Ultimate Equestria

by Neo Machine

Rating: teen
Tags: Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Mystery, Thriller, Adventure, Sex, Twilight Sparkle, Main 6, Drama
Length: 190907

What happens when Twilight Sparkle and her friends are pushed to their limits? How does their friendship and strength hold against a series of evil none like ever before?

What happens when Twilight Sparkle and her friends are pushed to their limits? How does their friendship and strength hold against a series of evil none like ever before?

Twilight Sparkle, alongside an ever-growing cast of heroes, shall take part in a massive journey. They will fight many evils, go beyond the land of Equestria, and discover what lies beyond the known world. Behold a grand saga that goes beyond order, space, and time.

Rated T For:
> Violence
> Mildly Disturbing Imagery
> Suggestive Themes
> Questionable References
> Pure Coolness

New chapters are published every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, so be sure to follow me and track this story! :pinkiesmile:

Published 2017-04-24 13:40:01 UTC
Last updated 2017-08-25 12:53:31 UTC

Chapter 001: Regal Invites

“As the raging thunderstorm continued to rock the ship back and forth, Daring Do watched in horror as Captain Cutlass Cornelius approached her at the end of the breaking wooden bow. With her wing sliced halfway through from their previous fight, she couldn’t fly away and instead faces two options. She should either jump off and drown, or face off against a superior foe.

The dragon pirate chuckled as he drew closer to Daring Do, sharpening his sword-like claws against each other. With each step Cornelius took on the weakened bow, a loud crackle could be heard. Now, with only a metre of distance between them, the heroic pegasus closed her eyes tightly and curled into a small ball. It was her only way to buy more time, to think of her options just a little more.

Manically laughing, Cornelius raised his bladed claws high into the air. Bolts of lightning struck down on the claws and charged them with electricity to the point where the metal started releasing small bolts of energy. These bolts connected to the pouring raindrops that come anywhere close to them, turning them to steam. The pirate captain swung down his arms and-”

“Twilight!”

“Spike! I was in the middle of the climax! You threw off my groove.”

“Sorry. The tickets just arrived and I was a little too excited.”

“Gah…” The mare known as Twilight groaned as her eyes broke away from the lines of text in the book and turned towards the purple baby dragon standing at her side, holding two golden slips of paper in between his claws.

She immediately recognized them as tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala, the royal ball that she and her friends always look forward to going to. As her purple eyes traveled upwards to meet Spike’s large greens, his face turns to a look of discomfort and shame.

“Sorry…” Spike uttered below his breath.

Twilight sighed and took a deep breath to calm herself down before responding.

“It’s fine… I’m sorry I snapped.” Twilight reassured her friend. “I just want to finish this before Rainbow Dash does and spoils it for me. Thanks Spike. What day is it anyways?”

Spike answered, “The day of the Grand Galloping Gala,”

“What?!” Twilight exclaimed.

“Yeah, you-”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Frantically, Twilight leapt up from her position and hopped from the bed, causing the open book to flop forwards onto the sheets. The alicorn then began to dart around her large crystalline bedroom chamber, picking up several items scattered at every corner of the room. Her horn glowed intensely with several shades of purple as items become enveloped in a purple aura and flung into the middle of the room in front of the dragon.

“I tried to,” Spike said. “But you were to so intent on finishing your book and beating Dash. When I tried to tell you that the ticket delivery was late, you didn’t listen. Only when I have the tickets now and practically shouted at you, you listened.”

“I was thinking I would start getting ready when they arrived, I wasn’t expecting them to be this late.”

“They were.”

“Okay, what do I have? Spike, help! Dress?”

Casually, Spike reached into the large pile and sifted through the items, examining each one quickly and tossing out any toys or random things that accidentally got in there.

“Check.” Spike declared, pulling out said item.

Spike placed the dress on the end of the bed. He then hurried back to the pile as Twilight relayed the next item on her mental checklist.

“Slippers?”

“Check.”

“Earrings?”

“Check.”

“Necklace?”

“No-” Spike’s denial is cut short by a necklace of pearls being flung into his face and dropping into the pile.

“Check.” He restated.

“Bits?” Twilight asked.

“Ten, no, eleven bits,”

“Tickets?”

“Got them.”

“’Daring Do and the Lost Kingdoms of Trihearth’?”

“Ye-No, you don’t need it. You’ve had your face jammed in it for a week.”

“I do! Rainbow Dash will not spoil it for me this time.”

“She wo-”

“She will!”

“Fine, I’ll add it to the pile.” Spike turned to the bed and reached for the book. Upon grabbing it, the feeling of moist sweat and heat surged into his claws, nearly causing him to drop it in reflex. However, instead of doing as she said, Spike instead slipped the book under one of the large bed pillows.

Immediately after though, a sudden spike in guilt prompted the dragon to pull out the book.

“…Check.” He reluctantly said.

“What else, what else, what else…” Twilight pondered aloud.

“Your crown,”

“Yes! My crown?”

“Check.”

Upon placing the crown atop of the new pile, Spike sneezed. The air had become polluted with glitter and smells from the various items being thrown about.

“That should be it right?” Twilight asked.

“Yeah,” Spike nodded.

“Good, then let’s go!”

“Aren’t you forgetting something?”

“You just said we-”

“Not these things, you.”

“What?”

Confused, Twilight walked over to a large mirror hanging onto the wall to examine her reflection. She saw that she has deep, black bags beneath her eyes and that her mane was a frowzy mess, with purple hairs tangled up in each other and her pink highlights weaving through the cluster and spiking out the back.

“Oh.” Twilight said.

Spike added, “And don’t forget, you have to put on these things.”

“You’re right. Thanks. Go on ahead without me. The others should be at the train station. Tell them to go to Canterlot without me.”

“Will do,”

Meanwhile, at the train station on the outskirts of Ponyville, five mares, each dressed in beautiful clothing, brandishing a wide array of colours, were quietly standing on the boarding platform. With a train approaching in the distance, the five soon become anxious at the absence of their sixth and seventh friend.

“Where is she?” A cyan pegasus with a rainbow mane and tail amongst the group impatiently asked. “Shouldn’t Twilight have been the first pony to be here?”

Her name was Rainbow Dash, the ace and motivator.

“Quit your fussin’, Rainbow Dash. She can always catch the next train.” An orange Earth pony with blonde hair replied.

Her name was Applejack, the muscle and voice of reason.

“But we agreed to wait for her, Applejack.” A yellow pegasus with a pink mane and tail gently responded. “What if she panics when she can’t find us here?”

Her name was Fluttershy, the kind and noble.

“I know, Fluttershy, but I don’t like it when my little sister and her friends are already there without us to supervise them. Whose idea even was that again?” Applejack replied.

“It was Pinkie’s if I recall correctly.” A white unicorn with a curly purple mane and tail answered.

Her name was Rarity, the generous and fashionable.

Rarity continued, “But it’s not all that bad as you put it. How much trouble could my sister, your sister, and Scootaloo cause-”

“A lot, Rarity.” Applejack dryly answered for the mare.

“Well… maybe. Yeah, it was kind of a dumb idea.” Rarity said.

“But they would’ve been so bored here Rarity!” The pink Earth pony known as Pinkie exclaimed, “And besides, I made them all Pinkie Promise not to cause any trouble in Canterlot.”

“Guys!” Rainbow Dash yelled out, “We’re forgetting the issue at hoof. What are we going to do if Twilight doesn’t show up when the train gets here?”

Fluttershy calmly exclaimed, “Girls! It’s Spike!”

The four others looked over to where Fluttershy was staring and see Spike running towards them from the entrance of the train station.

“Hey everypony,” Spike called out.

“What’s keeping Twilight?” Dash irritably asked.

“Twilight was sidetracked by that new Daring Do book. She’s getting ready now and it’s probably going to take a while. She said that we should go on without her.” Spike the dragon explained.

“Did she finish?”

“No, she’s still getting ready.”

“No, no, no, I mean did she finish ’Daring Do and the Lost Kingdoms of Trihearth’?”

“No, she only got midway through the climax.”

“What?! She doesn’t know that Daring Do’s mother is-”

Before Rainbow Dash could finish, the powerful blow of the train horn interrupted her.

“The train’s here. I’ll tell ya later.” She said.

One by one, the five ponies and Spike walked into the open train car. They each took a seat inside, with the mares being careful in their positioning as to not damage their gowns and party-wear.

“Those dresses look great.” Spike remarked.

“Why thank you,” Rarity stiffly responded as she continued to meticulously correct her position. “I worked on these over the past month, including that tuxedo you have.”

The small dragon looked down and confirmed that he was wearing the black suit Rarity made.

“Oh yeah, I nearly forgot I was wearing this all day. The thing’s so comfy.”

“Wish I could say the same.” Applejack remarked, obviously scratching her behind underneath her dress.

“So, do you think anything odd is going to happen?” Spike asked.

“What do you mean?” Fluttershy asked.

Spike further explained, “You know, the first gala ended in chaos. The second one last year ended with Discord bringing that Smooze thing and nearly sending your friend into a portal. Wouldn’t it be a bit expected that something bad might happen this year?”

“Nah, it was probably just chance. Nothing bad will happen this-”

“Don’t tempt fate!” Pinkie Pie screamed.

“What?” Fluttershy raised an eyebrow, confused.

“If you say that nothing bad will happen, something bad will happen! It’s a law of the universe!” Pinkie declared.

“Or just nothing bad will happen.” Fluttershy replied.

“I bet ten bits on it.”

“Fine, I bet ten as well. That’s how confident I am that we all shouldn’t worry this time.”

“You’ll be so sorry.”

The train horn blared out three times as the locomotive begun its departure to Canterlot. Starting with a sudden jerk forwards, the train slowly began to accelerate and head forward on the iron tracks. Spike looked out the window at the orange evening sky and saw Twilight’s crystal palace in the distance amongst all of the various buildings of Ponyville.

“Well Twilight,” Spike spoke to himself. “See you on the next train.”

“Don’t feel do down.” Pinkie told Spike. “We’re all still going to the Grand Galloping Gala still.”

Out of nowhere, a bright purple light flashed in the middle of the train car, blinding the six inside with it. Twilight, adorning a sparkly blue dress and a golden jeweled crown emerged from the light as it faded.

“Twilight!” Her friends all exclaimed as their vision recovered.

“Sorry,” Twilight replied, “I forgot to check the time.”

“We heard from Spike.” Rainbow Dash responded, “So, you haven’t gotten to the part where it’s reveal that Daring Do’s mother is-”

“Don’t say another word!” Twilight hissed.

“Oh, right, spoilers…”

“Shoot! Now that you mention it, I left the book at home.”

Filled with mild fury, Twilight stamped a hoof into the floor.

Spike turned to Dash and asked in a whisper, “…Is her mother dead?”

“Shush!” Twilight hissed again.

“Oh, sorry, just curious…”

“Now then, did anything important happen while I was gone?” Twilight then asked.

“I’m going to win a bet against Fluttershy.” Pinkie cheered.

“No you won’t.” Fluttershy dryly replied.

“I’ve recently been practicing lightning manipulation.” Rainbow bragged. “It’s going to be so awesome!”

“Nothing much going on with me,” Rarity added. “Boring, but I like it.”

“Big Mac’s been working out.” Applejack said. “Soon, he’ll be able to buck apples out of three trees with a single buck.”

“Oh! I almost forgot.” Twilight suddenly exclaimed. “This year, Cadence will be presenting a historical artifact from the Crystal Empire at the gala tonight.”

“What is it?” the other six asked simultaneously.

The Diamond Eye, a massive diamond of immense historical and monetary value. It is larger than the average pony, and has near-flawless clarity. It is decorated with many ancient grooves, designs, and markings, amplifying its value even more. Dating back to before King Sombra’s reign on the Crystal Empire, the Diamond Eye had been a monument of sorts to the history of the empire. However, it is only half of a once even greater gemstone. The Diamond Eyes, so to speak, separated ages ago, and the other half was never found since.

“It’s going to be stolen!” Pinkie Pie cheerfully declared. “See Fluttershy, it’s destined to happen.”

Applejack groaned, “Enough of this, I’m already irritated enough with this dress chafing parts of me I didn’t even know I had, do not push it. That diamond is not going to be stolen tonight.”

“Fine. Sorry.” Pinkie grumbled.

“Good.” Applejack nodded.

“For now…”

“Excuse me?”

“Nothing!”

“Hey Twilight,” Spike asked Twilight. “Is there anything else special about that diamond?”

Twilight promptly replied, “There is writing engraved into the diamond, but it’s in a very ancient language and that it’s only part of a full message. Scholars say that it’s some form of poem with a very important subject matter.”

“Where do you think the other half is?” Spike then asked.

“No idea. King Sombra did a lot of changes to the kingdom all of those centuries ago. The other half may be underneath a hundred metres of ice and snow a hundred kilometres away from the empire, and that’s only if it didn’t make its way out to sea. If that’s the case, it might as well be on the other side of the world.”

“Oh.”

“But there is some hope in finding it, albeit very little.”

Twilight turned over to the window and looked out. Off in the distance was Canterlot and the castle at the edge of the city. That was where they were going. Twilight and the others were greatly excited for this night, for this was the night where things would go right.

At least, that’s what she thought.

Chapter 002: The Grand Galloping Gala

The following first hours of the Grand Galloping Gala at the Canterlot Castle ran smoothly, with Twilight, her friends, and their plus-ones each finding their place within the thriving castle. Most of the massive chambers the large palace was made of were filled to the brim with nobles with vast wealth, delegates from every corner of the world, high ranking political figures, and every celebrity of every species, shape, and size known to the common ponies, all chatting with each other and enjoying the night. They were served with traditional music, gourmet foods, and only the most refined drinks, all of which had hundreds of years to be perfected.

However, the room with arguably the most activity was the ballroom. With a bright full moon and thousands of stars able to be seen from its open walls, and the entire circular three-story room suspended over the cliffside city of Canterlot like a massive balcony, it was no surprise. Guests danced in the open center of the first floor as the guests of the upper two floors watched from their balconies.

At the back of the uppermost floor was Twilight, standing next to her princess companions, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Princess Cadence. The four regal mares watched the festivities below peacefully, enjoying their view with the moonlight illuminating the ballroom.

“I must say Luna,” The white princess proclaimed. “Your work with the moon is perfect. The light is at a perfect angle.”

“Thank you sister,” The black mare replied. “It took several nights, but I managed to work it out.”

“Twilight,” Celestia said, turning to the purple alicorn.

“Yes, Princess Celestia?” Twilight responded, turning her head.

“How have things been going in Ponyville?” Celestia then asked.

“Nothing really eventful has happened over the past few months, just the usual really.”

“I see. And how about you, Cadence?”

“Same here,” The pink princess, Princess Cadence, answered. “Well, except for the preparations of the Diamond Eye.”

“Speaking of which,” Twilight interrupted. “When are you going to show it?”

“It’s all set in the next room downstairs. I’m just waiting for this last song to finish.” Cadence replied.

“Are you excited?” Twilight asked, her ears perking up.

“Yes, the diamond so beautiful. And with the moonlight at this angle, it’ll look even more beautiful when I reveal it.”

“I bet it will be.”

“Excuse me,” a stallion’s thick accented voice called out from behind the four princesses.

They looked back and saw it was a guest. A thin blue pegasus in a tuxedo, it was evident, he was a very important pony.

“Ah yes,” Celestia replied. “Sir Garrison Valkyrie, Ambassador of Cervidas. How may I help you?”

“Pardon my intrusion,” the stallion spoke. “But the king and queen of Cervidas wanted to warn you of some upcoming economic troubles and possible future threats to security of your kingdom.”

“Oh dear, please do.”

Oh no… Twilight thought to herself.

A similar thing had happened during the last Grand Galloping Gala. What was supposed to be regular conversation between guest and host turned to a political lecture. Twilight could barely stand the drawl, especially when its stuff she had fully understood.

Regardless though, Twilight put on a smile, and tried to listen to the ambassador.

The stallion’s lecture begun, “Over the recent five years, the crime rates have skyrocketed at Cervidas and surrounding kingdoms. This has mainly been influenced by pirate attacks.”

“Pirates?” Celestia asked, a tad confused.

“Absolutely, 100%.” The ambassador confirmed.

“Even the landlocked ones?” Princess Celestia then asked.

“Especially the landlocked ones. Reports are vague, but they all seem to describe some type of large sea vessel that flies. It may sound ridiculous, but these rumours our only leads, and coastal cities report the same anomaly originating from ocean waters. Thus they are all classified as pirate attacks.”

“My that’s-”

“And must I remind you and how that affects our economic systems and inflation? Two-thousand years ago, there was only a one percent yearly inflation rate. A thousand years later, it increased a percent. Five hundred years after that, it grew another to three percent. These pirate attacks are estimated to exponentially increase that rate to unhealthy levels. And that’s just inflation. I have so much to inform you. There are also factors such as taxes, gross domestic production, employment, standard of living, debt, government payments, media coverage, income…”

Oh no, Twilight thought to herself as the words of the middle-aged ambassador rung in her ears, this is going to be a long night. I’m going to have to tolerate this if I’m going to represent Equestria as a princess. Maybe this music will end as Cadence will be able to cut him off to present the Diamond Eye. When will this music end anyways?

Meanwhile outside the castle, in the middle of the royal gardens, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Spike were all gathered together by a fountain, each with bored looks on their faces.

“This party blows.” Rainbow Dash moaned.

“I hate to admit it,” Pinkie Pie replied. “But you’re right. The dancing is so slow and all the ponies here just talk about politics and big words I don’t understand.”

“And these dresses are itchy,” Applejack added, scratching at her belly. “Or is it just me?”

“This kind of reminds me of our first Grand Galloping Gala, before havoc ensued.” Fluttershy said.

“I just hope that Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo are having fun on their own.” Applejack said.

“They’re in pretty dresses at a royal party. Of course they’ll be excited. I guess the charm’s worn off for us it seems.” Pinkie solemnly declared.

“Maybe,” Spike replied.

“Why aren’t you with Twilight anyways?” Rainbow asked.

Spike answered, “The ballroom she’s in has a section reserved for the princesses and specific guests. I don’t qualify so I decided to just hang around somewhere else until I got bored.”

“Ouch.” Dash replied.

“Meh, I don’t mind, I understand.”

“I’ve just noticed. Where is Rarity?”

“Probably in her little euphoria with some of the guests here,” Applejack answers. “Perhaps the ‘charm’ hasn’t run out on her.”

Pinkie Pie then exclaimed, “Hey! Maybe we can play ‘I Spy’.”

“Sure,” Spike replied, “That’ll pass the time until something interesting happens.”

“Okay, I spy with my little eye… something that is tall.” Pinkie said.

“The castle?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Correct! Your turn,”

“Okay. I spy… something itchy.” Rainbow Dash said.

“Applejack!” Pinkie yelled.

“Correct.”

“Yay!”

“Oh ha, ha.” Applejack sarcastically muttered. “You try wearin’ this hunk of sandpaper.”

“Okay, my turn.” Pinkie declared. “I spy with my cutesy little eye… something brown.”

“Brown?” Spike asked, confused.

“Yep.” Pinkie nodded.

“The dirt?” Applejack asked.

“Nope,”

“A tree?” Fluttershy asked.

“Warmer…”

“Warmer?” Rainbow Dash responded. “Hmmm…”

Dash took a moment to examine Pinkie’s eyes. She saw that they are looking off into the middle of the sky in a much squinted manner.

“My eyes are blue, so you’re getting colder…” Pinkie tsked at Rainbow Dash.

“What are you even looking at? Some rock in space?” Dash asked.

“Nope,”

“We give up,” Applejack proclaimed. “What is it?”

“An ominous airship heading right at us,” Pinkie said, pointing into the night.

“A what?”

The mares and Spike quickly gathered around Pinkie Pie as they looked to where she’ was looking.

“I don’t see anything…” Applejack said aloud.

“See that dark spot in the sky, the one without any stars?” Pinkie asked.

The four others squinted tightly at the starry sky and eventually saw the dark spot.

“I see it!” Dash exclaimed. “It’s a little brown, black, and… green?”

As the mysterious dark spot grows, a very faint green glow surrounds the brown bottom half of the thing.

“What is it?” Dash asked.

“I told you, an airship.” Pinkie answered, still in her cheery tone.

“There are no such things as ships that fly on air,” Applejack retorted.

“Then what do you call that, silly?”

Drawing closer, the dark figure soon formed into visible shapes in the observers’ visions.

“It is a ship.” Fluttershy mumbled. “A very… big and scary ship… that’s flying without magic,”

“Yep,” Pinkie nodded.

“Hey, Dash,” Spike nervously spoke. “Could you maybe fly up there and get a closer look at it?”

“Well… I can try.” Dash said, taking a gulp of air.

“Be careful.”

“…And with that all said and done. Let’s move on to how the concepts of income have been changing.”

Nooo! Twilight screamed internally. How do Celestia, Luna, and Cadence not go insane after this much talking? How does this music keep on going? And how does this ambassador keep talking after just one glass, a fancy thin glass!

The music in the room soon starts to die down, much to Twilight’s relief.

“Excuse me sir,” Cadence spoke, interrupting the ambassador’s lecture. “I have to present the Diamond Eye now. Perhaps we can continue later.”

“I see,” the stallion calmly replied. “Proceed. In fact, I want to accompany you.”

“Oh, that won’t be necessary-”

“Please do!” Twilight accidentally shouted.

She quickly caught her tongue before continuing, “It would be good for the citizens of Cervidas to hear a close up report on the diamond.”

“…I guess so. Follow me, Garrison.”

As the two ponies shuffled out the back door, Cadence looked back at the relieved Twilight and gave a sharp stare in return, one that immediately translated in Twilight’s head.

You owe me, Twilight translated.

