear up. But her eyes went wide as soon as she took the first lick. She coughed and coughed and scraped her tongue to get the strong aroma of mint out of her mouth.

"You stupid, incompetent imbecile. cough cough. That's way too strong. Have you ever heard of sugar? cough cough , she forced her vocal cords to utter.

She only hesitantly responded, with a nasal lisp in her voice (which I cannot write): "I-I thought, since she is an adult, she mi-might like it stronger." She pointed to Rainbow Dash, who didn't want to watch and was looking away since Diamond Tiara showed up.

Diamond Tiara didn't want to hear any of this. She looked furious. And she showed it by smashing the over minted treats on the ground and stomping all over them, until not much more than dust and crumbs were left. She watched as the filly cried her eyes out, mourning about the candy, that she had spent hours making.

But that wasn't enough for the little devil. Diamond Tiara, once again, grabbed her by her mane and pulled her close to her face.

"Tell me. What is your name?", Diamond said terrifyingly calm, half lidded and deviously smiling.

"It-it-it's 'Twist'", she said, still crying.

"Tell me Twist, uhm, did you make these?" She pointed down to the crushed canes. Twist just nodded, but just earned an expectant look on the pink filly's face.

"Ye-yes. I-I-I made them." She rose her chin and stopped crying. She tried to sound confident, ...

"Then I suppose you should eat them." ... only to be brought down to the ground.

Diamond Tiara held her just an inch above the ground, where the red and white remains of her hard work laid. The tears from before came back as she pressed her jaws and lips together, while Diamod Tiara just laughed maniacally at the display.

Pipsqueak couldn't believe his eyes and ears. How could the offspring of a navy captain be so cruel to a civilian? She was supposed to protect her from such brutes, not bully her herself. Pinkie Pie instead asked herself, how it even came to all of this.

After a couple of moments, Diamond released Twist from her iron grip.

"I think that's enough. GUARDS", she yelled and the two guards, who acccompanied her quickly stood by her side. "Throw her over the wall!"

"But Miss Tiara. She's just a little filly."

"Are you disobeying my orders? Did you forget what my mother does with traitors?"

"No, Miss Tiara." The guard went up to the little intrudor, hesitating at every single step. He picked her off the ground, where she laid in a fetal-like position and just before he threw her, he said "I'm sorry."

She flew through the air and flapped her arms in a measly attempt to keep her in the air. Unfortunately, that was untimately useless, since the lack of a horn or a pair of wings prevented any and all efforts of defying gravity or even just softening the touchdown.

What was fortunate, however, was the fact that the guard just happened to throw her in that exact direction Pip and Pink were. The second Twist flew over their heads, Pinkie extended her leg and got ahold of the filly. Then she threw herself between Twist and the ground. Her rubber body absorbed most of the force.

"Th- Thank you."

"No problem. Pipsqeak?" He jumped down, hurting two of his legs. "Take this filly home."

"Wot abaht ya, Pink'?"

"I'll find you two, somehow." And like that she trotted back to the barrier and catapulted herself over it, making her way towards Rainbow Dash. Twist noticed that, somehow, a cupcake with crossed candy canes has appeared besides her.

"Now, what do you want?", Rainbow asked annoyed. Pinkie just laughed that one off.

"Hi. My name is Pinkamena D. Pie. And I take that you are Rainbow Dash?"

"What tipped you off, Cotton Candy Head?

"Hi hi. Nice one. That coming from the pony who looks like a bag of Skittles melted on hers, which was what tipped me off, by the way."

Pinkie continued to laught at her own comparison for a couple of seconds, until Rainbow interrupted her. Now, more angry than annoyed. "What do you want?"

"I thought I'd break you outta here."

"You've got to be joking."

"No. I'm dead serious. Well, more alive serious. Were did that expression even come from?"

"Listen Balloon Butt, ..." Pinkie interrupted her.

"My name's Pinkie Pie. Did I forget to tell you that?" Her eyes drifted off. She apparently really couldn't remember whether or not she had already introduced herself.

"Okay, Pinkie Pie, I have my reasons for being here. Trust me, I would not be here if I wanted to be somewhere else. Why would you even do that."

"So that you owe me and join my crew."

"Sorry girl, I'm not a pirate.

"So why did they arrest you?" Rainbow looked up at her with a sly grin on her face.

"I am so awesome, it's ciminal."

"Really?" Pinkie's eyes sparkled in amazement.

"No, not really. I mean, I am so awesome that it's criminal, but that's not why I'm held here."

"Does it have to do with that 'agreement' that pink filly mentioned? I always thought ruthless bounty hunters worked WITH the navy." Rainbow snickered a little.

"So that's how ponies see me?"

"What? Am I supposed to take the 'ruthless' back?" Pinkie asked, worried if she might have offended her interlocutor.

"No. The 'bounty hunter'. I have never been such a thing. Every criminal I have brought down was a means for me to have money to eat and drink or have a bed to sleep in when it rained. I have never killed a mare or stallion, but I wouldn't hesitate to do it, if it's neccessary. It's none of your business, what kind of deal I have with the daughter of a Captain."

Pinkie let all of that sink in and decided it may be best, for now, to head back and find Pip again.

"Wait." Rainbow suddenly burst out, needily and a little bit embarrassed. "One more thing." She looked to the crumbs on the ground. "Can you ... gimme those?"

"Seriously? I think that's more dust and dirt than candy anymore."

"Shut up and give it to me."

Pinkie complied, muttering a "That's what she said." under her breath, and scooped the remains of the former treats, the ones that still could have been eaten at least, up. The pegasus raised her head and Pinkie dropped them into her open maw. She heard her crunching them vigurously with her teeth.

"Thanks," she said with sincere gratitude in her voice, which made Pinkie Pie smile. "I needed that."

Without saying another word, Pinkie turned around and headed off to find Pipsqueak and Twist again ... this time for real.

After she climbed the wall back down she made her way across the market place again. She figured that, once Pip got the little filly home, he'd wait for her somewhere around there. That sounds reasonable, right? But, unfortunately, he wasn't, so she figured: "Might as well fill my tummy".

