Author's Note

hi everyone I so do apologize for the long wait. i got super busy with work school and a literal crap ton of personal problems I had to sort out. But I have and hope that this chapter makes up for the long wait so I hope you enjoy it. laters

The High Seas

Mare Angeles Harbor Dawn

To say that the Royal Equestrian Navy had not been active in this time of war would be a false statement, since the wars beginning every ship have been put on constant combat alert every stallion and mare that served on a ship or worked at a shipyard was recalled from leave regardless of where they were. Every Sloop, Frigate, Brigantine, Galleon and even the mighty mare o' wars had been deployed to face the coming battles for the Atlantic and the Marecific oceans. Yet at this moment a large fleet of Caribou warships and troop ships was bearing down on the city that dominated Equestria's southwestern coastline, will all the ships present and ordered to defend the city, they were still out numbered, luckily it was Ulfric who came up with a plan and thus recruited another unexpected fleet of sailors to help defend the city. Pirates.

Many did not expect these seafaring rogues to even want to accept the offer Ulfric had proposed to them. In return for their services, they would be granted the chance to loot and plunder any ship that survived the coming battle. Of course many simply laughed at him, that was until Sapphire Sabre the renowned and undisputed pirate queen shook hands with Ulfric accepting his offer. To many ponies of Equestria they were murderers thieves and liars, and while this was true for many to them Equestria was still their home, and so the chance to loot anything they could from the enemy was a once in a life time chance that they would never get again.

Standing upon the bow of her ship the Emerald Serpent, a fifty gun armed frigate she had "Acquired some years before, Sapphire Sabre looked out across the harbor at the numerous pirate and navy vessels, with a harrumph she adjusted the eye patch adorned with its trade marked skull cut Sapphire that covered her useless left eye as her signature blue doublet coat fluttered in the wind.

“Cap’n the lads ave finished load’n the shot n powder what Ye next orders be” her ever trusted first mate, asked coming to stand beside her.

“Tell em to make sur their blades be sharp and the wits sharper, Mister Gristle, this be a fight fer teh world to see, and I’ll be damn if Ah let a bull, think they can best meh on the seas” Sapphire said with a small smile.

“Aye Cap’n” he say quickly leaving to carry out his captains orders. Her gaze returned to the harbor while both groups, pirates and the Royal Navy had agreed to fight together each force kept their ships separated save for a few small vessels that were “testing the waters” and mingling amongst each other.

“Cap’n got a long boat comin alongside lad aboard says da admiral wants a parley with ye” came the call from a deck hand, with a huff of annoyance the dark blue Pegasus pony mare walked back to the main deck past the cap stand and down the starboard ladder boarding the long boat with not a single word spoken.

The ride was short, the meeting would be long, Sapphire knew this but there a small tug at the back of her mind that maybe just maybe he was going to ask her for advice, she hoped he would. With a huff she threw the doors to the Admiral meeting room open, as all indication of discussion fell silent as all eyes turned to her.

"Yeh asked fer meh Admiral?" She said taking a seat leaning forward to rest her arms on the table.

“I have I, no we want your advice. Even with every ship we have, we’re still outnumbered, what...what would you do?” Admiral Sea Squall asked. Said mare sat quiet for a moment before she started to laugh quietly at first then full blown laughing her flank off, to the Admirals no so amused mood.

"I fail to see how you can laugh about this, Captain. If I had known you would have treated this as a joke then I would have left you out in the harbor and seen what fate decided for us. Squall said very unamused.

"Oh Admiral, ah not laughin at that, ah be laughin that ye want advice from meh" She said wiping a tear from her one good eye and readjusting her tricorn hat. "But if yeh do want teh know how ahm thinking ye can win then listen close lads."

"Throw yer pansy ass tactics and rules overboard and do what we pirates always do, fight nasty be clever and don't fight fair doing anything and everything that thy will not expect. Stop fightin like a navy, and fight like a pirate" She said with a wicked grin.

And then the shouting and arguing started as half the room started ranting on about the need for there to be discipline and order while the other side tried to argue the point of listening to Sapphire.

"ENOUGH!" Sea Squall yelled with volume nearly hitting the same volume of the Royal Canterlot voice.