“Well,” Twilight proclaimed. “That was quite a-uh… An interesting lesson,”

“Stupid Cervidasian bigwigs,” Celestia grumbled. “Always thinking we can’t run a kingdom. If I could, I would certainly take their thick scrolls on politics this stallion reads from, roll them up sideways, and shove them-”

“Ease sister,” Luna calmly beckoned. “It’s just a couple days a year we deal with them. And they’re all not so bad-”

“Oh shut up, you want to do the same thing.” Celestia retorted.

“Yeah, I would.”

“Hmph, stupid lot of them.”

“So, Celestia,” Twilight nervously asked. “Are you excited for the presentation of the Diamond Eye?”

“Huh? Oh, yes.” Celestia replied.

“Shush,” Luna barked. “It’s time.”

With the final note of the dancing music fading away and the dancers retreating to their seats at the edge of the room, a finely dressed staff member walked to the center of the chamber .

“Mares and gentlecolts, ponies, griffons, yaks, and all other great species of the world,” the grey stallion proclaimed. “It is my honour to announce to you, her royal majesty of the Crystal Empire, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, and her unveiling of the Diamond Eye.”

A large pedestal with a large blue cloth covering the top then hovered in from the unseen parts of the first floor and onto the center of the ballroom in a pink, glowing aura. The magic aura died down as Princess Cadence gracefully walked up to it and began to circle it.

“Welcome everypony,” she announced to the onlookers. “This artifact was found a year ago shortly after the re-foundation of the Crystal Empire, several metres beneath the ice and snow of the Crystal Mountains. This gemstone is an absolute wonder in its design, construction, disappearance, and purpose, in that it’s a complete mystery.

However, one of the few things we know about it, is that it is a symbol, a symbol of the rich culture of the Crystal Empire that thrived thousands of years ago and continues to now. And now, without future ado, allow me to present,”

With a flick of her horn, the blue cloth gently hovered off of the pedestal and fell to the floor, revealing the artifact on top of the while pillar.

“The Diamond Eye!”

“Whoa!” Twilight exclaimed.

Oohs and aahs erupted from the audience as they gazed upon the Diamond Eye. It was a large, clear half-circle gemstone, with a jagged edge along its diameter. Mysterious symbols and patterns could be seen either engraved into the crystal or were bevels sticking out from its flat surface. With the moonlight beaming into the crystal, these engravings and bulges projected onto the walls of the ballroom, causing more roars of awe to wake.

“Any questions about the Diamond Eye?” Princess Cadence asked.

“How much is it worth?” A mare from the second floor called out.

“In its current condition, five-hundred million bits, but that’s merely for its physical value. In all truth, it’s priceless.” Cadence answered.

“Where’s the other half?” A stallion on the first floor asked.

“We don’t know, but the search it active.”

“Any idea on what those markings mean?” Another stallion on the first floor yelled.

“It is a very ancient language that’s been dead for hundreds of years. We aren’t certain.”

“Do you have any current hypothesis on what its purpose was?” Luna loudly asked.

“Well, we have a few theories.” Cadence reassured Luna. “It could have been a monument to somepony, a decoration, or even possibly a doctrine or creed of some kind. Any more questions?”

“Yes,” a mare on the first floor asked. “What’s that thing outside coming towards us?”

“What?”

The pink princess turned around to saw a rainbow coloured blur outside one of the openings, charging right at her. She ducked as the mysterious figure flew right over her and brutally crashed into the closed door ahead.

Twilight asked herself upon seeing the crash, “Was that… Rainbow Dash?”

In a pair of flashes of light, Twilight teleported herself next to Cadence and approached the figure.

“Rainbow Dash?!” She exclaimed.

Immediately, the figure revealed herself as Rainbow Dash and frantically ran up to Twilight.

“Bad! Bad! Bad!” The pegasus hollered, shivering.

Dash’s pupils were shrunken into pinpoints.

“Rainbow! What’s going on?” Twilight asked, growing more worried.

“P-p-p-p-p-p-pi-pi-p-p-p-”

“Spit it out!”

“P-pi-p-pirates!”

“Wha-”

All of a sudden, a series of explosions blasted along the outside walls, shaking the entire ballroom. Screams erupted and ponies scrambled around the chamber in terror. Stone and rubble fell from the ceilings and walls and onto the floor as the chaos ensues. Another volley of explosions erupted against the castle. Several went off inside the room. The room faded into darkness with the only light being a faint green hue coming from outside.

“What the hay is going on?” Twilight asked.

“They’re right outside!” Dash screamed.

Twilight looked back to the outside, only to see a wall of dark brown planks of wood with small grooves, glowing the faint green glow. A line of black cylinders could be seen poking out of the wall of wood, emitting thick smoke.

“Cannons?”

The chaos and havoc continued with seemingly no end as screams and hollers filled the air. Twilight knew there is no hope in calming them down. After a long while of panic though, the screams of terror were cut short by a loud group of laughs echoing from the wall of cannons.

A long wooden plank then dropped down from the top of the glowing wall, one end landing at the edge of the ballroom and the other tied to the wall. Now, frozen stiff in fear, the onlookers inside the castle watched as a line of shadowy figures walked from the wooden barrier, down the plank, and into the ballroom, clustering around the edge of the plank.

“Well, well, well…” A young stallion’s voice called out from the top of the wall. “If it isn’t the Diamond Eye,”

“Who are you? What’s going on? I want an explanation now! If this is an invasion, prepare to get your flank kicked!” Twilight roared.

“Don’t fret. I have no quarrels with you. I’d be happy to explain what’s going on.”

“Who are you?”

“Allow me to introduce myself.”

Metal steps were then heard as the mysterious pony walked down the plank. Reaching the floor of the castle room, he made his way up to Twilight. The purple mare’s horn glowed and revealed the stallion in the bright light of her horn. He had a dark brown coat of fur that nearly matches the color of the wood outside. His mane and tail are a mess of jet black hair, looking as if it hasn’t been cut nor styled in years, yet somehow looks proper and neat.

He walked on his hind legs without any sign of strain, with his front hooves swinging back in forth in tune with his motion. On the left side of his face was an icy blue eye staring dead straight at Twilight, while on the right side, he wore an eye patch that covered his other eye. A scar peeked from the top and bottom of the black patch. His hooves each has what appears to be a silvery, metal shoe, with five spikes protruding from them over the front of his limbs.

Connecting to these shoes were long connections of copper gears, pistons, and other pieces of mechanical parts that stretched along the sides of his limbs and into the back. He wore a black metal battle harness on the upper part of his torso with a sickly blue and green light originating from the center circular buckle piece and through small grooves engraved in the straps wrapping around his entire barrel, similar to the lights of the wall. Around his back was a large black cape that stretched down to the floor, its corners trailing and dragging against the wood.

“What the…” Twilight muttered in terror as the abnormal pony towered over her, smiling.

Stopping only a few centimetres away, the bipedal stallion spread his front hooves apart, displaying himself triumphantly.

“I am the terror of earth, sea, and air. I am the greatest pirate captain. I am Korsan…”

Chapter 003: The Pirate Pegasus

“W-what are you?” Twilight stuttered, backing away from the two-legged pirate.

“Frightening at first sight, I understand.” Korsan pridefully replied. “I never intended myself to assume this posture, but I guess that’s the price to pay when you experiment with the mechanical arts on your own body. Personally, I’ve grown fairly attracted to it.”

Celestia flew down to the first floor alongside Twilight and Cadence.

“What are you doing here?” She sternly asked him.

Korsan casually answered, “I have only come for the Diamond Eye. I apologize for my violent theatrics upon arriving, Princess Celestia, this is a very finely constructed piece of architecture, but my ship was too big.”

“Your ship? You mean that giant floating wall of wood and cannons behind you?”

“Yes, The Perfection, the home of me and my crew of one-hundred. It is the symbol of my ultimate goal. Five-hundred metres of blood, sweat, tears, and more blood than you can imagine is what you see before you,”

“You must have some advance technology to have such a massive thing be able to fly.”

“I do.”

A moment of silence settled into the area. Princess Celestia and Captain Korsan slowly began circling around each other, examining each other in stride.

“Are you the one who’s been attacking nearby kingdoms, both inland and coastal?” Celestia asked.

“Yes.” Korsan promptly answered.

“Well, whatever plans you had for stealing the Diamond Eye, perish them. You’re under arrest.”

“Arrest? Me? By who? You and what army?”

Celestia had hoped that he’d say that.

“This one, guards!” She declared.

At the instant of the princess’ command, dozens of guards burst from the doors leading into the ballroom on all floors. Fully armoured and armed with spears, crossbows, and swords, Earth pony, pegasus, and unicorn guards lined up side by side and primed their weapons.

“One-hundred and twelve? Are you serious?” The brown stallion chuckled.

“What’s so funny? I only see a hundred of your lackeys.”

“You do indeed, but as a ruler of a kingdom, you of all ponies should be aware of the tactical disadvantages most of your troops have.”

“What does that mean?” Celestia asked, raising an eyebrow.

Korsan merely pointed a hoof to her horn. She was initially confused, but after taking a quick glance at Korsan’s crew, Celestia immediately got the message.

“Well, I don’t see a horn on your forehead.” Celestia retorted.

In a second, Korsan’s grinning face snapped into a scowl.

“I rest assure you, that will be an issue I will remedy after obtaining the diamond, now.”

Korsan outstretched his right hoof forwards, prompting the shadowy figures to line up in two formations of five by ten ponies. Each one of them revealed themselves by illuminating their horns of many colors.

An all unicorn army?! Twilight internally exclaimed.

Korsan’s crew of one-hundred consisted entirely of unicorns, a decision he claimed to be advantageous over Celestia’s mixed guard.

The pirate stallions and mares of all sizes and colours were at Korsan’s sides, all grinning with excitement. They took a step forward, pulling out their swords and daggers before them and going into an offensive stance aimed at Celestia.

Korsan told the white alicorn, “As a pegasus, I’m aware of my current limitations. Perhaps I’m required to demonstrate to you what I mean.”

“Attack!” He then screamed to his crew.

With a unison flick of the pirates’ horns, every guard was encased in a magical aura and levitated off of the ground. The unicorn guards quickly responded to this and used their magic to break from their entrapment.

“Looks like you only have thirty-five guards now.” The pirate captain noted.

Korsan’s army then immediately charged forwards toward the center of the room, followed by the free guards charging at them.

“Engage shields and fire!”

The pirate army quickly followed his orders as a multicoloured shield appeared in front of them and a barrage of bolts of magic were fired through the back of the shield and into the resistance. In a matter of moments, the two sides collided and dispersed across the ballroom, with two pirates attacking a single guard each in close quarters combat.

Whatever ponies that weren’t fighting at close range engaged in a long range magic firefight across the chamber. Onlooking guests hid underneath tables, chairs, musical equipment, anywhere else where the fighting isn’t taking place. At the center of the room, amidst the chaos, Korsan slowly approached the large crystal on the pedestal, admiring its beauty.

“You think it’ll be that easy?” A mare’s voice interrupted his observing.

Princess Celestia, Princess Cadence, and Twilight emerged from the surrounding brawls and walked up to Korsan from the other side of the small pillar.

“I do,” Korsan answered, cocky and prideful.

“Give it up Korsan.” Cadence proclaimed. “You’re going against four alicorn princesses alone. There’s no chance of you winning.”

“One, two, three… Where is the fourth one?”

Another mare’s voice spoke into his ear, “Right behind-”

However, before she could finish, Korsan quickly turned around, seeing Luna with her horn glowing brightly. Before she could react, the pirate captain charged up to her, reaching his right hoof behind his back and underneath his swishing cape. His other hoof rose to Luna’s horn as the five spikes on his shoe appeared to have sprung to life, slid down the metal boot, and grabbed onto the horn as a sort of claw.

His right hoof returned into the open, holding a miniature version of his harness in between its metallic claws. In a short moment, Korsan wrapped the small device around Luna’s horn and backed away swiftly.

“Too easy!” He gloated.

Princess Luna thought nothing of this and attempted to fire a magic bolt from her horn. But, to her surprise, her horn didn’t fire anything, and the horn’s glow instead died down.

“What did you do?!” She asked, suddenly panicked.

“Anti-magic, your horn is no longer able to perform magic. My harness is similar, in that it prevents me from being affected by magic. Oh, don’t worry, the strap isn’t permanent. Just get a sharp needle and prod around inside the strap’s mechanisms. Speaking of my harness, I assume at this point that your fellow princesses are realizing they can’t grab me with their telepathy magic. Isn’t that right?”

Korsan turned around to see the other princesses surround him, sweating profusely as their horns were glowing vibrantly, yet with nothing happening.

“I swear, release me now or there will be serious consequences.” Luna warned him.

“Like what? You’re defenseless against me.”

However, to the pirate stallion’s surprise, a small flaming figure dove down from the third floor and smashed into his face. He yelped in pain as his face boiled in immense heat from the creature in front of him.

“That!” Luna proudly declared.

Korsan ran back and shooed the creature away, causing it to fly up and circle around the second floor. He examined the creature for a second and realizes what it is.

It was Princess Celestia’s pet phoenix, a loyal companion with a heart of fire. Its golden flames and crimson embers decorated the air above Korsan.

“A phoenix, what an interesting pet you have.” Korsan told the princesses. “I have a special pet as well that I would love for you to meet.”

As the flaming bird swooped down for another attack, a blue creature then flew into the ballroom from outside and smashed into the fire bird, sending it into the wall. What were once embers turned to flakes of ice, as the blue creature revealed itself. It was another phoenix, but was an icy shade of blue.

Korsan yelled out to the blue phoenix, “Good, Juliana! Make sure that that nuisance stays away from Daddy’s work.”

Korsan returned his attention to the black alicorn.

“I reckon you have never seen an ice phoenix.” He said.

Leisurely, the tall stallion reached an arm behind his back and cape and pulled out a long, serrated cutlass. The trapped princess’ eyes shrunk as they fixated on the jagged blades. The cutlass had glowing lights, similar to that of his harness, appearing in detailed designs on the sides. The cutlass drew closer to her as she backed away, forgetting that she has wings out of sheer fear.

“Stay away!” Luna demanded.

“Aww, scared?” Korsan taunted.

Celestia’s voice hollered from behind, “You get away from by sister!”

Korsan immediately swirled around and pointed his sword upwards, with the broadside facing him and the older princess. His sword was immediately met with a beam of concentrated white magic, Celestia’s Sunlight Ray. Despite the powerful magic though, Korsan’s sword remained firm. It absorbed the attack, with no recoil or damage done to the blade.

Princess Celestia was in utter shock of what she was seeing.

“What is it with ponies and announcing themselves before attacking?” Korsan asked himself. “Actually, in hindsight, that’s a fairly hypocritical statement. Hehe,”

“Get away!” Celestia yelled.

The white alicorn then charged at Korsan with her horn aimed at his throat. 0The pirate quickly reacted by pulling out another anti-magic strap and attaching it to Celestia’s horn as he dodged the dash. Princess Celestia failed to stop after missing and tumbled over her younger sister, sending them both falling onto the cold stone floor.

“Any more resistance?” Korsan impatiently snarled, having his moment with Luna interrupted.

His question was answered by Cadence teleporting behind him and delivering a punch into the back of his head. Korsan stumbled for a moment, growling in pain, but quickly recovered and smashed the back of his head into the pink alicorn’s chin. With her now discombobulated, Korsan strafed aside a step and performed a sideways flip over her, pulling out another horn trap and attaching it to her.

Upon landing, the bipedal stallion grabbed her by the neck and tossed her into Celestia and Luna, creating an even larger tangle.

“And now… Princess Twilight Sparkle.” He preemptively declared.

Korsan looked back at the pedestal and saw the purple mare standing in front of it, staring at him.

“How do you know my name?” Twilight asked.

“I do research. What? Did you expect anything less of me, thinking I was just some mindless barbaric pirate? Don’t expect your fight against me to be any different to your superiors. I suggest you back down now, I don’t want to harm you, nor did I originally intend to with your friends.”

“And let you get away with the Diamond Eye and hurting my friends anyways? Not a chance.”

“I see your reasons, but you must realize that whatever your next move is that I don’t like will result in you getting hurt. You’re surrounded.”

Twilight took a moment to look around and realized that he is right. All the remaining guards had been taken out, and she’s now surrounded by one-hundred pirate unicorns and Korsan.

“Don’t push it.” Korsan warned, pulling out another cutlass from his back.

After a moment of hesitation, Twilight admitted defeat, “Fine, I don’t see any other option…”

“Good, now move aside.”

Defeated, Twilight slowly walked to the side and let Korsan finally come within arm’s reach of the large crystal. The pirate captain’s face lit up as his mechanical claws grabbed onto the large artifact.

Korsan roared with delight, “Finally, the other half of the Diamond Eye is mine! My goal will finally be realized! The moment of our triumph draws nigh!”

His crew roared in laughter and cheer while the onlookers continued to cower.

“Wait, you have the other half?” Twilight asked.

“Yeah. I found it of the coast of Pingwin.” Korsan told her.

“That’s thousands of kilometres north of here! It’s an artic wasteland practically!”

“Most certainly, and it is also the birthplace of my sweet Juliana. Come here Missy!”

At his command, the ice phoenix immediately returned and hovered over Korsan’s shoulder. Korsan returned one of his swords behind his back and stroked the shiny gradient of glowing light and dark blue feathers of the bird with his free claws, prompting her to land on his shoulder.

“Have you turned that fire phoenix to ashes?” Korsan asked.

A gentle coo croaks from Juliana as a response.

“Daddy’s so proud.”

“Korsan, I’m giving you this chance, return the Diamond Eye to its pedestal now, go away, and I might forgive you.” Twilight demanded to Korsan.

“You really think I’m going to do that?”

“A longshot, yes, but if there’s any good in your heart you’ll see this is wrong. Maybe we can work together and solve the mysteries of the Diamond Eye now that we have both halves.”

Korsan laughed, “Ha! I know what your reaction will be if you figured out my intentions with the complete Diamond Eye. So I’m afraid that I’ll have to deny your offer. Come along, my hearty crew, we feast aboard!”

“Huzzah!” The pirates cheer.

One by one, the crew of a hundred pirates walked back up the plank and onto the massive airship, with the last member picking up the Diamond Eye piece with his magic and taking it with him.

“Take heed all of you,” Korsan warned. “Know your place. And I better not find anypony trying to follow me, unless you intend to join my crew, in which, if you are a unicorn, you are more than welcome.”

“Hey!” A mare’s voice called from behind the doors in the ballroom. “What’s going on in there?”

“Who is this? Reveal yourself.” Korsan commanded.

Slowly, the massive doors opened, and Rarity walked into the room. Immediately, she’s frightened by the hovering guards, the hiding ponies, the toppled princess pile, the destroyed state of the ballroom, and Korsan standing beside an empty pedestal, all before her.

“W-wha-what happened? Who are you? What are you? Did you cause this?” Rarity stampered.

“Oh my…” Korsan uttered beneath his breath.

Korsan’s eye grew as his sights sharpened onto the white mare. A warm, fuzzy feeling started to rise from the back of his neck to the center of his skull, as the pirate captain found himself entranced by Rarity’s appearance.

“I apologize for my more, abnormal appearance.” Korsan said, attempting to comfort the mare. “It is understandable for your fright, but you grow used to it in time. I am Korsan. And who might you be?”

“R-Rarity…”

“I must say, you look most certainly elegant. It might not be the brightest room in the castle, but I can see that you take considerable time to maintain a well-made public image, one to catch the eyes of many-a-stallion.”

“Can it Korsan.” Twilight barked from the side of the room. “She’s not interested with pirates. You got your diamond, now go. You’ve already done enough damage to this place. Rarity, stay away from him, he caused this entire mess and stole the Diamond Eye.”

“This is not your concern miss.” Korsan hissed.

“No, hold on.” Rarity snapped. “What makes you think that I’d be interested in you after you caused this and present yourself in this manner all of a sudden? You stole the Diamond Eye just now, are you mad?! You return that Diamond Eye and get out of this place this instant or else I’ll make sure you’ll be sore for the next week.”

“Hmph. Fine, it was a longshot anyways.” The pirate replied with a smirk, seemingly having taken no offense to the rejection. “Though, there’s always room in my crew.”

Quickly, Korsan darted onto the boarding plank and went up to the top of the wooden wall with Juliana in tow. “Adieu! ”

“Hey! Get back here now!” Rarity exclaimed.

However, before Rarity could reach the wooden board, it was lifted back into the airship.

“You won’t get away with this!” She declared.

“Unfortunately,” Twilight somberly replied, “he has. He just had the upper hoof and trumped us. Anything we do now is just going to hurt somepony.”

Soon, the massive wall of wood and cannon barrels sprung to life. The entire mass slowly moved forwards and accelerated rapidly. Everypony watched as they saw the back of the massive pirate ship sank below the edge of the ballroom.

Twilight and Rarity ran up to the room’s edge and looked out the window to see the massive floating boat already in the distance, soaring away with the laughter of the pirates on board echoing back to them.

“So that’s it? This pirate and his crew just came in here, knocked out a third of the guard, left the other two thirds stuck in the air by magic, stole the Diamond Eye, hurt the princesses, brought panic to the Grand Galloping Gala, destroyed the castle, and I think I saw Rainbow Dash soil herself, and you’re just going to let him get away with it?” Rarity asked.

“Well, the magic will wear off once the ship flies off a large enough distance.” Twilight replied.

“Still, you’re just going to let them get away?”

“No, we’re going to go after them, and stop Korsan from causing any more of these attacks.”

“How?”

“I… I am not sure.”

Chapter 004: Goodbye and Farewell

The next morning, Twilight and the others were back at their homes and packing their bags for their upcoming quest. In one swift night, a pirate made a fool of them and took off with the Diamond Eye. Now, without need of Princess Celestia’s command, the mares and dragon were going to take the diamond back, and bring justice to those robbed by Captain Korsan.