Meanwhile, inside the large building, in the middle of the island ... the navy base, in case I haven't established that enough, already. Anyways, inside the building, completely independant from the spectacle outside, a familiar white pony was about to crack the lock on one of the doors.

She fumbled with her equipment around in that tiny hole. "Come on. Come on." Until she heard hoofsteps coming from around the corner. She dropped the They kept getting closer and closer. She had to think quickly.

"What are you doing here, Ma'am?", a guard asked her and she broke out in tears. She collapsed to the ground and crawled over to this guys legs.

"Please, please. You gotta help me. My-my-my husband is the janitor here. And he has diabetes. And he forgot to take his medicin today. And he called to tell me that he would be waiting for me in this room to bring him his insulin." Her breathing became more and more ragged as tears rolled down her face, completely ruining her make-up. "He-he-he couldn't even finish his last sentence. And now, the door won't open. And if I don't ... don't. 'pause' Oh Poseidon, he's probably already dead. 'cry cry scream'"

"O-okay, Miss. Do-don't cry. I'll open the door." With that, he took his key ring from his waist and hastily fumbled around the keyhole. After a few seconds he finally managed to unlock the wooden obstacle.

"Quick. Give him the...?" was all he could say, before she smacked him over the head with a bust.

"That's for making me ruin my mascara."

Back on the market place, Pinkie found a stand that sold various types of pastries, like cupcakes and muffins. It was like an All-You-Can-Eat-Buffet. The keyword being "almost".

"Uhm. Miss?", the sales pony said quite concerned, while Pinkie devoured the last bite of the last muffin. "That's quite a lot you ate there. How are you planning to pay for it?"

"Easy, with this." She used her front hoof to seemingly search through her mane. The sales pony could swear she heard a cat like scream while the pink pony did so. After a while, she finally found a small bag of bits and placed it on the counter. She was just about to leave, but the pony stopped her.

"That doesn't cover everything. You ate my entire booth empty. This is just about one sixth of what you owe me." She underlined her statement by reaching under the counter and laying a baseball bat right on it. Pinkie responded by running away as fast as she possibly could.

To be continued.

Pirate Hunter Dash: Part 2 - Retreat to the Tavern

The Prism Head Hunter: Part 2 - Retreat to the Tavern

"I'm sorry, but as a connaisseuse, I have to tell you that your goods are not nearly worth as much as what you want to sell them for", the purple maned mare stated, while examining some fancy rocks.

"You've got to be kidding me", the stallion on the other side of the counter demonstrated. "These are first-class jewels from some of the best gem fields and mines in the East Blue."

"Well, if you think that what you are saying is true, then I pity you."

"Are you saying that I'm a fraud?", he asked, so angry that he stomped his forehooves on the table.

"No, I said you are not made to be a jeweler if you think that these are of the quality you make them out to be." She placed the one she was examining on the counter and glared at him with a stern look on her face.

"Of couse, looking at your cutie mark, I highly doubt that. It's more likely that you want to overcharge me for something that I, personally, consider more to be shiny stones than actual gems."

"That's it." He punched the wooden surface on which his products were lying. "If you think my merchandise is that bad then find yourself another vendor."

He was just about to shove her out the door, when a pink blurr came crashing through it. It was moving so fast that he couldn't even really recognize what it was. And as fast as it came, it left through the back door again.

All he knew was that, on the way to the second exit, it bumped into every cabinet and shelf, causing all of the jewels to fall down. Some broke apon impact, which high-quality gems shouldn't normally do. The store owner was looking at this mess and hesitantly returned his gaze to his "client".

"So, uhm, how much did you say you wanted to pay, ma'am?"

It was seriously never Pinkie's intention not to pay for everything she ate, back there. Judging from how good it tasted she would have paid even more. But the truth was, Pinkie didn't have enough bits. She had been running through the town for 8 minutes now, the salespony always on her heels, chasing her with a baseball bat.

Wait a sec ... has she? Pinkie stopped in her tracks. She was standing in a secluded alley way, just barely luminated. Apparently, she got rid of her pursuer. Feeling a little guilty, she carefully made her way back to Pipsqueak and that little filly. Twist. That was her name, right? Or rather, finding him, since she still had no idea where he was.

"There you are." Pinkie barely managed to duck that swing. Her pursuer caught up with her.

"Bye." And away she was again. Running past the batter and onto Main Street.

"Get back here."

Pipsqueak has already brought Twist back home.

It was a rustic, little inn near the port. She and her parents made a living by serving food and drinks to the marines and visitors that came to the island and providing them with beds to sleep in during the night. Since most of the marines don't think too highly of the base' canteen, they make pretty good money.

Even if that wasn't the case, they would have come there simply because they wanted to help out Twist's parents.

It's three storeys tall, with the tavern at the ground floor, the family's own premises at the top, and everything in between being lodgings for the guests. Oh, and a cellar for the food.

It's a nice little family business and it has been theirs for several generations. They have been loved by the town ever since the first day..

Candy Cane, Twist's mother, is in charge of the food and she outshines every single other pony on the island with her cuisine. Even the chef of the base asked her for her recipes, but she just hit him over the head with the frying pan she had at hand. Without saying a word. But I think he understood pretty well. She's also the one who throws everypony who drinks over the eight out.

She always wears her pink apron, even when the tavern is closed up. She says that it brings her luck. Beyond that she has green and red hair, which she curled up into a bun, and a white coat.

Pop Tart, Twist's father, is the household pony for everything. He makes the beds, scrubs the floors, replaces the burned out lightbulbs. He really likes to keep everything clean around the house. He's also responsible for the establishment's financial stuff.

And if you look to him, you'll know where Twist got her most noticeable features from, like her frizzled hair and the glasses, although his were smaller. His coat is sand-colored and his mane cobalt blue.