"Saber has given us an alternative to how we fight traditional, as the commander for all naval forces in Mare Angeles we shall be doing what she has suggested to us. To the letter. Am. I. Understood?" Squall said casting a stern and slightly terrifying gaze across the conference room.

"Any questions? No? Then this meeting is dismissed." Squall said, with that he took up his tricorn hat placing it upon his brow and left, the rooms remaining occupants following close behind him leaving only Sapphire, who could only smirk knowing that the admiral was fully taking her advice to heart, plus she was excited at being able to plunder any ships that she could board or run down for treasure and other spoils.

"Me hearty's it be a pirates life for me" She said before stepping out.

8 O'clock dawn the next day

All was still, as the morning fog drifted over the harbor and port, not a single soul utterer a word. Ponies hid in their homes or were busy packing and leaving the city incase the navy and...pirates could not hold back the caribou fleet, ashore tens of thousands of royal guards readied their weapons and defenses. They had learned much from those who fought and survived at Trottingham, whilst they mourned and honored the dead, this time not one step back would be taken, for the Caribou would have to kill them where they stood and would pay for every inch of ground in blood.

Out on his flagship the Golden Lance a mighty four decked and heavily armed Mare o'war Admiral Sea Squall watched the fog waiting for the first sign of the enemy and the beginning of this battle. Not a sound came from the ship nor any other save the occasional squawk from sea gulls or the barking of harbor seals. Then a shape began to come forth from the fog first one then two the ten soon multiple ships were pouring out of the fog.

"So it begins. FULL COVER CAPTAIN THE GUNS ALL HANDS TO STATIONS!" Squall ordered as the stallions and mares that were his crew hurried to their battle stations cannons were loaded, full canvas was let loss as the mighty ship lurched forward as the wind caught her sails, as all around him every ship large and small pirate and navy followed suit. Sabre said to fight like a pirate so that is what he would.

Sapphire Sabre smirked seeing that the admiral was choosing to immediately engage the enemy instead of waiting for them to merely come in range of their guns, this was going to be fun.

"Cap'n yer orders Ma'am" Gristle said with a hint on excitement.

"FULL COVER AND INTO THE ABYSS LADS" she yelled earning a cheer of anticipation and excitement from her crew as all sails were unfurled and the ships cannon made ready. Twenty five cannons on either side of the hull poked out of their gun ports each loaded with 35 pound balls, for broadside of nearly a thousand pounds of shot that could be brought to bear on an enemy and the ship four trip bow cannons were loaded as well. With a hardy lurch the Emerald Serpent started forward gaining speed as the wind caught her canvas as ships sailed into formation to make battle. With practice coordination the ships of the Royal navy’s third fleet turned hard to port forming into a single line battle column thus allowing every ship to unleash a full broadside.

“Admiral sir we await your orders” the master gunner said to sea spray

“Wait for them to get closer. Wait....FIRE ALL” Sea spray yelled as gunnery officers repeat the order. And then with a roar of defiance the Golden Lance unleashed a sixty gun broadside of shot and shell, soon other ships followed blasting hundreds of rounds into the larger Caribou fleet. Many rounds missed, but just as many found their mark smashing planks, cutting through rigging tearing sails and toppling masts. as quickly as they turned to form the battle column the fleet turned their bows back towards the caribou fleet using the momentary confusion to close the distance even more with the enemy.

"Aye Admiral ya be learnin," Sapphire said "MORE SPEED HAUL YER WIND AND HOLD YER WATER"

The mares and stallion rush to unfurl the ships sails even more the Emerald Serpent gaining more speed rapidly closing the distance with Caribou fleet, now a few crimson hive ships can be seen mixed in with the fleet their insect like appearance easily seen.

"Hard ta starboard ready on the guns" The master gunner yells as all hands ready their cannons ready to light them off and hurl shot an shell into the nearest ship. with a groan the ship heaves to starboard lining up a broadside.