“So Twilight,” Spike asked Twilight as he put a large collection of gems in a suitcase. “What’s the plan again?”

“After Korsan and his crew raided the gala,” Twilight replied. “Rarity and I watched their airship fly off in a specific direction. I looked at several maps after the raid and discovered he’s most likely heading northeast, out to sea. There’s a location that’s directly in Korsan’s path called Thieves’ Hold, an infamous gathering place for criminals. Princess Celestia gave me permission for us and our friends to take a ship there and cut him off, taking the Diamond Eye back and apprehending him.”

“Sounds great,”

“I knew you’d say that.”

“But,” Spike continued. “Once you do catch up to him, what are you going to do? One third of the guards were hospitalized after the raid and the other two thirds were unable to fight right from the start. How are we even going to take on Korsan, let alone his crew and ship? What do you know about him?”

Twilight hesitated a bit, trying to think of a good description of Korsan’s strengths and weaknesses.

“Well… Korsan is highly adept to mechanical arts, close-range combat, leadership, navigation, animal taming, and anti-magic, despite him being a pegasus.” Twilight said.

“Wait, how does that work? Isn’t anti-magic an advance spell?”

“Yes, but this stallion did something new. The straps he used to disable the other princesses’ magic power contained an unknown substance that nullifies magic. This substance is also probably used in his harness, his swords, and his ship.”

“Freaky stuff…”

“But that’s not the weirdest part. He stands, walks, and fights on his hind hooves and wears these weird claw-shoes on his front hooves. Their like your claws when they’re engaged.”

“Wouldn’t that be hard for him, being a pony and all?”

“It should. But it doesn’t. In fact, he’s even more agile than most normal pegasi. I think it has to do something with his mechanical exosuit, based on what he said.”

“He sounds tough, any weaknesses?”

“Uh…”

Twilight was utterly stumped.

“Please tell me you know some weakness to him before you attempt to fight him.” Spike warned his friend.

“…He… He has a distaste for Earth ponies and pegasi for some odd reason and wears an eyepatch.”

“Those are not weakness!” Spike exclaimed.

“Nah-ah, depth perception!” Twilight retorted in empty pride.

“What are we going to do then?” Spike then asked, raising an eyebrow.

“We’ll… improvise.”

“With what?”

“Spike, why are you being so hypercritical about this?”

“I just don’t want you or anypony getting hurt when we’re going after this stallion, that’s all.”

“I’ll do research while we’re out at sea. Don’t worry Spike, we’ll have each other’s’ back.” Twilight comforted the small dragon.

“That sounds good. By the way, you said something about him being a pegasus, yet he has a distaste towards them?”

“Yeah, he immediately acted kind of aggressive when Celestia brought it up. He then explained that he was going to use the Diamond Eye to fix that or something, not sure how though.”

“Twilight, are you sure you want to do this only hours after his attack? I don’t want to overcomplicate this, but something big could be going on, something that we might not be ready for.”

“We have to act now. Cadence worked hard for the presentation for the Diamond Eye and it’s one of the only historical artifacts of the Crystal Kingdom lasting beyond King Sombra’s reign, and Korsan just took it from us. And besides, if we don’t go now, Korsan might run away and we’ll lose him, possibly forever.”

“Alright…” Spike nodded.

“Are you fully packed Spike?” Twilight asked, closing the last suitcase of her luggage.

“This will be a long trip.” She warned.

“I’m almost done.”

“Hurry up please, we’re expected at Vanhoover in a few hours.”

Meanwhile, at Rarity’s home, the white unicorn is also packing several suitcases. However, a smaller unicorn was following her around.

“Sweetie Belle,” Rarity calmly exclaimed at the filly. “For the fifth time, no. You cannot join us.”

“No fair!” Sweetie Belle whined. “Applejack’s probably letting her little sister join, and Scootaloo’s going to want to tag along with us.”

“Applejack’s half as firm as I am, and even she wouldn’t let Applebloom join us for such a dangerous trip. We’re spending at least a month on open waters with pirates and storms around every corner. Not to mention that that Korsan creep we’re after has the hots for me.” Rarity said sternly.

“Then why are you tagging along if it’s so dangerous?”

“The only reason I’m joining my friends is because somepony needs to keep some level of integrity of the ship we’re going on up. Mom and Dad will look after you while I’m gone. And besides, Applebloom and Scootaloo will still be around to keep you company.”

“But the Cutie Mark Crusaders must join you guys, think of all the possibilities for cutie marks there could out there that we can research.”

“The only things you and your friends will get on your flanks out there are splinters, bruises, seawater, tons of dust and dirt, or even everything at once.”

“Please!” The young filly begged.

“For the final time… No!” Rarity snapped.

With that said, Rarity returned to her work. Sweetie Belle, now rife with childish anger, stomped off into a corner, sat down, and pouted. The little unicorn watched as her big sister packed and packed, one suitcase after another.

After a short while, a pile of suitcases surrounded Rarity.

“Do you really need all of those large suitcases?” Sweetie asked, her temper dimming in curiosity.

“What?” Rarity replied, confused.

Rarity took a moment to look behind her and saw a three metre tall pyramid of large purple suitcases, teetering back and forth from its height.

“Oh… Well yes, yes I do.” Rarity answered, a bit unsure of her answer.

“Really?”

“…Maybe one or two too many,”

In the meantime, on the distant outskirts of Ponyville, at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack was rummaging through the central barn with a yellow Earth pony filly, her younger sister, Applebloom, watching.

“Applejack,” the younger sister spoke. “Can I-”

“No Applebloom.” Applejack quickly responded.

“But why?!” Applebloom immediately moaned.

“First off, it’s dangerous. Second off, you’ll mostly be alone while we run the boat on our journey. Rarity’s twice as strict as I am, so there’s no chance Sweetie Belle will come along.”

“What about Scootaloo?”

“She’ll also be alone on the ship since I said no for your permission. Third off, somepony’s gotta take care of my work at the farm while I’m gone. Your big brother, Big Mac, has enough work on his plate already and he gets easily seasick, so he can’t take my place.”

“Darn it…”

“Don’t feel sad about it, you’ll be fine. Let’s see, what else do I need? I got a some books, some snacks, clothing…”

“Water?” Applebloom suggested.

“Bah, that won’t be an issue. I’ll be surrounded by it.” Applejack dismissed.

“Doesn’t this fancy ship you’ve been talkin’ ‘bout have all of those things?”

“It doesn’t hurt to pack a small bit of extra. Oh I know!”

Quickly, Applejack darted into the back of the barn. Applebloom immediately knew what was going on, slowly placing a hoof over her face in shame.

Applebloom asked, “It better not be-”

“Apples! Lots and lots of apples, crates of them,” Applejack proudly interrupted her.

“…that.”

“Don’t be such a neighsayer. I can bake up all sorts of goodies on my trip with a healthy surplus of apples.”

“Can I help you bake-”

“No.”

Meanwhile, high above in the clouds, Rainbow Dash had already packed her things in four large saddlebags and was now flying with them resting at her sides. Behind her followed an orange pegasus filly, hopping from cloud to cloud alongside Dash.

“…As fun as it would be, Scootaloo,” Dash said to the filly. “I don’t think this mission would be that much fun for you.”

“Oh come on,” the small mare, Scootaloom confidently retorted. “My wings are growing strong, to the point where I can almost fly. I could be helpful in getting the Diamond Eye and beating that pirate for stealing it.”

“I enjoy your enthusiasm, but I’m afraid it’s too dangerous as well.”

“Danger’s my middle name.”

“No, I mean really dangerous. I saw what Korsan and his crew did. They didn’t hesitate when they levitated the guards into the air. I wouldn’t like to see what’d happen if you crossed into their territory and got hurt.”

“You’d usually laugh at something that seemed threatening.”

“Exactly, so you know you can’t join me on this.” Dash said.

“I guess so.”

“I’m happy you understand. I’ll be back in hopefully a month or two.”

“Okay. Bye Dashy!”

“Bye Scoots.”

Scootaloo came to a quick stop with her cloud hopping. Dash continued forward, looking back and seeing the orange filly waving goodbye.

Hm, Rainbow Dash thought to herself. She seems to be taking this awfully well. She didn’t even bring up the CMC or wanting to do cutie marks research… Meh, just might be me.

Down below from where Rainbow Dash was flying, on the rolling grassy hills just outside of Ponyville, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were walking side by side, pulling a wagon of stuffed bags on them.

“I knew it!” Pinkie cheered, hopping up and down as she moves forward. “You tempted fate, and now you must pay up.”

“Are you still going on about the bet?” Fluttershy groaned, “You’re right, whoo-hoo, but there’s a bigger issue at hoof.”

“You’re not backing out of it are you?” Pinkie asked, raising a pride-brimming eyebrow.

“No. We just have to deal with this Korsan stallion and then we can take care of the bet.” Fluttershy calmly replied.

“How about this, how about we make a new bet.”

“Oh no…”

“I bet that we’ll come across a giant carnivorous squid on our travels at sea.”

“Pinkie, that’ll never happen.”

“It’s an adventure at sea, of course it’s going to happen.”

“No it won’t.”

“Fine, then the bet is on.”

“Wha-”

“If I win, then you have to pay me twenty bits, if you win, you don’t have to pay anything.”

“Hmmm…”

Despite Fluttershy being sick of gambling, especially after just losing a bet, the offer enticed her. This was the chance for her to get back, and finally get Pinkie to be quiet.

“Fine,” Fluttershy agreed. “It’s not going to happen anyways.”

I pray that nothing like that happens. Fluttershy thought. I’d have a heart attack or something if some squid attacked us!

“Are you excited?” Pinkie asked.

“Excited for what?”

“Excited that we’re going on a grand adventure out to sea against a pirate crew of course silly,”

“Oh, well, it will be a pleasant cruise if that’s what you mean.”

“I’m so excited! Just imagine the things we’ll be doing out there. Riding our ship throughout the storms, fighting pirates, getting in pirate bar fights, swing across boats onto the pirate ship, telling pirate tales, telling ghost tales, telling ghost pirate tales, getting pirate loot, getting kidnapped by pirates, being turned into pirate loot, and so much more!”

“Most of those things you listed, if not all of them, are not going to happen.”

“Wanna be-”

“No.”

A few hours later, at the ocean docks of the coastal city of Vanhoover, Twilight, Spike, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy met up with their luggage in tow at the entrance.

“So,” Twilight asked aloud. “Is everypony here?”

“Yep,” Rainbow confirmed.

“Has anypony forgotten something, before we go?” Applejack asked the group, oblivious to the fact that her cargo of four massive crates of apples dwarfed the others’ luggage.

“I wonder if I left enough food open for my animal friends…” Fluttershy thought out loud, now thinking about it.

“No,” Pinkie sharply replied. “You gave them quite enough. I could see the pile from outside.”

“It seems we’re all set then.” Rarity said.

“Now the only question remaining is,” Spike noted, turning his attention to the vast array of large and small ships scattered throughout the harbour. “Where’s our boat?”

“That’s a very good question,” a familiar mare’s voice replied behind him.

The seven looked back and saw Celestia standing with them.

“Princess Celestia!” They all exclaimed in surprise.

“Hello, my little ponies.” The princess formally greeted them.

“What are you doing here?” Twilight asked. “Aren’t you supposed to be in Canterlot right now after the robbery?”

“Don’t worry, Luna’s taking care of the delegates. I just came here to wish you all good luck.”

“I see.” Twilight replied.

“Your ship is over there.”

The white alicorn raised a hoof towards the far right of the docks. The others looked to where she was pointing and saw their ship. It is a massive galleon, with a solid red and gold painted exterior. Three tall masts on the ship pierced the sky, each with two wide, white sails sporting the symbol of Equestria, a shield with the sun and the moon together.

Ten small steel cannons poked out of each side of the vessel. The stern of the boat hoted a large quarter deck, with windows revealing the large galley and captain’s quarters.

“The SS Raindrop, a fifty metre long, one-hundred fifty metric ton luxury behemoth of oak and steel, made to sail anywhere. Armed with twenty quick-fire cannons, a hundred metric ton anchor, and an array of semi-automated steering and sail-pitching mechanisms, this ship will take on any challenge and escape with only a few scratches.

Although it may not be as powerful as Korsan’s airship, this will certainly strike fear in any small ship that wants to pick a fight with you. I’ve already taken care of food and water resources on board in the cargo bay, they should last you at most three months.” Celestia explained.

“Oh my… Celestia, are you sure you want to give us this massive ship?”

“I’m certain. I well know of your understanding of ship operation and maintenance. With you as captain Twilight, you’ll only need a few ponies to actually operate it. Now, are all of you ready?”

“Yes we are.”

With a flick of the alicorn’s horn, the seven ponies, Spike, and cargo disappeared from the wooden docks in a flash of light and reappeared on the main deck of the large galleon.

“Thanks.” Twilight said.

“You’re welcome. Good luck all of you, come back safely.” Celestia announced.

“We will.”

The white princess’ wings unfolded, and Celestia took off into the clear sky. With the vast blue sea ahead of them, Twilight returned her attention to her friends.

“Alright, let’s take off.” Twilight declared.

“Aye-aye captain,” Pinkie promptly responded before saluting in her own, silly way.

“Alright, first, we hoist the anchor.”

Twilight’s horn glowed as she focused her attention to the unseen anchor over the edge of the bow. A loud rattling is heard as the ship begun to shift back and forth upon being freed from its restraint.

“Done,” Twilight said.

“The sails appear to be already opened.” Spike announced.

“Right then, and finally…” Twilight said to herself.

Twilight swiftly ran up to the top of the stern and found the wheel, standing at the center of the deck. Grabbing it with her magic, she gently set the steering wheel stiff and centered.

“How about a little wind Dash?” She called to the pegasus below her.

“Gotcha!” Rainbow hollered.

In a single bound, the pegasus launched herself into the air and hovered behind a sail at the center mass. Rapidly beating her wings, Rainbow Dash soon caused a large gust of wind to pump into the sail, jerking the entire galleon forwards.

“That’s enough!” Twilight yelled.

With the ship now pulling out of the harbor, Twilight gently turned the wheel clockwise, turning the ship as well.

“Let’s see, it was seventy-eight degrees clockwise from the east…” She uttered to herself.

As the ship almost became parallel with the coast, Twilight straighted the wheel, stopping the turning.

“There, now we should be heading straight for Thieves’ Hold.”

“Now what do we do?” Rarity loudly asked.

“Just kick back and relax.” Twilight gladdened them. “We have a good tailwind now.”

“Yay!” Pinkie exclaimed. “Vacation Time!”

“Good,” Applejack said. “Now I can start taking care of my stuff.”

“Are all of those massive crates apples?” Rainbow questioned the orange Earth pony.

“They sure are.” Applejack pompously nodded.

“You realize that Celestia already stockpiled some food for us?” Dash asked next.

“Yeah, but you can always use some roughage. You don’t see me whining about Rarity’s stack.”

“Rarity is ‘excessive for personal reasons’, Twilight is ‘too prepared’, you’re entering psycho territory.”

“It doesn’t hurt,” Fluttershy replied.

“Whatever, I’m going to take care of my things and find a room.” Rainbow Dash said with a huff.

“We should all at this point really.” Spike said.

“May the adventure begin!” Twilight proudly shouted.

With the wind brushing over her shoulders and the waves rushing past the sides of her ship, high hopes filled the young mare’s head.

Chapter 005: The Adventure Begins

A week has passed ever since their departure of Vanhoover. The only piece of land they have seen was a large rock jutting from the sea. Despite this, the crew’s hearts were still strong, and intent on catching Korsan. On the following night, with a half-moon in the sky and several stars twinkling with it, the group was in the galley, eating apple pie quietly.

More apples, Rainbow Dash internally moaned. At this point I might well be eating those hard biscuits in storage for a better tasting meal.

“Hey Twilight,” Fluttershy called to Twilight at the other end of the dining table. “How much longer until we reach Thieves’ Hold?”

“We’re halfway there, another week probably.” Twilight answered with a mouthful of pie.

“Don’t worry Fluttershy,” Applejack reassured her. “I’ve still got plenty of apples.”

“Why does it have to be so far away?” Rainbow impatiently whined, feeling her stomach growing queasy from the apples.

“The Antlertic Ocean is huge,” Spike replied.

“It would be a great place to disappear from the world.” Twilight noted.

“You know what’s strange?” Rarity asked. “Throughout our entire time at sea, we haven’t seen a single pirate ship, or any ship for that matter, ever since we left the harbour. What’s up with that?”

Twilight gulpped down her mouthful of pie and answered, “You heard what the princess said about this ship. If any small pirate ships were to see us in the distance, they’d probably flee. Though, you do have a point about there not being any friendly ships... I guess rumors of storms and sea monsters drive most ponies away from this area.”

“Speaking of rumors,” Pinkie spoke. “How about we tell some ghost stories while we’re all here together?”

“In the middle of the night?” Fluttershy asked. “I’d rather not.”

Pinkie dismissed Fluttershy’s worries with a quick hoof and response, “Oh, come on, Flutter, it’ll be fun. I’ll start.”

Fluttershy groaned to herself before joining the others in listening to Pinkie’s tale.

“Once upon a time,” Pinkie began. “There was a trading ship that was set to sail to the kingdom of Ti, but was sent off course by a large hurricane. The sailors on board didn’t know and continued to sail forwards, and eventually fell over the edge of the world. Legend says that if you’re lucky, when approaching Ti oversea, you’ll see a ghost ship sailing towards it before it sinks underneath the waves and disappear.”

“That’s ridiculous.” Twilight noted. “The world’s round, not flat, and there is no such thing as ghost ships or ghosts in general.”

“Oh really?” Pinkie said, raising an eyebrow.

“My turn!” Rainbow Dash called out. “This one will make you all unable to sleep tonight. Once, there was a stallion. His name was Pablo. Pablo was not a very good pony. He liked to… have-”

“Inappropriate story Dash!” Twilight chirped out.

“What? It’s just us seven.” Dash replied.

“Who even told you that story?” Twilight asked.

“Who told you?”

“…”

“…Seeing as you know how it ends.”

“How does it end?” Applejack asked out of growing curiosity.

“Not well. Who’s next?” Twilight immediately answered, dismissing the conversation in whole.

A small snicker was heard coming from the cyan mare as silence drew over the candle lit room.

“I guess me…” Applejack said.

“Good. Make sure it’s an acceptable story.” Twilight warned her.

Applejack slowly nodded and begun, “Okay… Here is the legend of the Dark and Crimson Mare. There once was a young mare that lived alone in a house at the edge of a cliff that stood over the ocean. One day, during a very windy night, the cliff edge collapsed and fell into the ocean, taking the house and the sleeping mare, dressed in her sleeping gown, down with it. The mare drowned in her sleep in only a few minutes. Now, when you go to the missing cliffside at night at a new moon, you might be able to see the ghost of the mare hovering where she slept, with her fur coloured red, her gown completely black, and her eyes wide open, staring at you.”

“Ooh! That is scary!” Pinkie happily exclaimed.

“Too scary.” Fluttershy squeaked.

“How about you Fluttershy?” Pinkie asked, turning to the pegasus.

“Me? No, I’ve had enough scary stories for tonight.” Fluttershy replied.

“Oh come one,” Rainbow Dash insisted, hovering over to the yellow mare and giving her a noogie on the top of her head. “Just tell us a story and then you can go, please.”

“Well, okay I guess…” Fluttershy said. “Once upon a time, some fillies went into a haunted house. A ghost showed up and spooked them. But then the fillies remembered that ghosts weren’t real, and discovered that the ghost was just a stallion with a blanket over his head. The end.”

“It’s Pablo!” Dash instantly yelled.

“Quit it Rainbow Dash!” Twilight barked.

Rainbow started to laugh uncontrollably in the air, eventually falling onto the floor in her laughing fit.

“Sorry, Fluttershy, for that little instance, it was a… enjoyable story.” Twilight said.

“Thanks.” Fluttershy cheered. “I’ll be going to bed now. Good night.”

“Okay. Good night.”

Slowly, the yellow mare exited from her chair and made her way to the door leading downstairs.

“So, who’s next?” Twilight asked.

“I guess I will,” Rarity declared as the sound of a door closing echoed from behind. “There once was a pair of young unicorn brothers. The only family they had was their mother and each other due to their father leaving years ago. One day though, the mother died from disease, leaving the two heartbroken. Desperate to have her back, the two attempted a forbidden magic. However, instead of it bringing her back, what they brothers created was a monster, at the unseen cost of the older brother losing two legs and the younger losing his body, having his soul sealed inside a nearby empty suit of armour. It is said that they now roam a distant and unknown land, seeking a way to return to their original bodies at whatever the cost.”

“Ooh, deep.” Twilight responded.

“Thank you, I heard it from the ambassador of Saddle Arabia during the gala.” Rarity explained.

“You want to have a go at it Spike?” Twilight asked.

“Wait!” Fluttershy’s voice yelled out from underneath the galley floor. “Do you hear that?!”

“Hear what?” The purple alicorn asked.

The mares and Spike immediately turned silent, listening to whatever it was. After a second of hearing nothing but constant candle flickers, Fluttershy suddenly burst from the door with a frightened look on her face.

“That laughing, coming from outside!” Fluttershy exclaimed.

“I don’t hear any, just us and the candles.”

“Must be because I was in the dark and below the main deck…”

“Whatever it is, we should check it out!”

“Wait, what if it’s the Dark and Crimson Mare? Or the ghost trading ship? Or Pablo?!” Fluttershy muttered, started to panic.

“There are no such things as ghosts, nor Pablo. You can stay in here.” Twilight comforted her worried friend.

“Okay… Just be careful.” Fluttershy caringly cautioned them.

Twilight turned to the others and commanded. “Everypony else, follow.”