And ever since her sister left to study in Logue Town, a couple of months ago, Twist took her job of taking orders and serving the dishes. It was quite a profitable decision, too, since most ponies can't say "no" to her adorability and just keep ordering more.

Pipsqueak supported Twist on their way back to the inn. It was a long way back to the shore and Twist insisted they go the long way round in order to not attract any attention from the townsponies.

They rested on one of the tables. Both of them agreed that neither would Twist be able to make it up the stairs nor would Pipsqueak be strong enough to carry her all the way.

"Where do ya keep the bandages?", he asked.

"They're in the bokth at the wall back there. Do you know how to apply them?"

"Yeah. When you're on a pirate ship and it's that lil' burnt cinder of time when they daan't make ya do chores, that's wot ya do. ya read books ter learn the stuff they will make ya do, so ya won't screw up and get killed."

"That thoundth horrible. It must've been a living hell."

"And wot abaht ya, mate? If the mother of that crown-wearin' masochist is as bad as 'er, it must've been pretty bad for ya, too ."

"Oh yeah, she'th the worst. Thhe once threatened to close up a thtore and execute the owner, because he wouldn't give her the monthly "extra tax". One little thlip-up that she findth offenthive and she goeth bonkers. Luckily, she doethn't leave her fortreth very often."

"I can certainly see that. Just wahn mention of 'er name and everypony 'id in fear."

Right then, Twist's parents came back from buying some supplies. Pop Tart immediately dropped the paperbags full of ingredients on the floor as he saw that Twist was hurt. Candy Cane just looked at them dumbfounded.

"Oh dear lord, what happened to you sweetie?" He completely ignored Pipsqueak at her side as he inspected if any serious damage has been done. When he saw that there was nothing worrisome, he pulled her close and planted a kiss on the fore head.

"It'th, uhm ..." She couldn't decide what to do. They would have probably noticed if she lied, but she also didn't want to drag her parents any further into this. Luckily, her mother didn't give her that choice.

"You were with Rainbow Dash, weren't you?", she flat out asked, leaning against the doorframe. "You thought I wouldn't notice when somepony is using my kitchen?" Twist hung her head and tried to hide her face.

"Oh dear. We told you to stay away from her. We know what she did and what it means to you, but we simply can't risk anything." Twist finally looked at them again. A little bit of shame in her eyes. "Now, please tell us what happened."

Right then they heard a mare screaming in anger outside.

"Wot was that?" Pipsqueak asked.

Candy Cane replied cheerfully: "Oh, just one of the sales ponies who didn't get her money. Some pink doofus with a straw hat picked the wrong stand." She smiled and giggled, just waiting for the bat pony (get it? I'm gonna kill myself now) to hit the bill-dodger. "Oh, they're coming our way." She watched intently as the pursuer slowly, but steadily caught up.

Pipsqueak startled: "Pink with a strawhat? She's 'ere wif me."

Candy Cane was kinda surprised by that. She looked turned to Pip with a raised eye brow.

"Huh? No problem, kiddo." She made her way towards the kitchen and returned with a frying pan and an apple in her mouth. You know what's gonna happen, don't you?

She waited at the door until Pinkie shot past, hauled off and the pan landed right in the light brown face of the pony that was running so fast and was stopped so abruptly that she made two back flips on her way to the ocean.

Pinkie instantly tried to thank the (to her) unknown mare, but was cut short by Pip.

"Pinkie! Wot happened?"

"Oh there you are Pip. Do you know her?" Pinkie asked surprised.

"Yes, she's the mother of that lil' filly from before. Now, wot 'appened?", he asked hastily.

"Well, everything at her stand was so good that I ate everything."

"YA ATE THE BLEEDIN' WHOLE STAND?" Pip inquired shocked.

"Yeah, but I didn't have enough bits to pay for everything." Pinkie felt a little ashamed after admitting that.

"Urgh," he facehoofed, "Ya should 'ave come ter me sooner. we 'ave plenty more on our boat." He saw the soaked mare climbing onto dry land again and raced over to her. He told her that there was plenty of money left on their boat and she could take as much as Pinkie owed her. And some extra to fix her muzzle.

Candy Cane, meanwhile, started talking to Pinkie, with a good chunk of apple still in her mouth.

"So, is this spot, like, your little brother", she swallowed," or what?"

"No, actually. We met at sea. It's a long story."

"Well, it's gonna be a while until our customers arrive. Why don't you two come in and I'll make you something to eat? On the house. It's the least I can do for you for helping my little angel."

There was certainly a little sincerity in this offer, but also a lot of distrust in her voice, but Pinkie was too flattered by the offer to really notice.

After that, Pinkie, Pip and Twist told her parents the story, slurping their vegetable soup while taking turns talking.

"At least we understand why you did it, sweetie", Pop Tart commented, still a huge amount of concern in his face and tone.

"And I understand that this soup is delicious", said Pinkie. CRASH went a vase on the other side of the room.

"That goat-shwaggeling bitch. Gimme something else to break or it'll be her neck", Candy Cane screamed at the top of her lungs. Her husband quickly ran to her, holding a plate. "No, honey. Not the good china plates." He got another one. "PERFECT." clash

Pipsqueak leaned over to Twist to ask her what that word meant, but she just told him that her mom likes to make up words when she's angry. Pinkie was interested in something else. How did it come to all of this?

After Pinkie told the story of how she came to meet Pipsqueak, the door suddenly burst open. The light of the setting sun cast a shadow across the room. The only things they saw were the outlines of a pink mare and two stallions in navy uniforms. Everypony except Pinkie and Pip sprung to attention.

"Captain Rich!" Now, Pip also stood up. There was a lot of fear in their voices, except for Candy Cane who just sounded like she was two seconds away from screwing the captain's nose up even more.

"Spare your breath. I heard your offspring infiltrated my facility today." She looked at Twist with stirring cold opal eyes. The little filly was too terrified to look away. "Don't worry. I'm not here to do you any harm. You've got somepony else to take the blame."

Twist's eyes widened. "No, you can't do that." She was just about to kneel before her. To plead her to reconsider, but her father held her in place.