"FIRE ALL" Sapphire yelled, as across the ship the order was repeated and the Serpents port cannons roared in anger, hurling their enchanted cannon balls into a caribou mare o war, normally a frigate weight vessel like Saber would do only light to moderate damage to a ship of this size, yet each round that hit the enemy ships hull utterly ripped it apart leaving it a smoldering sinking wreck. another that crossed in front of the Emerald Serpent would meet the same fate but to a lesser degree.

"BOW CANNONS"
The ship shook slightly as the four triple barreled bow cannons unleashed explosive incendiary balls setting the brigantine alight and setting off its powder magazine. Why new orders barked the guns were reloaded with haste as the fire from the starboard guns viciously mauled a galleon setting it a blaze and badly damaging but not sinking the caribou vessel. By now the other pirate ships and the Equestrian fleet were now exchanging broadsides at near suicidal range yet they were managing to retain their ability to maneuver were as their close quarters tactics had left the enemy confused and in disarray. It seemed like they would win but that quickly changed when Sapphire saw four ships of the royal navy go up in a furry of flames and smoke, she followed the vapor trails from the shots to the biggest ship she had ever seen. The caribou flagship. The ship looked like a mare o'war only about one and a half times the size and having six decks of cannons instead of the normal four. With a mighty heave it smashed into a galleon taking not even a scratch to its paint work.

"Bugger all" Sapphire said unsheathing her twin cutlasses "Mr. Gristle, ahm goin fer a walk, the ship be yers"

many aboard the serpent knew from their captain and queen that when she uttered these words that there was something that had caught her attention be it treasure, a weapon ship or even an individual. And right now it was the caribou flagship. So when she said she was going to take what she now wanted, and there was no force on the planet that would stop her. so with a burst of speed rivaling many Pegasi minus a certain rainbow maned Pegasus mare, she shoot towards the massive ship with the speed and velocity of a cannonball a trail of almost black fire trailing behind. Catching a stray rope she swung up and over the deck landing with the grace of a dancer, and the agility of a predator. Her twin Cutlasses unsheathed and held tightly in her hands ready to show these caribou why every pirate around the world called her queen and would bow before her.

"Oi, I claim this ship en crew as me own, those amonst ye who wish te join me lay down yer arm, and strike your colors" She said twirling her blades in her hands. The caribou however and to her enjoyment chose poorly and instead have chosen death. brandishing their weapons all of those on the main deck charge towards her.

"Ah gave ye a chance, oh well, time teh meet yer make. Savvy?" She said thus beginning her dance of death

With a fierce cry she leapt from the ships forecastle driving both her blades into a bulls chest killing him instantly, she then summersaulted bringing the dead bull with her, using the moment to throw him of her blades and tossing him into the converging group of charging caribou, another had his throat cut, another cleave in half diagonally. Sapphire ducked dodging the blade of a boarding axe and then back flipped over another caribou kicking him in the back with enough force he went over the rail and into the cold waters of the harbor, and the sharks that were circling below. Now some would think that with her having no vision in her left eye that she lacked depth perception, but luckily for her she had it for the sapphire the was embedded into her eye patch was heavily enchanted, allowing her to use it as a prosthetic eye granting her clear unobstructed sight, few new of this and few knew about the enchantments it held save for one, a particular individual she loved dearly.

“Scarlet wher the devil ye be lass” Sabre said as she got kicked in the gut but recovered quickly her back towards the railing as the caribou surrounded her.

“Well little breeding bitch what was it you said about taking my ship, Hmm?” Came a new voice as the obvious caribou admiral stepped forward in a black and red and heavily adorned uniform, “I thought the queen of the pirates would have put up a better fight alas looks like you’ll only be good as a breeder for our empire”

“Oi ya leave meh woman alone ya dickless shite”

Every single caribou turned to face the voice being greeting by a very well endowed female Griffoness, Scarlet steel was her name, and she was also Sapphire Sabres secret mate.

“Ye touch a feather on her and I’ll shove ye sword up ya arse so far ye get metal shavings on ye tongue” she said unsheathing a large double bladed battle
axe.

“Come on ye rats ye scared a someone with claws or ye just a bunch of shite brained bitches who need the go home cryin to ye mummies” she said with a smirk “times up Yer DEAD”

With a furious shriek, she tossed several fire bombs at the group that surrounded her mate setting them ablaze as she started to hack and chop any that managed to avoid the blaze. One actually got his hand bitten off when it got too close to her razor sharp beak, only to get stabbed from behind by Sabre.