Quietly, the five other ponies and Spike scrambled up to the main deck and started to hear the faint laughing as well. They wondered around the dark, searching for a source either onboard or nearby the ship.

“I hear it,” Spike whispered. “But I don’t see anything.”

“Sounds like a whole lot of laughers to.” Applejack softly replied. “Has anypony checked under the boat?”

“That’s stupid,” Rainbow Dash retorted. “Who’d be laughing underwater?”

Rainbow Dash and Applejack soon engaged in a silent argument. Spike turned his attention to the port edge of the deck, seeing Pinkie Pie looking up into the sky with her pupils shrunken, a green tint reflecting in her eyes, and her mouth at a gape.

“Pinkie?” Spike nervously asked. “Do you see something?”

“What if,” the pink Earth pony cryptically responded. “The laughing’s coming from right above us?”

Spike replied, “That would be odd, no pegasi would be flying this far out to sea. And the pirate ship we’re after is way ahead of us.”

“Then what’s that?” Pinkie said, pointing a hoof to the sky.

“What?” Spike turned his head up and was immediately shocked at what he saw.

“Oh…” Spike silently gasped.

Korsan’s airship was hovering right above the SS Raindrop, and with it, the source of the mysterious laughing noise.

“Twilight! Rainbow Dash! Applejack! Rarity! It’s Korsan’s ship, it’s right above us!” Spike exclaimed.

“What?!” The four mares excitedly asked, looking up and see the green glowing underbelly of the pirate ship as well.

“How is that possible?” Twilight asked. “Korsan had a head start.”

“Who cares?’ Rarity joyously replied. “We can just take care of that creep and his crew now and head back with the Diamond Eye!”

“I guess, but how? We can’t teleport on board with the ship blocking any good teleporting location in view. We can’t fight it directly with the size and artillery it has. What can we do?” Twilight asked.

“I got it.” Dash boasted. “You, Fluttershy, and I can just sneak on board, grab the diamond, and sneak back down. Simple.”

“It’s a heavy diamond, probably guarded. Are you sure we can do this?” Twilight replied, unsure of her abilities.

“Yeah,” Dash answered, crossing her front hooves in pride.

“I’ll go get Fluttershy, you go ahead and scout things out. Good luck.”

“On it!”

Swiftly the blue pegasus flew upwards to the bottom of the airship, hearing the laughing grow louder and louder. As Rainbow Dash made her way up the side of the hull to the quarterdeck, a bright golden glow could be seen, emanating from the windows where the joyous hollers were coming from. Curious, Dash poked her head up from the bottom and was immediately surprised at what she saw.

It was a massive galley, five times bigger than theirs, lit up by hundreds of candles inside and other means of lighting. The large room held a gigantic a U-shape table, lined with one hundred chairs, with most of them taken by unicorns of all shapes and sizes. Stallions and mares, young and old, tall and tiny, shaved and bearded, bare and fully dressed, bald and lengthy manes and tails, fat and skinny, bearing every colour of the rainbow and more. Each had their own unique combination, with only a few being similar to one another.

All of the pirates were jubilantly laughing and cheering as golden bits, jewels, clothing, and large plates of food of every variety were being passed all around in the air by their magic. At the center of the room was a large serving table, with large black pots holding tons and tons of plants, breads, fruits, vegetables, drinks, and more delectable, making the spying onlooker drool beyond control.

However, the main focus of activity lied beyond the serving table. A young, pale mare with a long red mane and tail and armed with a small dagger was fighting against an old, dark blue stallion with a small grey braid wielding a large two-bitted axe. The seated pirates watching the fight cheered each time the two fighters’ weapons clashed, growing louder and louder and throwing around more and more items as bets.

Eventually, Dash’s attention was grabbed at the far end of the room, opposite of the dining, serving table, and brawl. There, sitting upon a large chair on an elevated platform, with his own large table with food and treasures sitting on it, was none other than Captain Korsan, quietly watching the fight.

It’s him… Rainbow thought to herself as she continued to spy inside the lively galley.

Soon, the fight ended by the mare tripping over the stallion with her magic and disarming him in the process. Immediately, the galley roared in both excitement and short-lived anger as massive amounts of stuff were sent soaring across the dining table to the watchers that won the bet, soon obscuring their faces with the amount of stuff they won.

As the old stallion rose back to his hooves, the young mare outstretched a hoof, prompting him to calmly shake it with his own. The two combatants then headed into a room to the right of Korsan’s behind with their weapons in tow.

Rainbow examined the room in the back, thinking, That might be the armoury where they keep the weapons. Wait a minute, Dashy, remember, find the Diamond Eye and get out. Don’t get distracted.

Suddenly, her train of thought was interrupted by her vision turning completely light blue and a blast of cold hitting her face. Rainbow Dash backed away in shock and saw with her recovering vision that it is Korsan’s ice phoenix attacking her. It loudly shrieked at her before charging in for another strike. Rainbow quickly flew back down to her ship.

“Stupid parrot! I’m not going to get back that diamond with that thing making a noise.” Rainbow hissed.

Inside the galley, with the post-fight chaos still roaring through the atmosphere, the fighters returned from the armoury and walked onto Korsan’s platform. The two bowed their heads to him, signaling the onlookers to quiet down, knowing that their captain will now be talking.

With silence now the only thing being heard, Korsan tranquilly spoke, “You both did well. Miss Maria Vanshwitz, mechanic, your use of surprise and overwhelming your opponent are quite adept. However your technique and stamina are still lackluster. Please try to exercise that.”

“Yes captain.” The young mare responded in a pant before walking to the dining table and taking an empty seat.

Korsan then turned to the stallion and spoke, “And Butch Taylor, cook, your strength and intimidation are well used. Yet your vigilance and speed need attention. I know you’re growing old, but please don’t let your age get the best of you.”

“I understand captain.” The old stallion responded before also heading to a seat.

Korsan then looked out over the pirates, and decalred, “Crew of The Perfection, it has been a fine night with you all. But I’m afraid I’m going to have to get to my chambers early to further study the Diamond Eye. Good night.”

However, upon Korsan exiting his chair, the ice phoenix soared into the room from an open door, screeching as it flew to him.

“Juliana, what’s wrong?” The pirate captain asked.

As Juliana reached her master’s outstretched hoof, a small feather from Rainbow Dash was sput out of her beak and into Korsan’s machine claws.

“A feather?”

Korsan held the small feather close to his eye, examining it thoroughly before lowering it to his nose and sniffing it.

“Northwester Equestrian Oak and refined steel…” He uttered below his breath.

Quickly, the pegasus jumped from the platform and ran for the door with Juliana leading him.

“Follow me!” He commaned.

“Yes captain!” The pirates at the table sharply answered as they follow behind him and his pet.

The crew reached the port edge of the main deck. With Korsan and his crew watching, the ice phoenix, Juliana, flew overboard and towards Rainbow Dash, now having touched down on Twilight’s ship below.

“It’s that blue wench from Equestria!” A stallion crew member yelled out.

“What?! Why didn’t the lookouts see her?” Korsan barked.

“They might have fallen asleep from that last joyride you did.” The stallion replied.

“Get me a spyglass!”

Almost immediately, a small telescope was levitated in front of Korsan. He swiftly grabbed it from the air and held it up to his eye, looking down at the ship below.

He told his crew, “It’s Princess Twilight, from Equestria. She’s with five others and a baby dragon. They’re probably here for the Diamond Eye. They’re following us with a galleon, fifty metres long, twenty small cannons, six sails, thirty centimetre thick hull. The thing must be royal class.”

“Easy pickings, let’s just sink them already.” A mare called out from beside her captain.

“No.” Korsan retorted, as his sights set on Rarity, looking back up at his ship.

“What?” The female pirate inquired.

“There’s a mare on that ship down there, a unicorn. She could serve very well in our crew.”

“So? We can just drop down, snatch her up, and then sink ‘em.”

“I’m afraid it’s not as easy as your initiation as yours, Barbara Shores.” Korsan said in a calculating tone. “We have to be more welcoming to this one, but it will be worth it. And I don’t want to distract myself from our goal by having to do repairs. We’ll instead run down their defenses, give them and her some distress without getting our hooves dirty.”

“How so?” Butch, the fighter from before, asked.

“We’ll take them through Siren Gulch.” Korsan answered swiftly.

Butch raised an eyebrow and further questioned, “Are you sure captain? Very few travelers have ever made it through alive.”

“We’ve seen it in action plenty of times. It is very possible for a ship of this sort. And for the crew down there, that’s the funny thing about these ‘hero’ types. They always do manage to ride out that slim chance.”

“You mean that there’s such thing as fate?”

“In a scientific sense. Prepare yourselves, sea artists! I’m going to need one of you to keep an eye on that ship and sketch me their faces. As for the rest of you, we’re changing course to Siren Gulch!”

“What is going on up there?” Twilight asked as the massive airship above turns. “They’re changing their course. I would’ve thought for certain they were heading for Thieves’ Hold.”

“Rainbow Dash was caught by that weird blue bird up there. What if they’re trying to throw us off course?” Rarity suggested.

“Maybe,” Twilight nodded.

“Dumb bird!” Rainbow screamed at Juliana, who had already gone inside the airship. “Sorry guys, I couldn’t find the Diamond Eye. That stupid bird probably ratted us out.”

“That’s fine,” Fluttershy comforted her. “Did you at least learn anything about the pirates?”

“Their galley is on the lowest portion of the quarterdeck and the armoury is right next to it. And they have mountains of food in there.” Dash told them.

“That’s quite a lot of food.” Fluttershy noted.

“Are you kidding?! It’s practically heaven on a boat!” Dash exclaimed, her senses recalling luscious scent of the food.

“Oh no,” Twilight interrupted Rainbow. “This isn’t good.”

“What isn’t good?” Rarity asked.

“After doing some calculations, I just discovered where they’re going now.”

“Where?” The others asked, now scared.

“They’re heading towards the tip of the Central Ley Line. Korsan might be to throw us off, but it’s just as likely that going to Thieves’ Hold is throwing us off.” Twilight explained.

“What’s so bad about some Ley Line?” Spike replied. “It doesn’t sound that bad.”

“Do you even know what the Ley Lines are?” Twilight asked.

“No.”

“Anypony else?”

No response was given by the others as they blankly stared back at her in confusion.

The alicorn mare sighed and explained, “The Ley Lines are large uncharitable sections of land that surround the known world. Usually seen with extreme weather and abnormal phenomenon, they’ve been regarded as impossible to go through. And for the few explorers that go into the Ley Lines, it is said that no two ponies experience the same thing, if they even come back…”

“Eep!” Fluttershy squeaked. “We should go to Thieves’ Hold then.”

“I’m with Fluttershy.” Rarity agreed. “Wherever Korsan’s going is definitely not there. He’s just trying to throw us off.”

“Wait, if Korsan sees us still going to Thieves’ Hold, then wouldn’t he know not to go there?” Applejack noted.

“You’re right.” Twilight replied. “If we’re ever going to take him, we’re going to have to play along. Who knows, the Ley Lines may give us an upper hoof for when we confront him.”

“Wait,” Rainbow then asked. “If he already knows we’re here, then why isn’t he attacking us? He’s got a giant flying ship with giant cannons.”

“I don’t know. Something doesn’t seem right. But if we’re going to get any answers, we might as well follow him.” Twilight answered.

Chapter 006: Siren Gulch

It had only a few hours after the two ships had changed course, with The Perfection leading the way, before odd occurrences had begun. A thick fog rolled in from nowhere and covered Twilight’s galleon while Korsan’s airship flies over. Deathly moans and creeks echoed from the imperceptible distance.

“What the hay…” Applejack said as the grey sheet of fog obscured her view. “Where’d this fog come from?”

“Is this Korsan’s doing?!” Rarity asked, lost in the haze.

“No,” Twilight answered at the wheel. “We’ve just entered the Central Ley Line. Brace yourselves girls, we don’t know what’s ahead.”

Rainbow Dash flew up to Twilight from behind the ship and landed with a sharp thud.

“What is this?” Dash asked in annoyance. “I can barely see two metres ahead of me and whatever I do, I can’t change it.”

“Relax Dash, this fog probably can’t be affected by pegasi like normal weather.” Twilight told her.

“Then how are we supposed to follow Korsan?” Dash then asked.

“Pinkie Pie is out on the bow. I’m going to need you to slow down our ship while Pinkie directs me with her vantage point.”

“We’ll lose Korsan at that rate.”

“His ship usually flies straight from what we’ve seen. We’ll still reach whatever destination he’s going even if he’s far ahead. More importantly, we don’t know what’s ahead and it could be very dangerous if we hit it hard before we can react.”

“…Fine.”

With a beat of her wings, Rainbow Dash took off into the air.

“Pinkie Pie!” Twilight called out.

“Yes?” A chipper voice echoed in response.

“I’m going to need you to tell me whether to turn left or right and by what angle!”

“Okey-dokey-lokey!” She said.

Twilight then turned to the others and said, “Applejack, Rarity, I’m going to need you two to each take a side of the ship, see if anything’s coming at us. Fluttershy, help Rainbow out.”

“Got it!” The three replied.

“Spike,” Twilight then said.

“Yes Twilight?” The baby dragon responded, standing right next to Twilight, much to her surprise.

“Oh! You’re here! Listen, if anything happens to me, I’ll need you to take the wheel. Got it?” Twilight asked.

“Yep,” Spike nodded confidently.

“Sharp rocks ahead!” Pinkie exclaimed. “Turn an itty-bitty-smithy bit right.”

“Okay, fifteen degrees clockwise…” Twilight said to herself.

Carefully, she used her magic to turn to wheel a very small bit, causing the entire ship to shift right.

“More sharp rocks! Turn an itsy-bitsy-smoothie left.” Pinkie then yelled.

“Thirty degrees counterclockwise…”

“Whoa!” Rarity exclaimed from the starboard. “Turn right!”

“No!” Applejack retorted. “Turn left!”

“There’s a giant rock wall on my side.” Rarity said.

“There’s also one on this side.” Applejack replied.

“Turn a kissy right.” Pinkie yelled.

“Thirty nine degrees clockwise…” Twilight muttered to herself as she turned the wheel.

Spike stuck close to Twilight as the boat swayed left to right and back again. He looked out over the railing of the upper deck, only to see more cloud. As he focused more on the white abyss, the shouting of the mares dwindled, soon replaced by something.

Something that was, supernatural.

“Hey, Twilight.” Spike spoke up.

“What? Can’t you see we’re getting into a tight ravine?” Twilight sharply spoke back.

“Do you hear that?” He asked.

“Hear what?”

“I don’t know, it’s very soft and faint… like… singing?”

“What?”

“Listen.”

Soon, Twilight also began to hear the faded sounds coming from outside the ship. The singing started to surround her. As she focused her hearing onto it more, the sounds eventually turned clear, and transformed into very calm hums and vocal enchantments.

“I do hear it, sounds… beautiful.” Twilight uttered.

Meanwhile, at the bow, Pinkie Pie was also hearing the singing. Slowly, she felt her senses dulling out, despite her efforts to keep awake.

“So pretty,” Pinkie mumbled to herself, becoming more and more entranced in the music.

With the fog starting to lift a little, a shadowy figure, surrounded in a light blue aura, could be seen ahead in Pinkie’s vision. As the ship slowly drew closer, the figure revealed itself to be a large, pink stallion standing atop a rock poking from the water.

“What are you doing out here?” Pinkie drowsily asked. “You big, strong, stallion you…”

The mysterious stallion motioned a hoof to Pinkie, becoming her to come towards him. The mare obeyed the gesture, and leaned herself over the front of the bow, puckering her lips and closing her eyes as her instincts hijacked her mind. However, a large slam suddenly erupted throughout the ship. It crashed into the large rock and pushed it under, launching Pinkie back from the tip of the bow.

“What in the world?!” Applejack hollered, having nearly lost her hoofing in the short-lived crash. “Pinkie, did something happen up there?!”

No response was given.

“Pinkie? Are you okay?” Applejack asked once more. “Rarity, how about you?”

“So dreamy…” Rarity’s voice resonated from across the deck at the port side.

“Rarity, quit your daydreaming!” Applejack commanded. “Pinkie’s not responding and this darn singing’s making me sleepy.”

“…”

“Rarity?”

Applejack started to turn her head to look at Rarity, but stopped midway upon seeing a figure with a light blue aura in the distance, hanging onto the tall stone cliff edge.

“Who’s that?”

Drawing close, the ship revealed that the darkened figure was a buff, orange stallion, standing on a rock platform low enough for the crashing waves to splash just a little onto it. Almost immediately, Applejack’s mind melted and her senses were knocked out upon seeing the stallion.

“Oh, hi there, you seem to be quite a fine looking stallion, especially around these parts.”

Gently, the new stallion motioned a hoof for her to come to him.

“If you say so…”

However, before the orange mare could walk off the side of the boat to the mysterious stranger, the ship smashed against her side of the ravine and grinded against it for a few seconds before pulling out, causing some rocks to smack into Applejack and cause her to trip back.

“Applejack? Rarity? Pinkie?” Spike, now nervous, hollered at the edge of the poop deck, looking into the thick fog ahead for his friends. “Rainbow Dash? Fluttershy? Does anypony hear me?! Twilight!”

Upon turning to Twilight, Spike was shocked at the sight of her, nearly asleep on the wheel.

“Twilight! Something’s wrong with the others! Wake up!” He shrilled.

“Just put the bacon in the pancakes,” Twilight cooed.

“What? What’s bacon? Snap out of it, this ship’s going to sink at this rate!”

The galleon then slammed into the other wall of the ravine, sending Spike and Twilight flying a short distance to the left.

“Twilight!” Spike cried.

“I can’t, you’re my cousin’s uncle’s great grandfather’s brother’s nephew twice removed…” Twilight groaned in her rested state.

“What’s gotten into you and the others?!”

Slowly, still deep in her daze, Twilight got up and slowly walked into the thick of the fog towards the bow.

“Hey!”

A sudden drop then hit as the ship fell down from a small, unseen waterfall. Spike recovered from the fall quickly and ran towards Twilight, following her to the other mares, all gathering around at the port side of the bow.

“Stop!” Spike demanded.

He looked over to where the others were drowsily staring at to see that over the side of the ship was a whole team of half-pony, half-fish creatures swimming alongside this rising waves.

Spike instantly recognized them.

“Sirens! I should’ve known!”

With the fog lifting even more, Spike soon discovered that he and his friends were in deep trouble. Now, their ship was circling around in a large whirlpool with a large, dark hole in the center.

“Twilight, Rainbow, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie, any one of you! They’re fake! They’re sirens! They’re trying to kill us. Snap out of it!”

“Give me a big hug…” Pinkie sleepily cheered as she prepared herself to jump into what she saw as a handsome stallion pool party.

Spike sprang into action, grabbing a large rope by the front mast and wrapping it around the six. Now clustered together, Spike tied the rope around them and the mast. With a mighty tug at the other end, Spike pulled the hypnotized ponies away from the edge, securing them in the middle of the deck.

“Okay, now I gotta steer this thing.”

Frantically, Spike made his way back to the wheel and grabbed it tightly with his claws. Turning the wheel carefully, he turned the ship so that it circled around the outer edge of the whirlpool and kept it in that orbit while he looked for a way out. After several loops, Spike saw that he is completely surrounded by stone walls.

All seemed lost, but one option remained.

He eventually noticed that a portion of the circular wall was slanted at a fairly low angle.

“If I remember what Twilight told me about centripetal force… if I can get the angle right, I can get this ship to go up there and out of this ravine.” Spike told himself.

However, before Spike could properly execute his escape strategy, a rumble, louder than the sirens’ singing, erupted from the black hole.

“Uh oh…”

With an ear-splitting roar, a giant, monstrous creature burst from the hole. With ten massive, twenty-metre long tentacles armoured in large scales, a tall arrowhead body covered in a shell of tangled metal and wood, and an enormous yellow eyeball, Spike watched the creature in horror reveal itself from its hiding place.

“A kraken?!”

So that’s the sirens are here, Spike thought to himself as he tightly clutched the shuddering wheel. The sirens lure in ships, that giant squid takes down the ship and all of them feed on whatever’s inside. It would be genius if it wasn’t so terrifying!

The large monster reached out a pair of large tentacles from its sides and swiped at the ship. It missed, barely nicking the rudder at the back. With Spike waiting now for the chance to escape, he realized that he’s an open target for the squid. With the sirens’ music growing even louder, even dulling out the thrashing waves, the squid attacked once more, this time striking the front mast, breaking it from the rest of the boat and sending it drifting into the center of the whirlpool.

With only the stump of it left and the six mares trying to reach the edge of the ship, the rope tied to the mast started to slide upwards, towards the jagged top of the broken pole. Panic started to develop inside the baby dragon as he watched the rope gradually climbed. Now halfway from reaching the point Spike needed to turn at, the monster attacked again with three tentacles, bluntly striking the hull with each hit.

Within a matter of moments, the ship snapped from its orbit and started to descend into the whirlpool and closer to the squid in the center.

“No!” Spike gasped, being only a quarter of a lap away from his goal.

However, an idea sparked in Spike’s head at the last moment. Grabbing the wheel tighter than ever before, Spike quickly turned the wheel so the ship is now aimed a little to the right of the beast. The galleon promptly charged forwards and right underneath the squid’s bulging eyeball. The side of the hull barely skimmed across the metal armour of the monster.

With the sirens’ song hitting its climax, the ship slammed bow first into the stone slab in front of it. The built-up force from before launched the ship upwards. It eventually landed back down onto the rock, killing tons of momentum. The large vessel grinded on the stone block below, with the dissipating kinetic energy pushing it closer and closer to the top of the wall.

Upon reaching the high top of the slanted stone slab, the ship stopped and began to teeter. Spike realized that it didn’t have enough momentum to make it all the way, as the ship soon teetered more to the back, back towards the whirlpool with the sirens and squid waiting for them.