"But you remember the deal she made. The bounty hunter will be punished for every crime this family commits in this month", she said in a tone that was almost a threat.

"That deal wath unfair. There'th no way anypony could thurvive that long." Twist cried again. Her face was still stained from the humiliation caused by Diamond Tiara earlier.

"Don't say that, my dear. She held out pretty well, so far. But if I had to guess, I'd say she wouldn't last two more days, anyway. Be thankful that I'll put the bounty hunter out of her misery."

"She-hihi is not a bounty hunter." Pinkie tried her damnest to prevent herself from bursting out in laughter.

"Do you know her?" Pinkie nodded. Not daring to open her mouth. "Isn't that nice? An old friend got wind of her sacrifice and decided to stand by her side, I presume." Her face changed from mockingly playful to deadpan serious in a mere second. "What's so funny?"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I'm sorry-hihihi. You just remind me of one of those pigs whose horns grow into their own skulls. How many face lifts did they mess up to make your muzzle look like that? HAHAHAHAHA."

Her laughter was quickly cut short by a bullet Spoiled Rich fired into her shoulder. That made her topple over and she landed with a loud smash on the floor.

"I have the highest authority on this island. How dare you mock me like that?" Pip, Twist and Pop Tart raced to check on her. "Any kind of disrespect shown against me is the greatest crime one can commit on this island. This little lowlife should be thankful for the mercy I have shown to her family and that barbaric mare.

Candy Cane reached for the frying pan that was still laying on the table behind her. There was nothing she would have rather done than to just beat her with it until that bitch's mind was fully functional again.

"But my patience has run out. Her execution will take place AT SUNDOWN. AND THAT'S FINAL."

Pirate Hunter Dash: Part 3 - Ready to Fight?

The Prism Head Hunter: Part 3 - Ready to Fight?

“... AND THAT'S FINAL”, were the last words the cruel official uttered before she stormed out the front door again, her minions following her shortly after.

After several other low-quality plates flew around the room, Pinkie spoke up again, much to everypony's surprise.

"Yeesh, what's gotten her so worked up?", she asked nonchalantly, much to everypony's surprise.

"A-are you alright, Miss Pie?", Pop Tart asked back. "She shot you. H-how are not, you know, b-bleeding out and ... that?"

"She ate the Devil Fruit, mate. 'er body's as bouncy as a rubber ball." Pip answered.

"Yep, bullets can't do harm to me." Pinkie brushed off her pink shirt and put her hat on her head again. Meanwhile, Candy Cane finished her tantrum. "Can anypony here tell me how it came to all of this."

"You really wanna know, Bubblegum?", Candy Cane asked, to which Pinkie responded with a nod.

"grunt"

About three weeks earlier:

It was a busy night at the Giggling Sugar Pot. Some new visiters arrived on their journey through, but most of the guests were the navy officers, once again here to get the taste of cantine mush out of their mouths and those who didn't have to report for duty the next day slept in the comfy beds the sweet familly had in store for them.

They laughed, they sang, drank and ate. Everything seemed to go well. Until Spoiled Rich stormed through the door, Diamond Tiara right behind her.

"LIEUTENANT DEAD MEAT! REPORT!", she shouted into the room full of tables and mugs of cider and beer. An orange earth pony with a red mane fell off her chair and ran to her, saluting when she faced her.

"Y-yes, ma'am. What seems to be the problem?", she asked sternly.

"Please tell me why I find you here, drinking, when it's your night to be on guard duty." The captain's voice was as cold as a snowpony.

"Oh, uhm, that was today?" Her apparent surprise was apparent. "I'm sorry, ma'am. I must've confused today with tomorrow. Please forgive me. I'll return to my post immediately."

Spoiled Rich looked around the room, counting how many of her underlings were present.

"Every soldier is to return to the base, RIGHT THIS INSTANT. You can thank this klutz. Now, MOVE IT."

The soldiers got off their seats, disappointed. Some of them went upstairs to wake the others, but in all that commotion they forgot to do one thing.

"Hey pig-face, none of them are gonna leave without paying their bills", Candy Cane interveined without even thinking about the consequences it might have.

"How about you pay a little more respect to the pony with the highest rank around here", Diamond Tiara returned.

"I don't give damn about her rank. I want my money."

Spoiled Rich slowly walked towards the christmas-color-maned mare behind the bar. Everypony in the room stopped in their tracks and felt chills running through their entire bodied at this sight. The only movement coming from their eyes, as they followed the menacing mare.

Once she got there she lifted her right front leg, a metal prothesis attached to it. But she was stopped by a sword on her throat.

"The mare just wants the money that your soldiers owe her." Rainbow Dash sat at the bar, eating away at a plate full of rice and sea food. Her bandana was bound around her neck like she used it as a napkin. "Why don't you just let her have that?" She took another big bite of her dinner.

Spoiled Rich answered with a pimp slap, which sent the swordspony crashing into the nearby wall, creating a rather large hole.

"How dare you hold a sword to my throat. Don't you know who I am?" She pressed a button on her prothesis and a big axe shot out of it. Rainbow Dash was just trying to get up from the stattered wood as she met the business end of the battle axe.

She quickly grabbed her sword to block the attack, but both of them were interrupted by Diamond Tiara.

"Wait, Mom." She examined Rainbow, who was still lying on her back. "Why would you risk your life for this cook?"

"She gave me food. That's the only reason I need", she said, extremely nonchalant, still little drowzy from the impact. "Besides, I'm not risking anything. I could beat her in 10 seconds flat."

Diamond turned to her mother. They exchanged a glance and she looked at Rainbow again.

"How about whe make this a little more interesting? You'll be our prisoner for one month. No food, one glass of water a day. If you survive, you will be free and this establishment won't be harmed. What do you think?" She extended her hoof. And Rainbow took it.

"You got yourself a deal, you little runt."

"Now you know what happened here, kid. Happy?"