“Took ye long enough love” Sabre said with mock annoyance, though she was actually happy Scarlet was here now for now it meant that the flagship would fall twice as fast.

"Oi, yeh try flying ere with a wee notice, an no warnin" Scarlet replied with a laugh

However the Caribou Admiral seeing this realized now he had a problem only he didn’t not get time to react, and he saw in slow motion one of Sabres cutlasses tumbling through the air towards him at a speed he would be able to avoid, with a heavy thud and quite a bit of force the blade sank up to the swords hilt embedding its self into the main mast pinning the Caribou to it. Sabre and Scarlet walked slowly towards him in a most menacing way Scarlet spinning her axe in her talons while Sabre simply wiped the blood of the blade of her other cutlass, and unspoken nod was shared between them as Sabre removed a set of iron keys from the admirals belt tossing them to Scarlet. With keys in claw Scarlet went below deck killing or incapacitating any who showed a single sign of resistance, leaving Sapphire Sabre with a now very terrified Caribou admiral.

“What was it ye said ah become, a fockin breeder see for ye depraved empire, well of let meh tell yeah what I think, tell meh admiral do ye fear death?” She said with a wicked evil grin. "Do yeh?"

With a wicked grin she revealed to the admiral two long fangs in her mouth before she grabbed him by the head exposing his neck and bit down stabbing her fangs into her flesh as she fed, the Admiral screaming and writhing in fear and pain. What felt like an eternity lasted only a single minute. Her fill taken the half Vampony Pegasus released him, licking clean her lips as from below Scarlet came scarlet with every creature that was in the ships brig, to Sapphires surprise there were at least half a dozen female caribou amongst the prisoners all of them showing signs of being under fed beaten brusied and scared so very scared.

"Love take em back to me ship make sure they be looked after by Doc, an make sure ye get em new clothes ah'll deal with the ship" Sapphire said with a sad tone upon her voice, Scarlet nodded saddened and angry by what she had found below deck. with a glare of hate Sapphire made her way below deck, so knew what it was she sought out, the ships powder magazine one spark and the whole ship would be ripped apart. Down and down into the ship she went seeing the carnage Scarlet had wrought, shoving an iron door open she found barrel after barrel of gunpowder, each one a bomb just waiting to go off. with a grunt she collected one of the larger ones and began laying a trail of the explosive propellant, up up and up to the third deck laying it extra thick to make it burn bright and to also give her enough time to return to her own ship. With a huff she grabbed a lantern from a nearby hook and unceremoniously tossed it onto the line of gunpowder. With a spark and a sizzle it caught the flame. hurrying back to the main deck she met the gaze of the admiral still tied to and pinned to the mast. with naught a word she removed her cutlasses from him and took to the air waving good, as she flew back to her ship. Beneath her she could see dozens of Equestrian and pirates that were burning or sinking but nearly three times that in Caribou and Crimson hive ships had been destroyed or sunk, and they were retreating.

Her boot hit the deck with a thump as she looked towards the enemy flagship silently whispering a count down of the remaining seconds left until detonation.

"10....9....8....7....6....5....4....3....2....1.... kablamo" she said. With a heave and a thunderous roar a pillar of fire shoot up through the massive ship, a massive explosion was seen by all that were still alive as a fireball engulfed the caribou flagship utterly destroying it and any ship that was too close to it. from the shore and every ship pirate and Equestrian that remained a cheer of victory erupted from both fleets and the city, outnumbered and outgunned they had held back the tide, while on land the Caribou and crimson armies were being driven back. Now was now longer the time to defend now was the time for Equestria and its allies to take the offensive. It would be an offensive, that would last until both the Crimson hive and Caribou capital fell.

The Ancient temple far to the north

back in the temple stood the crystal and the mare it held, one small crack one its surface, that spread a little bit more. The Queen would soon return and Equestria would rejoice, and two sisters would fondly know the love and support of their mother again, and one wolf would welcome the return of a dear old friend.

But that is another story to tell.