Thinking quick, Spike rushed up the slanting ship and slammed his body into the cluster of tangled mares, throwing them all towards the bow. The extra weight immediately shifted to the front, causing the galleon to lean forward over the wall and slowly drop into the open water outside. The ship bounced back into its normal position, somehow still afloat after all of that.

The singing quickly died down as the ship slowly drifted away from the giant wall and towards the clear, causing the six ponies to quickly snap out of their drowsy states.

“What happened?” Fluttershy asked as she massages her aching head.

“Why is there a rope around us?” Rainbow Dash asked in confusion. “Did we do something last night?”

“My memories’ all fuzzy…” Applejack groaned. “But I remember something about some fog and us going into some Ley Line.”

“I was having a fantastic dream!” Rarity whined, not knowing of the truth. “I was with this dashing stallion and we were going out for a swim before something woke me up.”

“Have we entered the future?” Pinkie asked, having immediately recovered from her mind hijacking. “I knew that everything would be covered in water.”

“Spike?” Twilight grumbled, looking at him forcefully clutching her chest from his body slam. “Did you do something?”

“Yes, I mean, no, I mean, something,” Spike rapidly stammered, trying to collect his words after his near-death experience. “We were in the Central Ley Line, and then these sirens hypnotized us. You girls were anyways, but I wasn’t affected by their singing, maybe because I am a dragon. And then this giant squid in a whirlpool tried to attack us, so I had to take the boat and escape and-”

“Wait,” Pinkie interrupted him. “Did you say that a giant carnivorous squid attacked us?”

“…Yes.” Spike hesitantly answered.

“Ha! I win the bet! Pay up Fluttershy!” The pink pony roared in victory.

“Oh come on!” The yellow pegasus groaned on the other end of the cluster. “Why… why has this happened twice? It’s just as likely as us being trapped inside an alternate universe.”

“Wanna bet-”

“No, no, no, one thousand times no!”

“I hope that explains the rope,” Rainbow Dash said as she climbed out of the bind.

“Oh my gosh,” Twilight gasped as she looks around the destroyed galleon. “What even happened in there while we were out? The front mast is missing, most of the windows are shattered, the bow has a large hole in it, and most of the paint’s chipped. What will Celestia say when she sees this?”

“She’ll say, ‘Wow! What a wreck!’” Pinkie replied.

“Not helping…” Twilight quietly hissed.

“It’s fine.” Spike comforted the purple alicorn. “The important thing is that we made it out in one piece.”

“You’re right. Thanks Spike.”

“And besides, look at this in a good way. Things could’ve been a lot worse.”

Suddenly, Applejack’s voice exclaimed from behind Twilight and Spike’s sight, “Applebloom?!”

“Oh…” Spike lamented, realizing that he had tempted fate.

“Sweetie Belle?!” Rarity exclaimed as well.

“One more,” Spike commented.

“Scootaloo?!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed also.

“I just had to open my mouth…” Spike groaned.

“Looks like they made it, Korsan,”

“I knew it.”

“So, back to Thieves’ Hold?”

“Correct.”

“I just don’t get it, Korsan. Why are you so persistent about that one mare? A wench like her can be found pretty much every country. There’s even one in Thieves’ Hold that you liked.”

“Dear Cousin Isyan, we all have our preferences and standards. And I have a very selective preference and a very high standard, so only a hoofful of the finest mares in the world would suit me. As such, I have very few chances of getting on their good side. I’m not cutting any corners with this one.”

“You realize that you’re putting the crew at risk with this mare-hunt of yours, excluding the fact that your childish leadership and this goal you’ve been raving about for years has already put them in more than enough trouble.”

“Huh, you know what’s funny, Isyan?”

“What?”

“That was the same feeling I had when I let you join my crew after your little incident.”

“…”

“Please, Isyan, don’t try to challenge my authority. You know the consequences.”

“Trust me, cousin, the thought of mutiny against you is something only the most ambitious of stallions have, and you’re one of the most out of anypony I’ve known.”

Chapter 007: Stowaway Crusaders

With the three fillies, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo, now caught onboard the SS Raindrop, the seven heroes immediately escorted them into the galley, seating them side by side on one side of the table. They then sat at the other side of the table and begun the interrogation.

“What in Equestria are you doing here?!” Rarity barked at the young trio.

“Technically,” Pinkie interrupted.“ We’re outside Equestria.”

Rarity snapped, “I don’t care! Fillies, why aren’t you back at home? Sweetie Belle?”

“Well…” Sweetie hesitantly replied. “It was Scootaloo’s fault! She was the one who tempted me into sneaking onboard.”

“What?!” Scootaloo snapped back. “Don’t blame me. It was Applebloom’s idea to sneak in inside the apple crates.”

“Don’t go accusing me of anything!” Applebloom retorted. “Who do you think levitated us and herself into those crates to begin with? Sweetie Belle?”

“Hey!” Sweetie Belle sharply replies, “It was your idea.”

“All of you quit it!” Applejack angrily yelled. “As I can see it, all of you played some part in stowing away. Now what I want out of all of yous is an apology. Twilight, let’s turn this boat back home to send these babies back home.”

Scootaloo pleaded out, “Wait! We can help you! Don’t you want Applebloom, your little sister, to be happy and help you for once?”

“Oh yeah, plenty of help so far…” Applejack said, rolling her eyes. “Maybe now you can operate the cannons…”

“…Is that an option?” Scootaloo asked, her and the other fillies’ ears perking up.

“Girls,” Rainbow Dash said in an annoyed tone. “We appreciate that you want to us. But as I told you, it’s too dangerous. If you all were on deck when those sirens attacked us, you’d all probably be kraken-food by now.”

“But that was just one small incident.” Scootaloo said.

“Yeah,” Applebloom chimed in. “And besides, we were all just curious about the music and banging going on outside. You were all acting so strange, wandering around the edge of the boat, almost oblivious to everything happening around you.”

“Wait, you weren’t affected by the singing?” Spike asked.

“No,” Applebloom stated.

The three young mares then shrugged to further emphasize.

“Come one,” Sweetie Belle whined. “Let us help. We’ll stay below deck when Korsan’s around, we’ll cook, we’ll clean inside, we’ll mop the poop deck, we’ll clean your beds, anything!”

“For the last time,” Rarity furiously declared. “No! Any objections?”

“Nope,” Applejack said.

“Same here,” Rainbow said.

“Sorry, but I have to agree with Applejack and Rainbow.” Fluttershy mumbled, trying to avoid eye contact with the fillies.

“Absolutely not.” Twilight said.

“No,” Spike said.

An empty silence takes over what was supposed to be Pinkie’s statement.

“Pinkie Pie?”

The rest of the mares and Spike turned their attention to Pinkie Pie, standing in the middle of them all, staring at the fillies ever growing pupils. The pink Earth pony bit her lip in guilt as the fillies kept staring. Their pupils grew larger and they quivered their lips, attempting to persuade the older mare to give in.

“Pinkie, don’t fall for it.” Twilight warned her.

“I can’t…” Pinkie mumbled as her own eyes grew wider with theirs. “Can’t… resist… so… sad…”

Soon, the trio’s eyes began to water. A few fake sniffles added to their act.

Finally, Pinkie snapped in desperation, “I can’t say no! You can stay with us, just please, make it sto-op!”

“Oh my feathering deity,” Twilight groaned.

“Seeing Pinkie sad makes me sad…” Fluttershy whimpered. “I take back by vote. You three fillies can stay.”

“Well,” Sweetie Belle happily declared, nearly instantly snapping from her crying fit. “Looks like the votes are half and half. So, what’s it going to be? Are we just going to be sitting here?”

Twilight grumbled as she responded, “If you’re going to be with us, we have to establish some ground rules.”

“What?!” Applejack and Rarity exclaimed in unison. “We’re letting them stay?”

Twilight finished her thoughts, “Rule number one; you must always be where one of us tells you to go. So no wondering around the ship,”

“What?” Scootaloo cried out.

Twilight continued, “Rule number two, whenever we come across another pony of any sort, you must go inside and hide, regardless of whoever snapped and let you on deck, unless the situation says otherwise.”

“No pirate fighting?” Applebloom said. “Drat.”

“And final rule,” Twilight declared. “No meddling in our business. If we didn’t ask for your help, you do not help.”

“Fine,” Sweetie Belle heatedly replied.

“Any other rules one of us wants to add?” Twilight asked, turning to the others.

Pinkie replied, “No cuts, no buts, no coconuts.”

“…Okay then. Rarity? Applejack? Any problems?”

The two mares gave a short glance at each other before responding, “None. Sounds good. Now all three of you fillies stay here.”

“Good, now back to following Korsan. Where is he anyways?” Twilight said.

Far away from Twilight and her gang, Korsan’s ship flew high above the water heading towards Thieves’ Hold. At the crow’s nest on top of one of the backmost masts of the ship, leaning over the edge, a small, white mare is holding a telescope, looking over at the rival ship. It was Maria, the combatant from the night before.

“Captain,” she loudly called out to below. “You might want to hear this!”

Standing on his hind legs at the large metal steering wheel atop of the quarterdeck, Korsan was steering the ship. He immediately heard the crew member from high above and quickly drew a level from behind the wheel. He pulled it up, causing the ship to go on its own while he ran down to the main deck and towards the bottom of the tall mast. The mare speedily slid down the sides of the ladder with her hooves, reaching the waiting captain in seconds.

“What is I, Maria?” Korsan promptly asked.

“It’s our followers’ ship. There are three more ponies we didn’t see.” Maria reported.

Korsan raised an eyebrow, he was a bit surprised.

“What are they like?” He asked.

“Three fillies, one Earth pony, one pegasus, and one unicorn.”

“Anything notable about them?”

“From what I saw, the unicorn one looks to be the white mare’s sister. They’re all in the galley, Captain.”

“I see…”

Korsan took a moment and paced around the deck. Maria watched him, curious of what was going on in his mind.

“I’m going to have to play by another angle if that’s the case. Have Chopin sketch the new sea dwellers after he’s finished with the original seven.” Korsan commanded.

“Aye-aye, I’m onto it.”

“Good.”

The bipedal pirate then walked towards the doors to the galley behind him. Upon entering, he saw a yellow stallion with a long, light blue and purple mane and tail sitting at the table, staring at Maria through the windows, oblivious to the captain’s arrival. “Hans Kraus,” Surprise of his unseen presence, the crew member stumbled from his seat before quickly getting back up and saluting him.

He immediately respond, “Yes, Captain Korsan?”

“Apologies for my intrusion, but I was merely curious of what my crew’s been doing.”

“Nothing to fear,” Hans quickly replied. “Nothing out of the usual here in the galley nor the kitchen. Isn’t that right, Ivan?”

“Aye.” A gruff stallion’s voice cheerfully echoed from the kitchen next to the galley.

Korsan chuckled to himself as he saw the slightly older pirate trying to keep his secret from him before responding, “No need for such secrecy, I know.”

“You do?” The yellow stallion gasps.

“Yes, I know you two have a thing for each other.”

“I apologize for my unprofessionalism.” Hans apologized, bowing down to the captain.

“There’s no need to be sorry. I can see that you two have strong affections for each other. As long as it doesn’t interfere with your duties, I respect your relationship.” Korsan said.

“Really?” He exclaimed with joy.

“Why yes. We’re not monsters here. We treat love as it is.”

“Thank you, Captain.”

“Your welcome, Hans, I best be going now. I have to do some research in phycology.”

“Is this about the mare aboard that Equestrian ship?” Maria asked.

Korsan turned around and saw Maria, half-filled with joy. She must’ve overheard Hans and Korsan chat.

“Why yes,” Korsan answered. “It’s been discovered that she has a sister with her as well, something I didn’t anticipate.”

“I apologize for my intrusion,” Maria said. “But I heard you and Isyan talking about her a few minutes ago from below deck. You seem to be attracted to her. I’m not sure a mind-scheme will get her to like you, Captain, especially with your plans with the Diamond Eye.”

Korsan raised an eyebrow, his metallic fists clenching. Maria knew the captain didn’t like eavesdroppers, especially from his own crew.

Slowly, Korsan approached.

The mare lowered her head in shame and closed his eyes, awaiting some form of punishment from his leader for her inadvertent treason. However, she instead felt a cold claw caress her chin, as her head is being lifted back up to Korsan’s face. The pirate pegasus looked at her with a peculiar smile, neither cold nor warm, as her red pupils reveal themselves to his single, icy blue eye.

“Don’t feel ashamed,” Korsan comforted her. “Most ponies would usually disagree with my ideals. However, I have studied well enough to know what I’m doing. Everything comes down to a basic science, including magic and emotions. If harnessed properly, the world practically kneels down to you. Do you understand?”

“…Y-Yes, Captain, I do understand.” Maria replied, a bit shaken.

“Good. Now run along, both of you two.”

“Yes, Captain.” The two crew members replied before quickly marching out the door.

However, before Maria got to the halfway point out out, a pair of metal claws were then felt stroking the back of her neck.

“And for future reference, don’t eavesdrop on me when I’m talking with a crewmember privately, especially my cousin. Let’s just say that some consequences are receiving a small buff.” Korsan silently warned her.

“Aye-aye, Captain…” The mare nervously responded as she left the chamber.

Now alone in the galley, with only the cook in the adjacent kitchen with him, Korsan began to slowly pace around the room, examining each of the seats as he walked.

“Ivan Voorhees, I have a favor to ask you.” He said to the cook.

“Aye,” He promptly responded.

“Keep an eye out for Maria Vanshwitz, Hans Kraus, and Isyan Maden. If you hear anything fishy from them, report it to me.”

“Aye?”

“Let’s just say that some ponies are knowing a little too much and talking a little too much. You know the saying for such an occasion.”

“Aye…”

“Dead pony tells no tales…”

“Aye,”

“Perhaps, perhaps it is true. Idiots they are if it is.” Korsan said, responding to Ivan’s statement.

“Aye,”

“Captain!” Hans exclaimed as he burst into the room.

“What?” Korsan asked.

“We lost sights of their ship. Chopin was observing them for a while until he had to sketch, but when he looked back, they were gone. They seemed to have gone another direction.” Hans said, panting.

“Blast…” Korsan cursed beneath his breath.

“What should we do Captain?”

“Continue our course to Thieves’ Hold.”

“But what about the mare?”

“If they could survive the sirens and beast of Siren Gulch, chances are set that they’ll reach us eventually. And even if they don’t follow, I have a backup plan.”

“Are you leaving this up to fate and a backup plan?” The yellow stallion asked.

“In a scientific sense. Besides, this will give me plenty of free time to do some research.”

“I guess so.”

“Let’s just continue with our regular ways, forget that galleon.”

“If you say so. By the way, how has progress on the Diamond Eye been?”

“Dead ends so far. It turns out that it’s not two halves, but instead two separate Diamond Eyes that were called one.”

“What?”

“They don’t fit together to form one, their edges don’t meet properly. But don’t fret. Our ultimate objective will soon be reached. I just need time and focus.”

“If you say so, Captain. Oh! One last thing,”

“What?”

“Well, you didn’t hear this from me, but I’ve heard from Clara that Frankie told Maria told Phlox told Lazarus told Ivan told Lilis told Lotus told Yin told Yu told her that Butch has been considering retirement for a while now.”

“Ivan, is this true? Did Lazarus tell you that your partner cook’s been considering it?” Korsan asked, turning to the kitchen.

The cook humbly responded. “Aye.”

“Hm, very well then,” Korsan said, nonchalant.

“What are you going to do about it?” Hans asked. “The only other ponies who’ve retired were old Nitin Gale and his daughter. And let’s just say, to be blunt, they haven’t really enjoyed our company since.”

“A notable point, Hans, I congratulate you. I’ll examine Butch sometime later to come to a conclusion for the old stallion. You’re free to go.”

“Okay then, Captain.”

As the tall pony trotted out of the galley, Korsan’s eye looked back at the burly, black stallion through the serving window between the galley and the kitchen.

Ivan replied to the glance, “Aye…”

Chapter 008: Craig Y’ol Timber

Several days of blind sailing had passed since Twilight and her friends had last seen Korsan’s ship. Over time during this fruitless search, the sky had started to dull, turning more and more cloudy and gloomy. Now, a week later, with a fully cloudy sky above their heads, the nine ponies and one dragon met up at the galley to discuss the situation.

“That’s it!” Rainbow Dash said angrily. “We lost Korsan.”

“Don’t be so glum,” Applejack replied, still holding on. “We’ll find Thieves’ Hold in time. Right, Twilight? You know where we’re going directly to it.”

Twilight was hesitant to answer at first.

“Well…” Twilight slowly answered. “To be honest, I only know the general area of Thieves’ Hold.”

“And we are heading to that general direction right?” Applejack then asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Well… I don’t know.” Twilight said, a grin of shame now placed on her face.

“…Are you saying we’re lost?” Rarity asked.

“Everything looks the same!” Twilight snapped. “We’re surrounded by ocean. Despite all of my navigational gear, the ocean will still be the ocean!”

“Then why don’t we just go in one direction until we hit land?” Fluttershy suggested.

“That’s not a good idea. What if we sail into the Ley Lines again or we come across something equally as dangerous?” Twilight said.

Fluttershy replied, “Yeah, maybe we shouldn’t take the risk.”

“We’re going to have to take some risk in order to get anywhere.” Rarity retorted.

“Maybe we all just need to calm down and think about this more.” Spike suggested.

Tension begun to build in the room as thoughts of being forever lost at sea clouded the crew’s minds.

“If only some old pony with a raft came along who understood this ocean like the back of his hoof and helped us.” Pinkie said aloud.

“Now that’s just ridiculous,” Rainbow said, rolling her eyes. “Now we’ve been through a lot of weird things, but this might take the cake.”

“Uh… Dashy,” Fluttershy mumbled.

“What?” Dash asked, already ticked off by Twilight.

“I wouldn’t tempt fate.” The yellow mare calmly recommended.

“What fate? The chances of something like that happening are zilch.” Dash proclaimed, crossing her front hooves across her chest.

A subtle knocking was then heard below the mares, coming from the port side. Everypony became quiet, almost frightened by the sound.

“What’s that?” Dash asked.

“Let’s go check it out.” Applejack said. “You three fillies stay in here.”

Quickly, the six older mares and Spike charged out to the main deck and looked over the side where the knocking is coming from. To their surprise, they saw a small, wooden platform drifting next to them. It only had a few things on it, a large chest, some trash, and a small sail in the middle of the whole thing.

Looking over the raid a bit more, they saw an old Earth pony stallion, with a very desaturated green coat of fur and a very white and short mane and tail, hitting their ship with a wooden cane.

“Excuse me,” Rainbow Dash called down to the stranger. “Can we help you?”

“Darn kids,” the old stallion swore in his withered voice. “Keep your darn noise down. I’m trying to take a nap here.”

“We weren’t making all that much noise-” Dash tried to tell him, only to be interrupted by a shrewd response.

“That’s what they all say these days. Listening to that mess of racket they call music.” The stallion said.

“Are you lost, sir?” Twilight asked.

“Do I look lost?” The old pony asked.

“Uh…”

Twilight wasn’t really sure how to answer that.

“If anything,” the old pony continued his rant. “You whippersnappers are lost. What were you kids doing messing around in the Ley Lines?”

“We were following a pirate named Korsan. Have you seen him?” Twilight asked, gladly taking a lead.

“He drives this massive floating pirate ship with black sails,” Dash added. “You can’t miss it.”

“That’s a boat?” The old pony muttered. “I thought it was that Discord villain stirring up trouble.”

Fluttershy replied upon hearing the name, “Discord? You know him?”

“Everypony does, he’s bringing everything to chaos. You kids would know if your faces weren’t into all of those magazines.” The stallion said.

“How old are you even?” Dash rudely asked, having grown tired of his indirect insults.

“That’s none of your business. Rude kids…” The old pony said.

“Sorry for my friend’s disrespect,” Applejack responded. “You are right. This generation’s going to the dogs.”

“You said it! At least somepony’s wise enough around here,” The stallion said, actually sounding happy for once.

“Yep,” Applejack nodded.

“Applejack,” Twilight whispered to her. “What are you doing?”

“I’m trying to get on his good side by using some words that Granny Smith says in her sleep. He knows those Ley Lines we were in, maybe he can help us get to Thieves’ Hold.” Applejack told her.

“Now if you’ll excuse me,” the stallion spoke. “I’m going back to sleep.”

“Actually, can we use your help?” Applejack asked.

“What is it?”

“We’re trying to get to a place called Thieves’ Hold and-”

“Thieves’ Hold?!”

“Yeah, do you know where it is?”

“I do, but I’m not taking you there.”

“Why?”

“Thieves’ Hold, you will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. You kids must be cautious out here at sea. I have a bounty put on my head at that place, ten bits!”

“Just ten?” Rainbow interrupted.

“Darn kid, quit interrupting me!” The stallion hissed.

“We’re adults by the way.” The pegasus retorted.

“Not when I’m through with you.”

“What does that even mean?”

“Just watch and I’ll take my stick here and put it up-”

“Sorry,” Applejack interjected before the stallion could get into the details of his threat. “It’s a very urgent matter. We’re lost and we need your help, sir.”

“…” The old pony went silent, probably thinking.

Applejack further begged, “Please. We won’t let anything bad happen to you when we get to Thieves’ Hold.”

“…Fine. Take me up to your steering.”

“Thank you mister, uh… What’s your name?”

“Craig Y’ol Timber, just call me Craig.”

Gently, Twilight grabbed the small log raft with her telekinetic magic and lifted it over to the deck with her and the others following behind. Upon landing, Craig slowly walked off his raft with his cane in hoof and approached the girls walking up the stairs to him. As Rainbow Dash draws within a metre of him, Craig quickly struck her on the head with the end of his cane.