"How did it come to that. How could a pony like her become a Navy Captain?" Pipsqueak broke out in tears. "Is that what being a Captain of the Navy means?" But Pop Tart was quick to calm him down with his calm and caring tenor.

"Hold on there, Pipsqueak. She wasn't always like that. She once was very caring about her family and this island. I don't know what exactly happened, but I once overheard the soldiers talk about a pirate and her daughter or something like that. It's a shame."

Pinkie finally stood up from the floor and made her way towards the door.

"Where're ya going, Pinkie?"

"To get Rainbow Dash outta there. She can't join my crew if she's dead, am I right?" And she left with a giant smile across her face.

Diamond Tiara looked at the tied up mare in the yard with a gloomy expression on her face. She felt terrible. She thought that if she treated Twist extra rough (but not too rough), maybe her mother would have let that be the punishment and that's it. But she just made it worse.

Getting other ponies to do what she wants, sometimes requires her to be an actress. And she's a good one at that. But sometimes things just don't go according to plan. There was a crashing sound nearby. And a terrified scream to follow.

"I'm so sorry, captain. It was an accident. Please, forgive me." Diamond Tiara came around the corner and saw her mother's bust shattered on the floor. The guard must've knocked it down.

"You disrespected me. NOW PAY."

"Mom, stop it!", Diamond pleaded as she tried to hold her mother back from putting her hoof-axe down, but she was instantly thrown against the wall.

"That's it, Diamond Tiara." She went deadly silent. "You have defied me long enough. Your pity against traitors will no longer be tolerated." Diamond's eyes went wide. She knew.

"Trust me when I say that the only reason why you're still alive is that you are my daughter, but that card has now expired. From now on, you'll be of no more value to me than any other pony on this island. Maybe then you'll learn where sympathy leads."

She must've forgotten about the whole bust-thing, because she walked away right past the still cowering stallion and right towards her personal sleeping quarters.

From the tears rolling down her face, Diamond Tiara knew exactly how Twist felt this day. She needed a little fresh air.

Pinkie Pie reached the wall that parted the town from official government ground.

She tried to do the same thing she did earlier. Grabbing onto the wall and catapulting herself over it, but this time it didn't go as planned. She tripped and now she was spinning uncontrollably in the air. Flying right towards a sleeping Rainbow Dash, headbutting her out of her dreams. Both squirmed a bit.

"What the hell are you doing here, again?", she had that wake-me-again-and-I'll-kill-you tone in her voice.

"I met that family you saved. That was so awesome of you. Just taking on that pig-faced diva." Pinkie was punching the air while re-telling what was told to her. "That hole in the wall is still there, you know."

"They probably don't have enough money to fix it. The townsponies have to pay that retarded 'extra tax'. I'm not surprised that they can't afford to go out. And the soldiers are all forbidden to go there until I'm finished here. That, or they're just too afraid. But they'll just have to wait another ten days."

"No, this'll be over much sooner." Pinkie stated bluntly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Rainbow took it as an insult. "Are you saying I can't win this?"

"No, I'm saying, if you don't join my crew, you'll be dead soon", she explained.

"Threatening me isn't a clever move, scatterbrain." Rainbow got more agitated with every single word Pinkie uttered.

"I'm not threatening you. Besides, you couldn't beat me anyways."

"Just how weak do you think I am? If I had my swords, I would show you what I'm made of."

"Well, where are they?" Rainbow felt a little ashamed after her most valuable items were mentioned. Her father once told her that a sword should be a swordspony's most most treasured thing. And one of them was particularly special to her.

"Diamond Tiara took them. They're somewhere in the base."

"Hang on, I'll get them." And off she was. Directly headed towards the base. Rainbow just thought about how crazy she must be.

Pinkie had it easy, since Diamond Tiara was sitting right outside the front door. Her tears had stopped, but she was still thinking about what happened. So, she was a commener, now. She wondered if she could still sleep in her own room, if her mom would make her sleep in the sleeping quarters. Would she have to do the training every recruit had to absolve?

She heard the sound of hoofsteps drawing near and she looked up just in time to see the pink blurr picking her up and storming through the door. She expertly hid her fear behind anger.

"Let me go, you ... you ..."

"Relax. Just tell me where you put Rainbow's swords and I'll let you go." Diamond Tiara seamed quite surprised.

"They're in my room. Now let me go."

"First, you have to show me the way." Diamond obliged and guided Pinkie through the halls full of guards who all cleared the way at the sight of the captain's daughter being taken hostage.

They arrived in the pink chamber (that was almost as big as the Sugar Pot's dining room), where Pinkie disposed of her guide by throwing her on her silk-sheeted Queen size bed. Right next to which were three swords leaning against the wall.

There was also a window in direction to the open field Rainbow was kept in. There were three things Pinkie noticed.

First: It was almost sundown. She had to hurry up and get those swords to Rainbow Dash.

Second: Spoiled Rich already led the firing squad to the helpless prisoner. She really needed to hurry up and get those swords to Rainbow Dash.

Third: A familiar little foal with spotted fur was trying to free Rainbow of her binds. She REALLY needed to hurry up.

Pipsqueak was aggitated. Rainbow Dash told him to stop ever since he started to losen the knots of of her confinement. Both kept their voices down in otder to avoid any attraction.

"I'm savin' ya. You're welcome."

"I don't need saving. You don't seriously believe that that goofball is gonna get outta there alive, do you? Not with that crazy captain in there." Rainbow's mood wasn't any better than his.

"First, she will make it. Second, I'm not savin' ya from 'er. We are both tryin' ter save ya from the bloody pony who's currently readyin' the bleedin' firin' squad for your execution." Pipsqueak uttered that last sentence with such seriousness that it made Rainbow speechless for a moment.

"Didn't she tell ya? After that thing with Twist, the captain 'as ordered your deaf. Did ya get it through your thick skull, na? John Cheese and checkers, 'a tight 're these knots?"

Rainbow needed some time to realize what that spotted colt had just said. After three weeks of being roasted in the sunlight, soaked in the rain, left outside in the bone-shaking cold of the night, all without any food or water, she was gonna be axed off like a pig? It seemed like she could ask the executioner herself.

"Another traitor? Shoot him right alongside her. That low-life was with the Straw Hat. They all deserve to die. TAKE AIM!"

"Come on, hurry. Bite through them if you have to. Just get me outta here." Rainbow demanded, quite urgent at that.

"A'ng t'iing." He returned, the ropes in his mouth, in a fruitless attempt to free the blue captive.

"READY!" It was over for her. There was no way Pipsqueak could free her in time. Realizing that, she stopped her struggles and waited for the final command.

"Get outta here. If you're fast enough, you might get away."

"Forget it. 'a can I become a Navy Captain if I let such injustice 'appen wifaht givin' it my aw?"

"How can you become one when you're dead?"

"FIRE!"

I Got a Crew

Pipsqueak clung to Rainbow has hard as he could as he heard the malevolent marine utter his death sentence. Rainbow on the other hand tried to shield the undersized colt with her lower body as best as she could. Both of them clenched their eyes, a tear rolling down the young one's cheek. But nothing hit them.

"H-hey guys. Watcha do-doing?" Both of them opened their eyes and before them stood, facing them, the pink pony herself. Some parts of her were stretching out and Pip quickly figured out that she caught the bullets.

"PINKIE!", Pip shouted in blissful relief.

"What the flying feather is happening to you right now?", Rainbow exclaimed in utter shock.

"Just *grunt* one sec." She straightened herself and let out a fierce scream, sending all the bullets back towards the marines. "It's okay. *huff huff* Just never taken so many bullets at once before. Hihi."

Spoiled Rich obseved the scene. First she was confused to how the Straw Hat could show up here. She had hit her before, no doubt about it. But now she pulled that trick off and the captain understood.

"Bullets won't bring us any further. She ate the Devil Fruit. Try to slice them up." The soldiers pulled their swords out and stormed towards the cross. But Pinkie was quick enough to swipe all of them away with a kick and bought them some time.

"PARTY WHIP."

"Awesome. Now get me outta here so I can beat some plot myself."

"Are you gonna join my crew?"

"I guess I don't have much of a choice. I'm in, balloon butt." Pinkie Pie beamed from ear to ear as she heard that. She had the three swords she found in Diamond Tiara's room bound on her back. She carefully took them off and presented them to the prisoner.

"I didn't know which of them was yours so I took all of them."

"That's alright. They're all mine. I fight Three-Swords-Stlye." After hearing this, Pinkie accidently let the swords fall to the ground from excitement.

Spoiled Rich watched with a burning fury inside herself as her officers were cowering. Their swords and guns all scattered on the ground.

"You weaklings, stand up and kill them!", she yelled at her underlings.

"B-but Captain, you saw how strong that pink pony is. And now, Rainbow Dash is free and armed. We don't stand a chance." She activated her axe and attacked at her officers.

"You'll die either from them or me." Now knowing who they should fear more, they grabbed their weapons and charged at the criminals before them. Rainbow was quick to react though. Once she was free, she quickly equipped herself and blocked and countered every attack. One sword in her mouth and the other two in her hooves.

When every soldier laid on the ground again, now at least relatively far away from their captain, she knelt before Pinkie to express her gratitude. "I have to thank you. And I don't know if I can ever repay you. But here I swear, I will be loyal to you until the day that I believe I can't reach my goal with you anymore."

"And what goal would that be?" That question plastered a smug grin on Rainbow's face.

"I'm gonna be the strongest swordspony in the world." Her eagerness made Pinkie smile and she extended a hoof to help the still weakened swordspony up.

"Stand up. My friends don't have to kneel before me. The strongest swordspony, huh? Nothing but the best for the future Pirate Queen."

"Figured you'd be one to aim high." Both of them hoofwrestled in the air, as if to test each others strength. Even in her weakened state Rainbow was easily on par with Pinkie Pie.

Spoiled Rich, however, had just about enough of these two. With a war cry summoned from her deepest core, she drew their attention back to herself.

"You two lowlifes have denied me long enough. Maybe you can stand up against my pawns, but I am on a different level. Prepare to die by my axe." Never had either of them seen somepony so torn up by rage. This was getting a bit serious. They knew that and took their stances. Buuuut ...

"Stop it you criminals!", a shrill voice shouted behind them. It was Diamond Tiara. And there was a pistol located in her hoof. Which was pointing directly at Pipsqueak. "Y-you two are gonna surrender now! Drop the swords and lay on the ground! Or else I'mm go-going to blow his brains out."

"Wonderful Diamond Tiara", her mom cheered. "Now you understand what it takes to secure one's standing."

She was probably too proud to hear it, and Pip was too scared to notice either, but Pinkie and Rainbow saw the jittering of her body, the stammering in her voice, the overall hesitation. Pinkie turned around and approached the rich foal.

Step by step, Diamond Tiara's fear increased. She couldn't do that. If she did, they would kill her. Or torture her. But that didn't stop Diamond from shouting warnings and false promises at the slowly approaching pirate. Tears welled up in her eyes as she was completely petrified by the time Pinkie arrived.

What she didn't expect was what Pinkie actually did. Instead of punching her or kicking her or doing anything else to her, she just took the pistol from her and threw it away. Now released from her petrification, all the frightened filly could do was plump on her rectum and crawl away as fast as she could.

On the ocean, another scene was taking place.

"Captain, we should arrive in Shellstown in about an hour", a young Unicorn informed her Earth Pony official.

"Good. Actually, tell them to try getting there faster", the brown stallion replied. "Did you remember NOT to inform them of our arrival? I want to surprise my family."

"Yes, sir. I mean, we didn't send a message. Nopony should expect us. I mean, as long as they didn't see our huge ship headed there", the purple filly criticized.

"Don't talk to your teacher in this manner", but his face soon changed to softer contures, "but you're right. I should have thought this through." There was a little crash on the front side of the ship.

"What did we hit?" Both of them looked over the railing and saw a couple of wooden planks float around.