“Ow!” Rainbow cries out, backing away and rubbing her head after the hit. “What was that for?”

“I don’t like you lot of kids. Dying your hair all sorts of whacky and not brushing, listening to that garbage yous call music, not respecting your elders,” Craig rambled.

Rainbow Dash retorted, “First off, this is my natural mane and tail. Second, maybe I would respect you if you’d quit being an old fart that smells like-”

Before she can finish she is stuck again by the end of the stick.

“Stop it!” She yelled.

“Darn kid. Now where’s the rudder?”

“Right here, sir,” Twilight answered, walking towards the wooden steering wheel.

“That’s no rudder, that looks like some oversized toy. Where are the oars even on this thing?” Craig asked, examining the wheel.

Twilight explained, “No, this controls the rudder at the back of this ship. And we don’t need oars, it’s all wind powered.”

“You don’t say? That sounds like some newfangled technology.”

“It’s been around for centuries.”

“How do you steer it?”

“Simple, you turn it left to go left and right to go right. I’ll get this thing moving and you can point us in the right direction. Come on, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash?”

Looking back towards Craig positioning himself at the wheel, she saw Rainbow Dash blowing a raspberry behind him. However, Dash’s taunt is promptly interrupted by the old stallion grabbing his stick from the ground and bonking her head again. Not even glancing back, the stallion knew where to strike the perfect blow.

“Blasted kids…” He muttered.

“Come on Rainbow, don’t make it worse.” Twilight said.

A small growling could be heard from the blue pegasus as she flew up behind the white sails. She and the others began flapping her wings, pushing wind into the sails and moving the galleon forward. Soon, the ship was darting across the sea.

“Whoa! Slow down! We’re about to miss the turn.” Craig yelled.

“What?” Applejack asked in confusion. “Thieves’ Hold has to be a fair distance away. You have plenty of time to aim this thing straight at it.”

“We’re not going the long way.” Craig replied. “I may not be in my prime, but I still know a thing or two about speed. Also, can you hit that Rainblow Darn kid with my cane?”

“Where are you going?” Rarity worryingly asked.

“Open your eyes, we’re taking a shortcut.” Craig said.

“A what?”

The three mares on deck with Craig looked around the sails and over the bow. Before their eyes was a large whirlpool ahead of them, swirling violently. Waves began to wash over onto the deck, blasting the ponies with mist.

“You mean that spiraling vortex of death?!” Rarity asked.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve done this plenty of times.” Craig reassured her.

“Are you sure it’s safe?” Applejack nervously questioned the driver.

“Sure as that Crystal Empire garbage is nothing more than a myth.” Craig said in pride.

“Oh dear…” Spike groans.

“What? It is.” Craig said.

“Adventure is out there!” Pinkie screamed in excitement as the ship entered into the circling water.

“Hey you flying ponies up there, yous might want to hang onto something!” Craig warned.

“What?” Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy asked, oblivious to what’s going on.

However, as the galleon started to dive down to the black hole of the whirlpool, the three were able to see over the top of the sail and see the spiraling water in front of them. “What the-”

“Please keep your hooves, legs, manes, and tails inside the boat at all times!”

Frantically, the three fliers darted down to the deck and clutched onto the wooden floor as the entire ship slanted steeper and steeper. In moments, the SS Raindrop plummeted into the abyss. Inside the center of the whirlpool and below the seafloor, the large galleon plummeted into a large underground cavern.

Landing on a river facing towards the flow of water, the ship pounced forwards into the dark caverns with most of the mares and Spike onboard screaming in terror. Meanwhile the three fillies in the galley and Pinkie on the front deck are instead screaming in joy.

“What is this?!” Applejack cried in panic.

Craig swiftly explained, “Super-fast rivers that flow through an underground system carved out by erosion and pressure. Very round as well. After traveling through these throughout my years at sea, I can go anywhere in the world as I please. Duck,”

“Wha-”

A large stone spike then appeared in the darkness, poking from the wall and heading towards the orange mare. Applejack immediately ducked as it swiped over her body, shattering the edge railing at her side.

“Hm, this ship might be too big. Oh well.” Craig said dismissingly.

As the vessel continued to speedily careen through the pitch black cave, more stalagmites and stalactites were rammed into, breaking apart the galleon bit by bit.

“I regret everything!” Rainbow Dash squealed, tightly hugging Fluttershy. “I regret everything I have ever done! I should’ve never tempted fate!”

“Turn it down, ya noisy brat, I’m trying to concentrate!”

With a sudden jerk of the wheel, the boat sharply turned left, grinding its keel against the side of the unseen cavern walls as if defying gravity.

“I hope you enjoy the loopy-loops.” Craig said in advance.

“The what?!” Dash exclaimed.

With another jerk of the steering, the ship then swung over to the other side of the tube-like cave before flipping upside down and grinding against the ceiling of the cave. The ship completed the barrel roll and landed back into the raging current at the bottom.

“All I see is black and my life flashing before my eyes!” Dash exclaimed.

“Quit your crying, you pansy. Just a few more moments,” Craig said.

After a while of the ship darting around in pitch black, it is being suddenly slowed down by an unseen force.

Craig then commanded, “Almost there, hold your breath.”

Twilight was practically glued to the middle mast of the ship at this point. She looked ahead and saw a small light beaming down from ahead, an exit. As they speedily draw closer, Twilight saw that they’re fighting against the current now, and that the exit is a large waterfall, pouring down water from the above world.

How will we able to get out? Twilight rapidly thought to herself, if it’s a whirlpool that got us in here, then it’s going to be another at this point.

“Nearly there, hopefully this thing floats like my raft.” Craig said.

As the tip of the bowsprit then pieced the edge of the thick waterfall, the entire front of the vessel jerked down a small bit, but still pushed forwards. Slowly, the ship’s entire front was bathed in water. It started to lift upwards instead. With more and more of the large watercraft entering the thick column of rushing water, the more it leaned upwards towards the surface. The ponies onboard were smashed by tons of water, yet they continued to hold on with all of their might.

Eventually, the entire ship becomes enveloped in water and starts to slowly move upwards against the waterfall. The sunlit surface drew close as they climbed. The onboard crew held their breath for as long as they could whilst still holding onto the boat in any way conceivable to them.

A minute passes before the galleon finally breached the water surface, with an enormous splash in its wake. After a few rocks and teeters, the ship resumed its sailing position on the surface. The mares, Craig, and Spike promptly gasped out for air and relief from their fast-paced travel through the caves, not noticing how the cloud-covered sky had grown increasingly thicker and darker.

“Never again,” Dash whimpered, still tightly clutching onto Fluttershy.

”Heh,” Rarity giggled from the steering deck before coughing. “This maybe the first and last time I’ve seen you not want to go fast.”

“Oh, bite my flank, you were screaming your head off the entire time.” Dash retorted.

“And you weren’t?”

“Can somepony please remove Dash off of me, she’s getting heavy.” Fluttershy groaned as the large weight continued to tightly latch onto her side.

“I feel sick,” Spike moaned with his face planted into the wet deck.

“That was awesome!” Pinkie loudly cheered, making the old stallion beside her cringe.

“Let’s do it again!”

“Yeah!” The voices of the three fillies leaked out from below deck.

“No, we’re not doing it again.” Twilight stridently replied. “I need to check around and see how much damage has been done. From first glances alone, Princess Celestia’s going to be furious.”

“She won’t be if she’s still dating that mutant guard.” Craig Y’ol Timber responded, slowly descending from the wheel.

“What are you-” Applejack asked before realizing what the answer will most likely be. “Never mind. Craig, how come nopony’s ever known about that cave system other than you?”

“Meh, most ponies actively avoid the whirlpools. And those who do, well, you know the answer.” Craig replied cryptically.

Applejack nodded, “I under-”

“They die.”

“…stand…”

“Big, red, dead,”

“Well,” Twilight called out, circling around the ship in the air and examining the damage. “A snapped mast, most of our remaining sails torn, large holes in the upperparts of the hull, two thirds of our cannons gone, a missing keel, a busted rudder, the bowsprit broken halfway through, most of the paint competently gone, nearly all of the railing broken, and I don’t even want to know how much has broken inside. Thieves’ Hold better be real close.”

The old stallion pointed a hoof over in the distance.

“Behold, Thieves’ Hold. Tartarus on Earth,”

Slowly, everypony on board turned to starboard and saw Thieves’ Hold only a kilometre away from them.

Covered in a thin veil of fog, Thieves’ Hold was a large collection of tall stone stacks clustered together in a vast area of water. Small wooden buildings with faint lights could be seen elevated high above the water, built into the large rock towers, connected to each other by tiny rope bridges swaying in the cold breeze.

At each of the columns of stones’ base were a small ring of sharp rocks jutting out, ready to pierce anything that gets to close. Some rings already having several small, decrepit ships trapped inside them.

“There it is,” Twilight gasped.

“Well, I better get going, help me get this thing into the water.”

Gently, the old Earth pony grabbed his staff and hopped onto his raft, unscaved after all it has been through.

As Twilight lifted the raft and sent it back down onto the ocean, she told the old pony, “Thank you, Craig, we’ll never forget what you did for us.”

“You’re welcome.” Craig humbly replied. “Now how about a little push towards the whirlpool?”

“Yes, sir.”

With a flick of her horn, Craig’s raft immediately started to drift towards the swirling water behind the galleon. Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack, Spike, Twilight, and Rarity walked towards the railless edge of the deck and waved goodbye.

Rainbow Dash, however, flew down and hovered over the raft, rudely blowing a raspberry at Craig. She was immediately met wait a hit in the air by his can being thrown at her. Dash retreated back to the safety of her ship.

“Darn kid!” Craig’s voice echoed in the distance.

Soon, the old stallion’s raft sunk down into the black hole of the whirlwind, leaving the team to enter Thieves’ Hold as the night soon arrives.

Chapter 009: Thieves' Hold

As the galleon slowly crept into the haunting dwelling, the sounds of snapping wood from both the breaking ship, the creaking boards of buildings high above, the gently splashing waves, the rustling sails, and the rolling of thunder above in the clouds started to conjoin in a tune on their own. The onboard crew looked throughout the forest of tens, if not hundreds, of giant columns of solid stone for any sign of Korsan.

To either their fortune or misfortune, he wasn’t there.

After a fair hour of nothing but the natural music of the seemingly abandoned area, the faint sounds of ponies roaring could be heard in the distance. Gently weaving the ship around the sharp rock formations around the bottom, Twilight steered the vessel towards the cheering. Soon, she and the others discovered where to noise is coming from.

The activity came from a larger wooden building near the top of a craggy stack. A large, spiraling ramp around the tower led up from water level to a balcony just outside of the entrance. Though most of the structure appeared to be elevated over the ocean, it’s held in place by several large beams underneath it, only subtly shifting side to side with the breeze. At the bottom of the ramp was a large wooden harbour, almost fully packed with ships of all shapes, sizes, and colours.

“Looks like we got here before Korsan did. This looks like a place he would go,” Twilight mumbled to herself as she drove the ship towards the large harbour.

“Wait,” Fluttershy fearfully squeaked on the main deck. “We’re not actually going to go there. I’m already on the edge of a heart attack being here.”

“Don’t be scared, we’ll be fine.” Twilight assured her.

“Really?” Rarity asked at Twilight’s side. “We’re entering a pirate hangout, a pirate hangout. It’s going to be filled with the biggest horde of criminals of the entire ocean, not to mention how filthy it’ll be inside.”

“But inside, there may be some information that we could use to stop Korsan. We can keep ourselves hidden when we go in, not draw attention to ourselves.” Twilight said.

“I brought some raincoats!” Spike called out from the main deck. “We could use those.”

“Thanks, Spike.” Twilight said before turning to the others. “Remember girls, we’re being covert about this, so no fighting. It might help if we try to blend in and socialize with the less dangerous looking pirates.”

“Oh! I’m great at socializing!” Pinkie pridefully cheered.

“What?!” Rainbow Dash cried, “We’re going into a pirate hangout and we’re not going to get into a massive fight with them? Talk about a wasted opportunity.”

“I’ll tell our stowaways to keep in their rooms.” Applejack said. “Hopefully no pony tries to steal our ship.”

“Who would? It looks like a wreck.” Rarity replied.

“It is a wreck.” Dash corrected her.

After putting on their black raincoats, hanging the hoods tightly over their heads, the seven heroes got off of the SS Raindrop and walked down the long wooden platform to the ramp.

“Look at all of these ships,” Twilight spoke as she glanced at the various vessels anchored at the harbour.

“Why do so many of them have skulls and crossbones for their flags?” Fluttershy asked as she examines the ships to her right. “They looks so mean.”

“I think that’s the concept.” Applejack replied as she focused on a pair of massive black cannons poking from the bow of a large brig. “Look at the size at some of these cannons.”

“Looking at these ships and thinking about how they were made just makes me all the more curious about how Korsan made his.” Spike said.

“I’m not sure exactly,” Twilight replied. “But I theorize that it has to do something with the anti-magic he uses in his harness and restraining straps. I saw that his ship has the same type of solid-like fluid embedded in its hull.”

Soon, the seven reached the ramp and proceed to walk up it, avoiding the railless edge hovering over the sharp rocks below. It was a surprisingly short walk for a climb up a stone column.

“What do you think is going up there right now?” Rarity asked, fiddling with her cloak and trying to make it look sleek.

“Sounds like they're singing shanties,” Pinkie said. “I want to join them. It sounds so fun!”

“What’ll we do when Korsan arrives?” Spike asked.

“Not sure,” Twilight replied. “I’m thinking that if we act smart, we’ll be able to apprehend him without drawing to much attention to ourselves, get onboard his ship, get the Diamond Eye, and return to Equestria.”

“Hey, maybe we can take Korsan’s ship and fly it home? Think about it, I could use a new pad and his ship would be awesome.” Rainbow Dash noted.

“Get ready, we’re here.” Twilight declared.

They all reached the balcony and clustered around the small door leading in. Rarity glanced into one of the windows at both sides of the doors and saw a lot of indistinguishable activity inside, having most of it blurred by the old and stained windows.

“Are you sure we should go in there?” She nervously asked.

Twilight proudly replied, “Of course, as long as we’re together, we’ll be perfectly fine.”

As Twilight opened the creaking door, a small, green pegasus stallion in a blue sailor’s cap suddenly burst out from inside. His body flailed over the balcony before falling down into the ocean below.

“And stay out!” A mare’s voice screamed out from inside, leaving the heroes outside speechless for a moment.

“We’ll be perfectly fine.” Twilight said with a notable drop in confidence.

Upon walking into the building, the mares and Spike were immediately greeted by a sudden change in atmosphere of the room. The building turned out to be a large tavern, with tens of tables scattered around the massive, singular chamber and a serving bar on the other side of the room. A dark blue unicorn mare was attending it, cleaning mugs and filling them with a variety of beverages.

Surrounding her were a whole mass of ponies of practically every variety sitting at tables. Tall unicorns, short pegasi, fat Earth Ponies, skinny and lanky ponies with either half of a horn or only one wing, bearded, mustached, scarred, peg legged, eye patched, garbed in red and black, or completely bare save for any accessories that may have been on them, the mares and Spike are shocked from the sight of so many in one place.

Lit lanterns on every table and several on the ceiling created warm light that embodied the entire chamber. Along the left wall of the room were an assortment of tables, with groups of pirates sleeping, drinking their mugs, or counting their treasure out in the open. To the right were a vast collection billiard tables, dartboards with darks poking out of them and a couple in the wooden wall, and round and square tables made for card games and gambling loot. Pirates were gathered there with cups of cider in their hooves or magic as they played their games and tossed their money around in bets and gambles.

However, the main focus of activity that caught the group’s attention lied near the center of the room, as a tall, blue pegasus was singing on top of a table with an accordionist and a violinist playing an upbeat tune behind him and the patrons surrounding him stamping their hooves on the table in tune with the music.

As the music picked up, the finely dressed stallion began a verse,

“Now I’ve been busy at sea past now,

And with my crew of eight,

We sank a ship and took the loot,

Before they knew what hit ‘em,

Now I’m wanted in Dragmire,

But yet I’m still unknown,

Here to loot for the next mornin’,

Oh, a pirate’s life for me!”

Immediately, the surrounding patrons and the musicians enthusiastically joined in for the chorus,

“A pirate’s life for me,

Survival of the Sea:

We live to loot,

We loot to kill,

And we kill to live ‘nother day.

It is not the nicest job,

But it’s the life for me,

Cross our paths and you’ll get slashed,

Oh, a pirate’s life for me!”

After the chorus finishes, the two unicorn players continued their tune for a brief instrumental break. Soon though, the stallion sung the next verse,

“Now here’s a tale that we all know,

The Pirate of Bad Wolf Bay,

Said he’s a devil dressed like us,

And killed an entire fleet,

But if you ask me of my fears,

I’d laugh and tell you this,

That pirate’s half as good as me,

Oh, a pirate’s life for me!”

The chorus quickly followed once more,

“A pirate’s life for me,

Survival of the Sea:

We live to loot,

We loot to kill,

And we kill to live ‘nother day.

It is not the nicest job,

But it’s the life for me,

Cross our paths and you’ll get slashed,

Oh, a pirate’s life for me!”

A small uproar of laughs and chuckles swept throughout the bar. Before the stallion could start the next verse, Pinkie Pie jumped onto a nearby table, having a verse of her own. As her friends’ jaws dropped, Pinkie sung,

“I’m the mare who’s traveled abroad,

And delivers all that I got,

Should’ve heard the blast that I threw last,

Before arriving here,

With cannons blasting left and right,

All throughout the town,

No pony lasted by morning.

Oh, a pirate’s life for me!”

The entire bar immediately turned silent after Pinkie’s verse had finished, with even the musicians stopping to look at her in shock.

“Pinkie,” Twilight muttered from the doorway. “What are you doing?!”

After a second of silence, the entire crowd instantaneously roared in cheers before singing the chorus once more with Pinkie joining as well,

“A pirate’s life for me,

Survival of the Sea:

We live to loot,

We loot to kill,

And we kill to live ‘nother day.

It is not the nicest job,

But it’s the life for me,

Cross our paths and you’ll get slashed,

Oh, a pirate’s life for me!”

With the shanty finished, the patrons cheered loudly as the stallion leapt off of the table and landed onto the cold wood floor. He approached Pinkie Pie.

“I must say newcomer,” he spoke in a debonair tone. “You have some backbone. Taking on an entire town? If it’s true, either you’re mad, or you’re bluffing. Shanties are the wombs of tall tales.”

“Trust me,” Pinkie replies. “It lasted all day and night.”

The stallion pointed a hoof to Pinkie’s friends, approaching behind Pinkie, “And who are those swabs? I don’t recall seeing any of these chins before. Perhaps if yous all remove the hoods, I’d be able to recognize yous.”

“They’re my friends, and we prefer to keep our appearance secret.” Pinkie replied.

“Mind if I ask for a name? A pony of such capabilities, singing wise anyways, deserves to be credited.”

“Oh, of course, I’m Pinkie Pie.”

Pinkie outreached a hoof to the stallion. The stallion remained still, as if his mind was preoccupied to shake back. Then, out of seemingly nowhere, the blue stallion fell onto the floor, laughing manically.

“Q-qu-quite a name I say.” He sputtered.

“Thanks. What’s your name?” Pinkie asked.

Slowly, the pegasus recovered from his laughing fit and stood back up.

He replied, “It’s-”

“Cecil!” The mare at the other side of the serving table called out to the stallion in a deadpan voice.

“Thank you for your morale around here these past days. The boredom has nearly driven me mad.” She told him.

“Thank you ma’am.” The stallion named Cecil replied.

He turned back to Pinkie and said, “So, Pinkie, there it is, Cecil. Feel free to join the game with my mates.”

“Okay Cecil,” Pinkie replied. “See you later.”

As the blue stallion then turned away and walked towards the card playing tables, Twilight and the others joined their pink friend’s sides, all with their mouths in a gape.

“Pinkie,” Twilight asked. “What did you even do?”

“Well, I got about twenty party cannons, fifty cakes, and a prosthetic leg and-” Pinkie replied before being cut off by Twilight

“Not that. I mean, how did you know that would work?” Twilight asked.

“What would work? I just wanted to sing with them.”

“…Oh… Well, since you’re now friends with that guy, maybe you can get some information about Korsan.” Twilight suggested.

“Okay-dokey-lokey!”

Pinkie eagerly trotted over to where Cecil walked off to while Twilight and the others approached the serving bar. With the bar maiden quietly drying off a mug with a ragged cloth ahead of her, Twilight cleared her throat. It caught the mare’s attention, or at least an offside glance.

A bit nervous, Twilight spoke, “Excuse me, miss, but can we-”

“No pets allowed.” The server stoically interrupted her. “Sorry. No pets, no service. For good reasons,”

“I’m not a pet,” Spike clarified.

“Hm?” Quickly breaking her glance from her work, she looked over the counter to examine purple dragon with his arms crossed.

“Oh, sorry,” The bar maid apologized. “What can I do for you all?”

“I’m thirsty,” Rainbow Dash replied before Twilight could. “What do you have?”

The mare answered immediately, “Water, coffee, cider, ru-”

“Did you say cider? I’d love some!” Dash exclaimed.

“One second.”

Spontaneously snapping out of her sluggish demeanor, the young unicorn rapidly hovered a fresh wooden cup to a large barrel with a faucet attached to it. She poured out the brownish orange liquid from the barrel and into the mug.

Within a second, the cup was filled to the top and placed in front of Dash on the table. After that brief moment, the unicorn mare snapped back into her slow motion as she continued to clean the mug she had earlier.

“Wow, you work fast.” Rainbow Dash noted.

“Just to not build up your expectations. Drink at your own risk.” The mare warned.