"I'm gonna go down there and check if the ship received any damage. I hope there was nopony on that boat."

Pinkie turned her attention back towards Rainbow and Spoiled Rich.

"Care to give me a lift?" She asked, while sprinting at the former captive.

"Sure thing, pal." Rainbow flipped her swords, so that Pinkie could jump on their backs and was then catapulted into the air, in a perfect arc, right at their mischievous opponent. Spoiled Rich - even more aggrivated than before, due to her daughters shameful display of weakness - bared her axe.

"You insignificant low-life. You think an attack like that could harm me? You think I am so pathetic as to run away?" Pinkie was her absolute center of attention. "The second you pest come in any way close to me, my axe will bathe in your ..."

"You talk too much", Rainbow came in and sliced her former captor up instead. Now distracted from her flying threat, she didn't even see the kick Pinkie landed in her face and sent her several of feet away. "I told you. Ten. Seconds. Flat."

Some time later on the island – the sun has set, but its shimmers were still visible from beyong the horizon - the local marines captured their captain and locked her up, much to the surprise of our heroes. Diamond Tiara locked herself up in her roomand refused to come out.

To celebrate the end of the tyranic rule of a wannabe protector of the law, the whole island came together at the Sugar Pot and Candy Cane didn't waste any time doubling the prices. Nopony cared however, since the money collected from the "extra tax" was taken out of Spoiled Rich's personal safe and given back to the townsponies.

Marines and townsponies alike, as well as Pinkie, Rainbow and Pipsqueak, shared laughter at the end of a terrible era, with the former of the three providing an even more uplifting athmosphere.

That was until a face familiar to them burst into the tavern. He was a brown Earth Pony, his black mane slicked back and his eyes underlined with wrinkles. He was wearing a white uniform and was accompanied by a purple Unicorn filly, about the same age as Pip, who dropped his spoon in his bowl apon seeing her. But the soldiers fell silent at the sight of their captain's husband.

"Lieutenant-Commander Filthy Rich!", they shouted, getting up from their seats and saluting him.

"It's Captain Rich now. I was promoted and wanted to celebrate with my family." He lowered his head in disappointment and sadness filled his voice. "A pony outside told me what happened here, so there's no need to explain." He was fighting the tears." But before I let emotions take hold of me in front of a bunch of pirates ... You there, Straw Hat." He tried to sound as professional as possible.

"You broke into a government facilty, freed a captive and not only challenged, but also defeated a captain of the Navy. Normally, you would be sentenced to a lifetime in prison, but given the circumstances I will give you time until morning to leave this island. If you and your crew aren't gone by then, you WILL be put under arrest."

"Got it." She turned to Pipsqueak. "Hey shrimp, aren't you gonna ask join them. This IS your dream, isn't it?"

"'re ya crazy? I 'elped ya free Rainbow. I'm just as guilty. And look at 'im. 'e's garn through a lot. The last fin' 'e needs is me followin' 'im 'round."

"WHAT DID YOU SAY TO ME?", Pinkie screamed at him and punched him into the wall, making another hole right next to the first one.

"What the hell was that?" Rainbow asked in confusion.

"Didn't you tell me this colt was a culprite? It seems he was taken against his will. Limit the ultimatum to just the Straw Hat and the Head Hunter."

Pipsqueak stood up from the rubble, growning in pain, but it's not as if he wasn't used to it. But he did understand what Pinkie just did. "Uhm, Sir. Actually, I dreamed of becomin' a Marine. Is there a chance that ya can 'elp me wif that?"

"You, little one, are a very unusual case. If you want to become a recruit, I will first have to ask headquarters to evaluate you."

So Pinkie made it seem like she wasn't a friend of his, in order to get him accepted. Pip couldn't believe the lengths she would go to to help him reach his dream. Although, it probably hurt him more than it hurt her. But Pinkie was already talking to Rainbow.

"I guess my navigator's gone. You wouldn't happen to know how to navigate a ship, would you?"

"Sorry, no. I was just always riding with somepony from island to island. I focussed on training. Who has the time to learn something like that?"

At this moment, another character, a Unicorn, stormed into the bar and walked up to Captain Rich. Her usually well-groomed, white coat and excellently curled mane were soaking wet.

"Excuse me! Is that your huge ship docked at the harbor?"

"Yes, it is Ma'am."

"Well, then you're responsible for crashing mine. I was just heading back from a very important business meeting and you didn't bother to take notice of me. Now, my ship is just a bunch of drift wood."

Pinkie interrupted: "If you know how to navigate a ship, you can come with us. We have nowhere to go and don't know how to get there. What's your name anyway?"

"Rarity, and thank you for the offer. But unfortunately, I also lost half of my cargo. And let me tell you it was not easy to lower the price that much."

"Again, I'm sorry. If you can give me a report on what you lost we can surely..." - "That's her, guys." Filthy Rich was interrupted by a guard pony who had seen that face before.

"That's the thief who knocked me out and stole all of the base's money." Everypony in the room looked at the wet mare in utter shock.

But she just followed calmy: "Well, in light of this turn of events", while slowly backing up mind you, "I happily accept your offer." And out the door she was, quickly followed by Rainbow and Pinkie Pie, who almost died of laughter.

On another island in the East Blue a yellow Pegasus watched over a little filly's sleep from outside her hospital window.

6 - Forest of Monsters

The trio sailed an entire day, so that it was almost night time again. Pinkie was up and swinging on the mast of their little boat. Rainbow slept at the ship's rear for the entire day. Probably digesting the huge load of food she ate the night before. She can't be blamed, though. What would you do after only eating a little candy dust for an entire month? Probably eat less than her.

Rarity, on the other hoof, was watching out for anything that could come their way, be it bad weather or some pirates, while also keeping them on course for the next island. But the sky was clear and there was nopony in sight. And the moon gave them enough light to spot their next stop.

"Hey Rarity," Pinkie yelled down from the lookout, "I see an island over there. Huge dark forest. Looks really spooooo~ky."