“What are you talking about? Cider’s delicious.”

Swiping the mug with her hoof, Rainbow Dash lifted the bubbling cup to her lips and drunk the cider with a smile, only for it to rapidly turn into a scowl as Dash then whipped her head downwards and spat out the liquid.

“What the?! This isn’t cider!” She protested.

“It is around here.” The bar maid corrected Dash. “We don’t really have the best imports around here, so that’s the best we got. Unfortunately, this is the only good drinks these folks here have, so it’s only a matter of time until they practically become what they drink, stale and sluggish. You girls are lucky you got any legitimate entertainment, most of the time it’s just pirates wobbling around and getting into fights, even I’ve succumbed to the boredom. Look, those ponies that were into Cecil’s shanty are already trying to hold back their vomit. Speaking of which, pardon…”

The maid’s voice immediately turned into a shout, rife with command and anger.

“Hey! Do it outside!” She demanded at the sick patron.

“Sorry for your boredom,” Twilight replied, slightly offset by how much the mare talked. “By the way, what’s your name?”

“November Gale, and how about all of yours, unless this is going to be the only time you’ll be visiting us.” November said to her.

“I’m Twilight Sparkle, that pony who’s throwing up is Rainbow Dash, behind me is Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and the dragon’s Spike. By the way, you said ‘us’, is there somepony else that works here?”

“Just my boss in the kitchen behind me. Shucks, I’m glad that there’s somepony new I can actually talk and isn’t wiped out. Where are you all even from?” November then asked.

“We’re from Equestria.” Twilight told her.

“Equestria?!”

November Gale looked around her before leaning over the counter. Twilight and the others leaned forward as the mare whispered to them.

“Were you there when he attacked?” She silently asked.

“Who?” Twilight asked in response.

“The terror of earth, sea, and air-”

“You know him?!”

“Shhh, if my boss hears us talking about him. He’ll get real upset. He hates when I bring up our old- …Darn it, I said too much again,”

Slowly, November leaned back and returned to her work.

“Wait, maybe you can help us with something.” Twilight said.

“Sorry, I can’t help. I have this position to hold until midnight and my boss’s probably listening in on us at this moment. Go chat with whoever else is willing to talk about him.”

“Bu-… Okay,” Twilight said, a bit defeated.

“And keep it discreet. Don’t ask why.” The bar maid warned.

“Okay, thanks for your help, November.”

“Glad to.”

The team walked over to a large round table in the middle of the room and seated themselves.

“What did she mean by all of that,” Twilight whispered amongst the others. “What’s with keeping Korsan such a secret around here? What did she mean by ‘I said too much’? How did she know about Korsan’s attack on Equestria?”

“Any theories?” Spike asked.

“Well… I think that Korsan does visit this place, often for a matter of fact. And that there’s something going on, something bigger than just stealing the Diamond Eye and everypony here knows about it. We just need to find out what it is. Although November appears to be an active chatter, she seems to have caught herself from revealing what we want to know. Let’s just hope that Pinkie doesn’t get in too much trouble when she talks to that Cecil stallion about it.” Twilight said.

Chapter 010: Bar Room Dilemma

Pinkie fumbled with the five playing cards in her hooves as she sat at a small round table with three stallions sitting with her, each with cards facing away from each other.

To her left side was Cecil, a tall pegasus in a blue and white striped shirt and brown trench coat. To her right was Jarvis, a large and stout green Earth pony with an eyepatch and white iron shoulder armour on his left shoulder. Finally, across the table from the pink pony was Maurice, a small red unicorn with a black top hat and tuxedo.

“So…” The red unicorn said to his friends. “You all heard what happened between November and Ted?”

“Oh no, not November.” Cecil groaned, burying his face in the cards.

Maurice continued, “Ted thought it would be a good idea to give the mare a tap on her mark.”

“His classic opening move,” Jarvis commented.

“That was a week ago.” Maurice said. “And we haven’t seen him since.”

“That’s what he deserved. Had a long time coming to,” Cecil remarked.

“Really?” Maurice asked, lifting an ear. “I mean, yeah, Ted’s not the most moral stallion, but he still had class.”

Cecil rolled his eyes.

“What? It’s true.” Maurice said.

“Maurice does have a point,” Jarvis commented.

“Who asked you, Jarvis?” Cecil riposted.

“Don’t pick on Jarvis because he’s right.” Maurice replied with exploding pride.

“You know what, we can argue all night. For now, let’s entertain our new friend.” Cecil said.

“Gah, fine,” Maurice grumbled.

“Typical Cecil…” Jarvis muffled under his breath.

“Excuse me?” Cecil asked rather quickly.

“What? I said nothing.” Jarvis replied.

“So Pinks,” Maurice spoke to Pinkie. “You do the bets, you discard the cards you don’t want, draw new cards to replace them, and the pony with the best hoof in the end wins.”

“Got it,” She nodded.

“I’ll raise to ten bits.” Cecil said, pulling out nine bits from his pocket and tossing them in the center of the table with four other bits by the lit lantern.

“Call,” Maurice said.

He followed Cecil and added nine bits to the pot.

“Oh dear,” Jarvis said. “I only got eight on me.”

“Oh come on Jarvis,” Maurice berated him. “For the second time?”

“In two months.” Jarvis noted.

“We only go here once a month and stay a week.” Maurice immediately returned.

“Well I would’ve had more if somepony didn’t trick me into doing business near the Scorched Lands. Cecil.” The green stallion huffed, slowly turning to his pegasus pal.

“I didn’t trick you,” Cecil corrected him. “I just said it wasn’t very popular with pirates.”

“For good reason, there’s nothing there.”

“What were you even doing there for three weeks?” Maurice asked.

“You know,” Pinkie interrupted the argument, pulling out ten bits. “I can just give Jarvis one of mine.”

“Well-I-uh,” Maurice stammered, having planned an entire rant for Jarvis.

Finally, he said in defeat, “Fine, you’re too nice of a gal, and I’m too nice of a bloke. Let’s just do it.”

“Nice, my flank,” Jarvis muttered.

“You need to start taking responsibility for your own money Jarvis.” Cecil spoke.

“Funny, coming from you,” Jarvis slyly told.

“You guys seem to argue a lot,” Pinkie said “Are you all sure you’re friends?”

“Friends?” Maurice asked with a confused face as he discarded two his cards and drew two from the deck.

He explained to her, “We’re not exactly friends. We each run our own ships and loot alone and all,”

“Not really opposing rivals either,” Cecil added.

“We’re more…” Jarvis said as he switched a card.

He and the others thought for a moment.

“Rivals with benefits?” Cecil suggested. “I’m keeping my hoof.”

“Yeah-yeah,” Maurice nodded in agreement.

“I like that.” Jarvis said.

As the three stallions congratulated each other on their self-given titles, Pinkie looked at her five cards. In the warm light from the lantern in front of her, she saw that she had two Jacks, two sevens, and one eight. She discarded the eight and, to her delight, she drew a Jack.

“You others are in for it now,” Jarvis proclaimed with a grin. “I once won one of the crown jewels from the King of Camelu using these skills, so there’d be no way that you’ll beat my hoof.”

“Says the stallion that only brought eight bits,” Cecil commented with a smile, causing Maurice to snicker.

“For reasons caused by somepony,” Jarvis replied, ready to continue the previous argument.

“Whatever, I just trumped you all.” Cecil declared.

Dramatically, Cecil placed his cards onto the table.

“Three of a Kind,” he gloated.

“Drat,” Maurice groaned as he placed his down. “Two pairs,”

“Ha!”

“Pity,” Jarvis responded as he slowly set his hoof down. “I got a full house.”

“What?!” Cecil exclaimed.

“Ha!” Maurice shouted back for irony.

“That’s funny,” Pinkie said, displaying her cards. “Full house for me as well,”

“She’s got Jacks to sevens, you got tens to sevens, Jarvis!” Maurice announced.

“So does that mean I win?” Pinkie asked, slightly confused.

Jarvis quickly lied, “No-”

“Yes!” Cecil interrupted in the nick of time.

“Hooray!” Pinkie loudly cheered as she took the forty bits.

“Alright, Jarvis,” Maurice said amidst the cloaked pony’s celebration. “No more games for you.”

“Oh come on,” the stout Earth pony cried. “We’re rivals with benefits. Maybe I can have a free-be this time.”

“Here’s an idea,” Cecil suggested. “How about you bet that shoulder armour and we’ll each bet five bits? Sounds equal,”

“No-no-no, I got a better idea,” Maurice piped in, joining in on the joke. “How about you steal some bits from Grivs while he’s chugging on his cider?”

The trio of pirates, followed by Pinkie, looked over to the backmost corner of the large dining chamber to see a giant grey unicorn, with muscles bulging from his sleek black jacket, drinking a cup of cider.

On the table in the booth where the titan was seated at alone was a large pile of golden coins and a few gemstones. Maurice and Cecil immediately laughed.

“I’ll do it.” Jarvis calmly replied, causing his rivals to choke on their laughter in shock.

“Are you nuts?” Cecil whispered. “Grivs is three times bigger than you. Not to mention that he escaped prison four times after committing mass murder each time.”

“I’m not scared of him. I’m going.”

“Don’t!” Maurice yelled out in a whisper as his friend exited the table.

Jarvis slowly walked towards the hulking giant, showing no fear. Whether this was true bravery or just sheer idiocy, his friends couldn’t tell.

“He is so dead.” Cecil solemnly groaned before immediately snapping at Maurice. “And it’s all your fault!”

“My fault? You were the one getting all jokey when he ran out.” Maurice retorted.

“I wasn’t the one who suggested he’d walk up to death.” Cecil retorted back.

“At least it isn’t Korsan.”

“What does that mean? It’s like comparing a shark with a Kraken. Both are certain death no matter how you look at it.”

“Wait,” Pinkie interrupted, seeing as this was her chance to transition to the topic of Korsan. “You stallions know of Korsan?”

“Do we know of him?” Maurice said with a look of surprise. “Everypony and their mother here knows Captain Korsan. He visits this place every week. Honestly, who hasn’t seen his giant floating ship he owns, with the black flags with the little red gear symbol and all ‘that?”

“Speaking of him,” Cecil said, having mostly already forgotten of Jarvis’ departure. “Isn’t it odd that he wasn’t here last time?”

“He said he was doing some venture in Equestria, that place is fairly well militarized.” Maurice told him.

“So was Cervidas, yet he showed off some pretty nice booty when he came back at his usual time.”

“I guess, must be the memories or something.”

“Probably,” Cecil agreed.

“It’s just,” Pinkie said. “I haven’t really heard all that much talk of him around here, and I’ve heard he’s a famous character.”

“Infamous you mean.” Maurice corrected her. “The reason we don’t talk about him is because the bloke that works in the kitchen doesn’t want us to, it makes him uncomfortable and could cause him to say something wrong when Korsan comes around. That abomination of a stallion’s a psycho when he and the poor fella even look at each other.”

“His service might not be that well in good tastes.” Cecil added, “But the old stallion and his daughter work with what they can to keep us gathered here. It’s our only true home apart from our boats, so we try to keep Nitin stress free while we deal with Korsan’s weekly visits.”

“His daughter?” Pinkie asked, glancing back towards the bar maiden.

“Yep, November and Nitin share the same Gale blood, blood that Korsan’s so thirsty for.” Maurice said.

“Why’s that? They’re just workers of the bar.” Pinkie said.

“You see,” Cecil explained. “Their relationship with Korsan runs a bit deeper.”

“Cecil,” Maurice mutters to his blue pal. “Shut up. We don’t want more mouths to keep shut. Could be an agent of his, you never know.”

“Pipe down. Do you see a horn on her head? No.” Cecil told Maurice. “By what we’ve seen from Korsan plenty of times, we can trust her.”

“Your funeral mate…”

“Now, Pinkie, it all started-”

However, just before Cecil could begin, a girlish scream roared from the back corner of the room. Everypony inside looked over to see what’s going on, stopping their conversation and games. Enwrapped in a crimson aura and hovering above the wooden floor floated Jarvis. The giant grey stallion, Grivs, stood behind him, angrily huffing and puffing.

“Jarvis!” Maurice exclaimed.

“We forgot about him!” Cecil exclaimed.

“No pony touches my booty.” The gruff giant breathed as he held the green pony in his magic grip. “I’m going to enjoy breaking every bone in yer wee body.”

“Please don’t, have mercy!” Jarvis squealed as he felt his spine being pulled from the inside. “It was Maurice’s idea!”

“No!” The small red pony exclaimed. “It’s all Cecil’s fault!”

“No it wasn’t!” Cecil frantically said with sweat dripping from his shivering face.

“It don’t matter to me,” the grey stallion growled. “I’ll just break each of yous, the runt, the loud-mouth, and the baby, all at once!”

“Wait,” Maurice asked. “Which one am I?”

“Doesn’t matter when I’m finished. You three have caused more than enough trouble in my life.” Grivs declared.

Grivs’s sharp horn glowed brightly as Cecil and Maurice were quickly enveloped in their own red auras and lifted into the air.

“Jarvis, Cecil, this maybe our final moments together as rivals with benefits. Before we die to Grivs, I have one thing to say.” Maurice told his companions.

“I have something to confess as well.” Cecil replied.

“Me to,” Jarvis said.

“Okay, all together…” Cecil said.

The three stallions then shouted at once, “I cheated during our first game! …What?!”

“Wait!” Pinkie cried out, running towards the hulking giant. “Don’t hurt them!”

“And why shouldn’t I?” Grivs roared at her, releasing a small cloud of foul breath at her.

“In all honesty, I am the one responsible. I won what was going to be Jarvis’ win, causing him to run out of bits to bet with.” She confessed.

“Pinkie!” Twilight screamed out as she and the others galloped towards their friend. “Are you insane?”

“What is this?” Grivs growled. “Some game to find out which one of yous to break the most?”

“Grivs Dinklesworth!” November yelled at him, exiting the serving bar and slowly approached him.

With a menacing scowl on her face, fear washed through everypony as they looked at her, not even daring to giggle at Grivs’s last name.

The small bar maid sternly told the hulking giant, “My father and I will not tolerate you causing indiscriminate slaughter in here. Now you put those stallions down and deal with them when you’re out at sea or else.”

“…” Grivs was silent, frozen in fear.

“Do I make myself clear to you?”

“Yes ma’am.”

Slowly, Grivs set down the trio and returned to his seat, never taking his shrunken eyes off of the bar maiden’s glare.

“Now, are there any more problems that I need to take care of?” November asked, looking at the others.

“No, November.” The four stallions immediately replied in unison.

“Good.”

With the problem now taken care of, the mare turned around and headed back to her station.

“You cheated at our first game?” The rivals-with-benefits asked each other.

“Whoa,” Spike gasped, shocked at what November just did.

“Whoa is right there, mate.” Maurice replied.

“How did she do that?” Pinkie asked.

Cecil promptly answered, “She and her father are a force to be reckoned with around here. They are two of the only retirees of his crew.”

“You mean-”

Before Pinkie could finish her question, a loud knocking rattled from the door, sounding like metal bashing against weak wood.

“Him?”

The door then violently swung open. The caped bipedal appeared on the other side, showing a fearsome smile.

“Yes. Captain Korsan.” Maurice whispered.

“Hello everypony.” The captain chuckled, walking towards the serving bar.

Silence remained throughout as he drew closer and closer to November, back at her position. In the right corner of his single eye, he saw the large group of cloaked heroes alongside the rivals with benefits and Grivs, all staring at him.

“What’s going on over there?” He asked in a mischievous, yet curious tone. “Some sort of ninja cult? Though I’m more shocked to see Maurice and his friends standing next to Grivs of all ponies. By the way, how’s to going, Grivs? Healed well after our last encounter?”

Grivs released a very audible gulp from his throat.

He clutched it with a hoof, silently responding, “Yes, Captain Korsan.”

“Good.” Korsan replied before turning to November. “November Gale, how has things been? How has your father been?”

“We’ve been fine.” November said with a disgusted look on her face. “You’re late.”

“I’m sorry. I had a run-in with a few pests, which serves as a great transition for this... Chopin!” Korsan said.

Immediately, a tall and fairly stout pale stallion, wearing a beret and black and white shirt, walked into the bar. He had a pile of ten papers in his black magic. Quickly, the mime-like pony silently trotted over to a bulletin board at the left side of the room and stuck each paper onto the wall with a small dagger for each.

Twilight and her team look at the papers and saw that they had their faces printed on them.

“Ten bounties? Are three of those fillies and one of them a dragon?” November asked.

“A baby dragon, and yes. Attention patrons, I have set up a ten million bit bounty for the capture of all ten of these ponies. Each pony had a varying set of value, so if you can’t catch all of them, you can just catch the more valuable ones. The pegasi and earth ponies are 750,000 bits each, the unicorn filly and dragon are a million bits each, the alicorn is one and a half million bits, and the older white unicorn is four million bits. I want them all alive.”

“Even the older white wench?” A mare customer seated at a booth asked.

“Especially her,” Korsan declared. “I shall return in fourteen days, expecting my bounty then. You may want to search near the Central Ley Line.”

“Which are you more insane about? The ten million bit total bounty or thinking we’d risk our hides going anywhere near there?” The same mare asked.

“Are you saying that my reward is too expensive?” Korsan asked, already knowing the answer.

“No!”

“Just what I thought. Now I must be off doing a little expedition of sorts. Oh! I almost forgot,”

Quickly, Korsan reached into his cape and pulled out a small crossbow-like weapon. He aimed it towards one of the dart boards on the other side of the tavern and fired it, launching a small green metal bolt, glowing with green anti-magic, out of the barrel. It struck the bullseye and pierced the wall behind it, creating a loud striking sound that caused the onlookers to wince.

“This custom multi-fire crossbow has specially modified anti-magic iron rod projectiles keenly designed for alicorns and evasive targets. It’s a prototype weapon I’ve been working on, just thought I’d like to share it with you all.” Korsan said, twirling the weapon around his metal fingers.

“Impressive,” November replied in a deadpan tone. “Now go do whatever it is you wanted to do. Your sights already seem to be on another mare, so there’s no reason for you to be bothering me.”

“Oh, talking with you is always a delight to me.” Korsan teased.

“Imagining you crashing your ship in a joyride is always a delight to me.” November retorted.

Korsan grunted in annoyance. Before he left though, the brown pegasus fired another bolt towards the dartboard. This time, the bolt hit the first bolt on the bullseye dead-on, causing the first to peel in two like a banana.

“Adieu.”

Korsan and Chopin silently walked out of the bar and closed the door on their way out. After a moment of silence, the usual activity resumed throughout the chamber. Ponies waited a moment for Korsan to leave before storming out of the tavern and beginning their bounty hunt.

“Aww,” Rainbow Dash groaned as she looked at her picture. “They got my nose wrong.”

“That’s not what’s important,” Twilight said as she and the others viewed the papers. “What’s important is that we’re all now wanted for a massive amount of money at Thieves’ Hold, the pirate center of the entire world. If we don’t either get as far away from here as possible or find some way to remove these bounties, somepony will find out and we’ll be in huge trouble.”

“What about the Diamond Eye?” Applejack asked.

“That might have to wait. Disappear for now, go back to the ship. I’ll stay behind to see what I can do.” Twilight commanded.

Quickly, the five other mares and Spike left the bar and hurried down the ramp. Luckily, Korsan’s airship was already out of sight.

“Hey, Pinks’ friend,” Maurice called out to Twilight. “Where’s your buddy off to? We’ve only played one game.”

“She had something to take care of.” Twilight said.

“Is she going after the bounty?” He asked.

“Not sure, we’re deciding.”

“I see. See yous later, I guess.”

As Maurice turned his attention back to his fellow rivals, Twilight sighed with relief.

She thought to herself, Good, he and his buddies are oblivious at the moment. Now, how to get rid of these bounties? I can’t just remove them off the spot, they’ll notice and I’ll be busted as well as my friends. We can’t make that much of a speedy escape with our ship in ruins. What to do-

Twilight’s train of thought is abruptly cut off as a cyan aura surrounded her and launched her over and behind the serving bar. The purple alicorn’s now exposed face was met with the bar maiden’s. November had a notably distressed expression.

“November?!” Twilight exclaimed.

“Shhh, I not going to put yous up,” She immediately whispered. “I figured it was you and your crew being put up to bounty. That pet dragon was a dead giveaway. Luckily, I think only I was able to get a close enough look.”

“What are you doing?” Twilight asked.

“What does it look like? I’ve saving you and all of your friends’ hides. By the way, did you actually bring three fillies with you to Thieves’ Hold?”

“Sort of, it’s a long story. But the real question is why are you doing this?”

“I know what he’s going to do to each of you if he gets his claws on you. Korsan’s a lunatic. He’ll show no mercy to even the foals. I’m not going to let him do that. Your best bet is to get out of here now. Save yourselves.” November warned.

“Thanks for the advice, but we can’t leave, especially now.” Twilight told her.

“What?!” November silently exclaimed.

“We have to stop Korsan and get our artifact back to Equestria from his clutches. And seeing as how he’s been bothering you all, scaring even Grivs senseless, we have to help you.”

“That’s very kind, but with those bounties on your heads, you won’t be able to do much.”

“Can we get rid of them?”

“No, if Korsan found out we removed them without some form of payment, he’ll be furious, blow up the place even. And paying off the bounty is utterly impossible. Ten million bits total, how would you be able to do that in only two weeks?”

“My friends and I could work for you.”

“With what money earned? We can barely afford repairs and no pony will buy our more expensive items because they’re just as bad as everything else around here. You saw how your friend reacted to the cider. By the way, she still needs to pay.”

“Hm… How many drinks of cider would we need to sell in order to reach ten million bits?”

“Two-hundred thousand at least to pay it off, but where are you going to get enough resources to make that much cider? We don’t exactly have the best import sources. And what about selling them afterwards?”