"Don't say that!", she might have told Pinkie, but even she shuttered at the thought of the forest at night. But she tried to distract herself. "While you're up there, could you please take that flag down?" Pinkie looked above her head and she was right. Lady Jubilee's flag was still fluttering in the wind. "It might attract trouble."

"Nope." Pinkie answered.

"What do you mean 'nope'? That's a pirate flag. Just what do you think the ponies on the island will think when they see one of Cherry Jubilee's ships approaching?" Rarity retorted back.

"You said it. It's not my ship, silly. I just borrowed it. I can't decide if the Jolly Roger is taken down."

"Never have I seen anyone who has this sort of respect for pirates. Just why do you care about that?"

"Well, once I have my pirate ship, I wouldn't want the flag be taken down either." Pinkie had a broad smile across her face.

"Just so you know, by no means does me helping you mean that I'll be a part of your little game. I have seen pirates and what you're doing is not even close to what a pirate is." Her voice got a hint of anger and resentment. "They are nothing but filthy criminals, robbing and murdering just for fun. You're more of a child who's playing pretend."

"Aren't you a thief yourself? And don't forget that we saved your butt. Hihi-huah." She lost her grip as she hung from atop and fell on top of Rainbow Dash, waking her up again. She, understandably pissed, chased her around the boat, Pinkie, all the while, giggling and laughing.

Some time later, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Rarity arrived at the stony beach. The only thing that seperated them from the woods that surrounded the island was a narrow path between steep cliffs. They were just about to make their way up as they heard a voice from above.

"Pirates, criminals, leave this place if you wish to harm the ponies that live here." The voice came from a nightly figure. A dirty-yellow pony with bat wings and a black gown stood atop the cliff, several shadows lurking behind her. Their glowing eyes promissed terror.

Their gaze and the sparkle of the leader's canines made our fashionable companion shiver and sweat from fear. "Whahat? Nononononono. We certainly do not attempt to-", but she couldn't even finish her sentence before Pinkie barged in.

"Hey, what's your problem? You can't tell us when we have to leave", which made Rarity's face go even paler than before.

"What are you doing?", their navigator whispered. "We're just here to re-stock food. She has no reason to attack us, but if you anger the spirits now-", and again, she was interrupted. This time by the guardian up above.

"Leave NOW, scum! Set one foot into this forest and you may never have a chance agian." And like that the bat-pony and its creatures disappeared into the dark of the woods. Rarity broke down and jumped back to the ship, trying desperately to get it into the water.

"Alright, let's go up there!" Pinkie announced, answered by a grin from Rainbow.

Even though Rarity protested beyond belief, against going up there, the three of them have been walking through the woods for 5 minutes. Rarity constantly complained under tears as to why she had to come along, but Pinkie told her she could've just stayed at the boat. Alone. And Rainbow sealed it by mentioning some enormous treasure that the creatures probably guarded.

The pressure of the silence was overbearing, until Pinkie decided to lighten up the mood with a song. The white pony couldn't believe it. The ghosts were just gonna find them easier. But that may have been a blessing, because nothing happened. Every step she took Rarity was just expecting her doom to be even closer, but it never showed up.

A little while, after more disoriented roaming through the night, some lights showed up in the distance and they kept coming closer. Little by little they would draw nearer.

"Hey is that a campfire?", Pinkie asked.

"Can't be. You see how it's kinda greenish?", Rainbow answered.

The white thieve was the first to realize what they might have been. The realization paralyzed her. Pinkie and Rainbow, however, took until they could see the outline of vaguely orbital objects floating around.

The moment they realized, the orbs started storming towards them, letting out a screach that sounded like a cat's claws on a chalk board. Rarity feared the ghosts that came for them, while Pinkie and Rainbow just couldn't stand the noise.

They managed to escape, but were soon after tripping over the bones of what they could only assume were rotten ponies. In her shock, Rarity tripped and got tangled in an enourmous spider web. She screamed and flailed her legs around in a fruitless attempt to free herself of the sticky confines.

But her efforts took a hault as she heard a hissing noise, directly above her. Against her better judgement, she illuminated her horn and found the bat-like creature hanging headfirst on its pink tail.

Before it had a chance to bite Rarity, Rainbow Dash cut her free of the sticky trap. All three made a run from the vampire that followed them, hissing while soaring over their heads and out of their sight. She ... it was gone and the three off them had no idea where to go next.

They completely lost their way. After another couple of minutes of aimlessly walking around, Rainbow Dash had an idea, as she saw a larger beam of moonlight coming from above.

"Hey, I'll just fly above the trees and look", Rainbow said, but one flight to the overgrown treetops and it was pretty evidential that that wasn't going to work, but she did see something else. A large shadow creeping it's way towards her friends. Its eyes glowing red.

"Do you hear that?", Rarity asked shakily, referring to a number of grunts and growls and wood cracking. "On three, we will run back, okay? One, t-" hiss "sobber :raritydespair: ".

The beast had green scales all over it, gills on the side o its head and, to top it all of, a gaping wide mouth. Still many meters before them, it roared before running at them with full speed, while the vampire was quickly approaching them from behind.

Rarity was a quivering mess on the ground. Pinkie Pie on the other hoof had had enough. As had Rainbow Dash. She drew her swords and took her stance. Pinkie waited a few more seconds until the monster was in reach and planted a firm hoof right across its face, which sent it mowing down a couple of trees.

The vam-pony, upon seeing this, retracted her wings mid-flight and covered her face with her forelegs.

"Monsters don't do that", Rainbow thought and put her swords back in her sheath. Her foe landed right before her in the circle of moonlight they were all in. To the surprise of each of them, the creature's bat wings seemed to be made of cardboard and her canines fell out of her muzzle. Even more surprising was what followed.

"Please don't kill me", it pleaded without even looking up. Her voice was shaky, but Rainbow Dash seemed to remember it well.

"FLUTTERSHY?" Now she looked up.

"Rainbow Dash?"

Flutter's Island