“…I have an idea.” Twilight said with a smirk.

Author's Note

👍 Remember to add this story to Tracking and follow me for updates regarding Ultimate Equestria.

Chapter 011: Bounty Cider

It was about an hour since Twilight left the bar with her friends. November was starting to convince herself that they had just straight-up left Thieves’ Hold. However, her doubts were soon crushed by a gentle knocking on the door.

“I got this.” Jarvis said.

He exited the table where his rivals were playing their games and walked towards the door. Opening the door, the green stallion’s eyes bulged open at what he saw on the balcony.

“Uh…”

“What is it?” November asked from the counter.

“You might want to see this.” Ivan told her.

Slightly nervous, the blue mare walked out of her workspace and next to Jarvis, parting her short ice-blue mane from her eyes to get a clear look. To her surprise, Twilight, Dash, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Spike, and their three fillies, were all gathered around two massive crates, brimming over the top with fresh apples.

November and Ivan were speechless.

“What the-”

“You said you wanted resources,” Applejack said to November. “We got resources. Now where’s your kitchen?”

“Jarvis, get the wagons from the back.” November said, still dazed at what was before her.

“Yes miss,” Jarvis answered in a stupor before backing inside.

“How did you-I mean-What?” November tried to ask, but words had become lost to her.

“Always come prepared,” Applejack pridefully replied. “These are the best apples in Equestria. We got two more crates back at our boat if this isn’t enough.”

November remained awestruck, with only a tiny squee escaping her vocals.

“If this isn’t good enough for those pirates, nothing is.” Rainbow Dash declared.

“...I don’t know what to say.” November finally managed to say.

“How about, ‘you’re hired’?” Twilight suggested.

November slowly nodded as she said, “Yeah, yeah, you’re all hired. Thank you so much. You don’t know how much this means to me and my fath-boss.”

“Don’t worry, we already know who your dad is. Thank you for giving us this chance to remove the bounties.” Twilight said.

“Alright, let’s get started.” November commanded, now brimming in confidence. “Load as many apples as you can into the wagons when they arrive and I’ll take them to the kitchen.”

“Wagons, November.” Jarvis called out from behind November.

“Yes, thank you, Jarvis.”

Promptly, the dark mare stepped out of the doorway as three large rustic wheelbarrows squeezed through, one by one, by the buff Earth pony.

“Here you all go.” Jarvis said.

“Jarvis!” Maurice yelled out from inside. “What’s going on?”

“You’ll see, Maurice.” Jarvis yelled back.

“Thanks Jarvis.” Twilight said as Jarvis headed back inside to his rivals with benefits.

With the wagons now set, the ten cloaked ponies started transferring their cargo from the crates to the wagons, filling one of the carts in a minute flat.

“That’s enough.” November gleefully said.

She grabbed the filled cart with her cyan magic.

“Want me to help you with that? I could help your father make the cider even.” Applejack said.

“No thanks, he prefers that only I see him. You’re okay with that right?” November asked.

“Yeah...”

“Thanks.”

With the filled wagon in tow, November went back inside, leaving her now co-workers alone outside.

“So, Pinkie, at the ship you said they were ex-crew members of Korsan?” Twilight asked.

“That’s what Cecil told me.” Pinkie asked, balancing five apples on her nose. “Though he and his rivals with benefits said that they don’t talk about Korsan that often for November’s dad safety or something like that,”

“Rivals with benefits?” Twilight said, confused.

“Cecil, Maurice, and Jarvis,”

“Oh, those Poker ponies.”

“What if November and her dad know Korsan’s weaknesses?” Applejack asked out loud.

“We could try and ask since we’re here, now that we’re working for them.”

“Wait,” Pinkie interrupted. “We can’t ask about Korsan with Nitin, that’s November’s dad. He gets nervous for some reason. It could cause him to speak or doing something when Korsan gets back.”

“Why?” Fluttershy asked.

“The two are enemies now or something. I don’t know, Jarvis caused a stir with Grivs before Cecil could get into any detail.” Pinkie explained.

“Okay,” Twilight said as she finished filling the second cart. “So we can’t ask her father then. Maybe November, Cecil, or one of his friends will. Pinkie, maybe you can sing some more shanties with Cecil and play with more of the pirates.”

“Okey-dokey-lokey,”

“Also, how good is your game?” Twilight asked.

“I won thirty more bits from my last game with Cecil.”

“Good, that can serve as our second form of income.”

“And what are the rest of us going to do?” Dash asked.

“Dash, you and Applejack will supply the apples from our ship. Fluttershy and Rarity, you two help November with serving.” Twilight commanded. “Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo,”

“Yes?!” The three fillies asked in excitement.

“Clean the dishes, mugs, all that stuff.”

“Aww,” the trio moaned.

“Deal with it.”

“What about me, Twilight?” Spike asked, gently tugging on her wing.

“Supervise the foals,” Twilight said.

“...Fine.” Spike huffed. “And what’ll you be doing?”

“I’ll be investigating around Thieves’ Hold for anything about Korsan.”

Behind the bar counter and inside a dimly lit kitchen, November pushed the wagon of apples towards the corner of the room. Bags of various foods were stockpiled there.

An old, rustic voice spoke as the wheelbarrow was set down, “What’s this, November?”

“Fresh apples from Equestria,” November gently replied into the darkness. “We have some new workers.”

“Those bounty mares Korsan’s after, I know. I heard it all, Korsan, your chat with that one mare behind the counter. I’m not proud.” The shaded stallion told November.

“Dad, this could save our tavern. And I couldn’t let them risk being captured by him.”

“Foolish child, you don’t know the half of it. You were so young, so innocent back then. Letting them join us is just putting us all at risk for an even worse fate.”

“I know you’re scared. I am as well. But we could only imagine how scared they are.”

“More than you think. Equestria’s a kingdom where there isn’t much death, isn’t much suffering, only life and prosperity. We fear death naturally, being cutthroat pirates back then. They barely even understand it.”

“Please, Dad, don’t feel so guilty for what happened. It wasn’t our fault.”

“We supported him. We fixed his cannons. We paved the path of time that led to that day. If your mother was still alive, she’d think we’re monsters. No, I’m a monster, I dragged you into this instead of-…”

“We didn’t know. Please, you’ve sealed yourself in here for three years. It’s time you let yourself open to the outside world and stop beating yourself up. If you hang onto the past, you’ll never move forward to a better life. At least take your medicine. You’re lucky your illness isn’t contagious.”

“There is no better life. I’m just a selfish wreck that’ll never change for the short rest of my years, medicine will only make the guilt last longer. The only reason I’m still here is you, my sweet angel. I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did and end up suffering in the claws of that monster.”

“Dad, times will change for us. I promise. We just need to take that first step.”

“…Fine. Let them work. I won’t be able to do anything to stop you or them in this state, so I might as well make it easy for you.”

“Dad,”

“What?”

“I love you.”

“…I love you to.”

Patrons of the bar gathered around the serving counter as November emerged from the kitchen with a large wooden barrel, filled with fresh apple cider.

As November set the barrel in place, Rarity asked the crowd before her and November, “Which one of you rogues wants to have the first cup? Cecil?”

“Uh… Jarvis?” The blue pegasus asked, turning towards his stout Earth pony friend.

“Uh… Maurice?” Jarvis asked, redirecting the attention to his small unicorn rival.

“Wait,” Maurice squeaked. “Why me?”

“You’ve drunk more of the old cider without throwing up.” Jarvis replied

“My last mug of it was last month.” Maurice retorted.

“And Jarvis and I last did it at least two months ago.” Cecil retorted back. “You have a better tolerance.”

“Why doesn’t Jarvis take the first swig? He was the one flapping his gums about how fresh they looked.” Maurice noted.

“Please,” Fluttershy begged the ponies, slowly waving a cup already filled with the new liquid.

The contents swished around inside, right in front of the finely dressed stallion’s nose.

“Just one sip?” She asked.

“Gah, fine,” Maurice proclaimed.

Slowly, Maurice set down five bits onto the cracked countertop and took the drink in his telekinetic hold. He carefully held the cup up to his mouth and took a small sip, closing his eyes tightly.

However, as the juice flowed over his tongue, Maurice’s eyes bulged open. He started to rabidly gulp the rest down, forgetting manners on the spot.

“Is he choking?” A stallion in the surrounding crowd had asked.

“He could be just tricking us into throwing up.” Another customer called out.

“Or he just really needs a drink,” a mare replied. “Remember that one time when he went broke? He was so desperate for some water, he actually drank seawater.”

“Great glooming glops,” Maurice exclaimed, slamming the now empty cup onto the counter. “You’re not going to believe me,”

“We’re not,” Cecil stonily replies.

“This, stuff, is liquid gold. I can already feel my insides become flesh and blood again.” Maurice declared.

“Ridiculous.” Cecil said

“Try me.”

“Fine,”

Swiftly, Cecil placed five of his bits on top of Maurice’s and was immediately given a fresh cup by Rarity. As the skeptical stallion took his drink, his body did the exact same thing Maurice did, finishing by slamming the cup onto the counter as well.

Cecil gasped, “What the-”

“See?”

“Maurice isn’t lying!” Cecil announced to the others.

Immediately, the silent crowd of onlookers turned into a raving mob. Bits were flung left and right across the mob and onto the serving counter, pelting Fluttershy, Rarity, and November.

“Take it easy!” November exclaimed with a grin. “You’ll all get some in time.”

“I gotta tell me crew!” A middle-aged mare yelled out before charging out of the tavern, soon followed by several others, all off to tell their friends about the cider.

“You know,” Rarity loudly said to Fluttershy among the roars of thirst in front of them. “Despite the fact that we’re serving ferocious criminals in a rundown bar that reeks, this is kind of nice.”

“At least our only threat is the noise. Ow!” Fluttershy replied. “And bits,”

“I believe this calls for a shanty!” Cecil declared.

“Cue the music!” Pinkie screamed.

She joined her tall partner in the center of the room. In seconds, music was blaring throughout the building.

Outside the tavern, Applejack and Rainbow Dash were rapidly stacking apples into wheel barrows. They soon heard the music blasting from inside amongst gleeful roaring.

“Sounds like quite a party.” Applejack said to her partner.

“It is Pinkie Pie.” Dash casually replied.

“Hey, Rainbow Dash,” Applejack said.

“Yeah?”

“I’ve been thinking-”

Dash immediately joked, “A dangerous pastime-”

“-Whatever. Remember when Twilight talked about the attack during the gala a few days ago?”

“After she shot me down when I started talking about Daring Do? Yeah…”

“Well, remember Twilight telling us about how Korsan was insulting Celestia for having Earth ponies and pegasi for soldiers, later using his unicorn-only goons to hold them in place while they fought whatever was left of Celestia’s guards?” Applejack asked.

“What are you getting to? Korsan wasn’t fighting fair and he’s a hypocrite.”

“What if he does have a point? Maybe it’s not unfair fighting, rather it’s that you and I are at a natural disability.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Korsan’s just some nutcase with a big vocabulary. I’m pretty sure whatever he’s saying is just crazy-talk.”

“Dash, you can’t simply be oblivious to whatever he’s saying because he’s a villain. He did prove something during the gala-”

“Are we sure that you’re the stubborn one and that I’m the not-so stubborn one?” Dash asked, desperate to change the subject.

“What does that mean? Aren’t you the ignorant one and I’m the one with awareness of what’s going on?”

“Excuse me?”

“…Bah. I’m sorry for fighting. I’m probably just a little tired.”

“Same here, maybe I’m missing some piece of logic in my head and Korsan’s making sense for some reason or another.”

“After this first crate, how about we hit the hay?”

“What about the other one?”

“It’s a heavy crate. It took Twilight a moment to focus her magic enough to even lift it an inch from the floor. I don’t think anypony would be able to take it.”

“I guess, unless it were a bunch of unicorns.” Applejack thought out load.

“Grivs probably won’t mess with it.”

“Yeah,”

“Almost done,” Dash declared.

I just can’t shake it. Applejack thought to herself. I know that somewhere inside me, Korsan’s making some lick of sense.

Would you look at that? An entire mob hurling themselves around just for some apple cider, what a sight to behold. I haven’t seen such a thing in a few years. And look at my little November, that beautiful smile on her face. I can already feel myself feeling better, seeing her childlike grin. Her mother always said it could cause miracles.

Maybe November was right. Maybe we just needed to take that first step. Those workers of hers, those mares and dragon, they don’t even look like their struggling to stay alive, though the foals don’t look too entertained under the counter. But they’re just children, it’s natural for them.

This is what I wanted for her future when we left Korsan, a bright new start, filled with smiling faces, music, adventures, and happiness, every day. Perhaps I will take my medications today.

A small smile then grew on Nitin Gale’s face.

Chapter 012: Dead Pony's Tale (Part 1)

Fourteen long days had passed, with our heroes working at the tavern day and night. Every day, thousands of pirates of all varieties flocked the quint bar after hearing rumours of its legendary cider, buying at least ten mugs at per visit. It seemed like every hour, the price of the ciderwould increase.

Finally, on the day marked as Korsan’s return from his expedition, Twilight and her friends finally reached ten million bits in sales, and payed off their bounty in full. They still had tons of bits left over and decided to spend the rest of the stormy night celebrating their liberation.

Everypony in the tavern was invited for an all-night-bash. Games, songs, and various party events were right throughout the tavern that night. Cider was on the house, and everypony was downing the stuff like there was no tomorrow. As the party progressed, some of the pirates began to lose hold their cider.

“Oh come on! There’s no way she can do it.” Maurice yelled out amidst a crowd of onlookers of an event before swigging down on his drink.

“Pinkie can do it!” Cecil yelled back with a cider mug in his hoof. “I put twenty bits on it.”

“She’s standing on a table with a missing support, five metres away from the dartboard, and has only one dart. Impossible!”

“If that oddball of a pirate, Korsan, can do it twice,” Jarvis replied, his mouth half-full with special cider. “She can do it.”

“He had a mechanical claw and crossbow helping him.” Maurice clarified.

“And only one eye and two legs to stand on.” Jarvis argued.

“Here she goes!” A random patron declared.

The crowd immediately turned silent as Pinkie stood on a wobbly table. With a dart in hoof, she concentrated on her target, a dart board all the way across the room. She tossed the small brown dart with all of her might. It flew in the air for a long second. Everypony held their breath.

It smacked dead-center on the bullseye. Bystanders immediately roared out with both cheers and jeers.

“Yes!” Jarvis and Cecil exclaimed.

“Bloody bloodsucking bloodsuckers!” Maurice angrily cursed, chucking his bet of twenty-five bits to the wooden floor.

“Congratulations Pinks, you get your five percent of the pot.” Cecil told her.

“Thanks Cecil.” Pinkie replied with joy as she jumped from the table, diving into the large pile of gold bits below. “How much is it anyways?”

“Let’s see,” Jarvis muttered to himself. “Carry the seven, divide by twenty, remove the two and twenty, multiply by four, factor in Maurice’s slap to the face, add eight… That’s a hundred and one bits right and a free slap to Maurice’s face there for ya las.”

“Hooray!” Pinkie cheered.

“Wait a moment Cecil,” Maurice barked. “You tricked me!”

“I-what?” Cecil asked.

“You did,” Jarvis confirmed.

Cecil asked, “How did I-”

“You were gloating about how you were going to win.” Jarvis told him.

“Yeah,” Maurice replied. “You used some mind tricks on me. You know I can’t stand competition.”

“Hold on just a second,” Cecil retorted. “If Jarvis knew it was mind games, why didn’t he warn you?”

“Wait…” Maurice said, placing a hoof to his chin.

“He clearly wanted to get your share of the winning pot.”

“Jarvis!” Maurice exclaimed in an inebriated rage.

“Oh no you don’t!” Jarvis snapped back at Cecil, equally as smashed. “You had your share in tricking Maurice.”

“You know what, I’m tired being the pirate who doesn’t do anything. My body is back and my body is ready! Come on, put ‘em up!” Maurice declared.

Maurice then drew a cutlass from inside his tuxedo and held it at the ready.

“All right then, I’ve been itching for a good old hooffight.” Jarvis proclaimed, pulling out his wide broadsword.

A loud, soggy burp escape Ivan’s mouth as he wobbled into position.

“Let’s do this!” Cecil hollered as he pulled out a pair of daggers from his belt.

“Hey, Ivan, you compensating for something with that big sword?!” Maurice asked.

“I could ask the same thing about Cecil’s dual daggers.” Ivan retorted.

“Why was that aimed at me?” Cecil barked. “You should be insulting Maurice for using a crutch of a sword.”

“Excuse me?!” Maurice snapped.

“You heard me right.” Cecil slurred.

“You know what? I don’t need this. I only need these hooves.” Ivan declared, chucking his sword into a corner of the bar.

Cecil and Maurice blindly followed suit. Maurice nearly lost balance upon dropping his sword. The trio of rivals then engaged in a stoned hoof-fight. The rivals with benefits leapt onto their usual card table and fumble over each other, trying to fight each other.

November watched the brawl from afar, giggling at the sight of the trio of pirates tripping about. She knew they wouldn’t hurt each other that badly and just get tired. It was exactly like how it was a few years ago. After a cider-induced brawl, the three pirates would end up napping on the table, all cuddled up with each other. The next morning, they would forget they ever fought and be friends again.

Meanwhile, watching as the dartboard competition drew to a close, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity, Spike, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo clapped their hooves together. They were seated at a large, round table, covered in treats and golden bits.

“Nice work Pinkie!” Rainbow Dash hollered.

“My, that Earth pony’s got some talent,” November remarked from her serving bar next to Twilight and the gang’s table. “Though, that’s still not as amazing as all of you paying off that massive bounty. We’re back in business. My dad’s been getting a lot better and is even slipping out of his depression. Even those three stallions over there are back to their fighting ways, it sure beats their constant sluggish arguing and empty threats. At this rate, we could even renovate this place to be a luxurious café. How can we ever repay you?”

“That won’t be needed.” Twilight replied. “You’ve already done more than enough for us.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to go back to working for us? We all really enjoy your company.” November pleaded.

“As fun as it sounds, we have our own duties back home. We also still need to get the Diamond Eye back from Korsan. We could always come back here in the future to see how things are going and ship more crates of apples when those last two boxes run out.” Twilight said.

“I understand. Good luck.”

“To you as well, November. Actually, can I have a paper and inked quill?”

“Okay.”

November darted back into the kitchen to fetch the items. A glowing light escaped the room as she opened the door.

“Wow,” Applejack said. “It’s already time?”

“I was getting pretty use to this place.” Spike noted.

“As delightful as it was,” Twilight replied. “We need to remember that we have ponies waiting for us back at Equestria.”

“Besides, I think I’ve had enough of dirt-riddled pirates for a year.” Rarity said.

“Are you writing a letter to the princess?” Spike asked.

“Yep.” Twilight answered.

The paper and quill then hovered in front of her. Twilight thanked November and wrote on the paper,

Dear Princess Celestia,

I know it has been a week or two since I’ve even wrote to you, let alone seen you. But don’t worry. Things have been going well out here. The SS Raindrop is still in tip-top condition. Everypony here is healthy and happy, even the fillies. Yes, I know about them stowing away. Although we’ve had a few hiccups on our adventure, we’re getting close to getting the Diamond Eye back from Korsan. I hope things are going well back in Equestria.

Your faithful student,

Twilight Sparkle

“Here Spike,” Twilight said as she rolled up the letter into a scroll and gave it to him. “Send this to her.”

“Got it,” Spike replied, clutching the scroll tightly in his claws.

Spike blew green fire from his mouth onto the parchment, causing the letter to disappear in green mist. The letter had been delivered to Princess Celestia.

“So, got any information on Korsan last week?” Spike asked.

“No, I searched all over this place.” Twilight said. “The only thing notable was some random map of an island without any coordinates.”

As Twilight went into detail about her findings, the front door creaked open. A greyish white pegasus, garbed in a black cloak, walked into the bar. His eyes were shaded by the metal trim pulling down his hood. Passing by the other patrons, small metallic chitters sounded from under his cape.

Slowly, he walked up to the serving counter, where November greeted him while washing a mug.

“What can I do for you sir?” She asked with a smile.

He replied in an expressionless voice, “First, a drink.”

“Sure, it’s on the house tonight.”

The mare set down the mug on the counter and turned to the pair of dual doors behind her leading to the kitchen.

She pokes her head inside and yelled, “Dad, we have another one.”

The voice of her father mumbled from the other side of the wall separating the unknown pony from inside. As November began a conversation with her father at the kitchen, the stranger started to look around. He examined his grey coat of fur dripping water onto the floorboards. His mouth turned to a slight scowl, feeling the moisture mat his fur and clothing beneath.

Soon though, the dark blue mare returns with a wooden mug brimming with cider.

“Sorry for the inconvenience,” she said.

“Not a problem.”

The pegasus grabbed the cup with his hooves and took a drink. He took a small sip at first, but immediately snapped. He started chugging the entire thing down in a single go before slamming the mug onto the polished table.

“What the-what was that? That’s not what I was told the cider was around here.” The stallion gasped.

“I know,” November replied. “Until recently, the cider here was terrible, then a bunch of strangers showed up with crate loads of apples and now no pony is losing their stomachs or getting into as many brawls-”

Before the bar maiden could continue, the cloaked pony cleared his throat and interrupted her.

“Second, I need some information on a pony and his bounty.” He said, regressing to his initial stoic demeanor.

“Ah, one of those sea travelers. Who are you looking for?”

“I’m looking for…”

The stallion hesitated, looking left and right as if making sure that no pony was intentionally listening in before continuing in a whisper.

“I’m looking for… Korsan.”

Immediately upon hearing the name, the bartender backed up to the dual doors. Everypony in the bar turned deadly silent, turning towards the stallion and staring. Twilight and the others as well stop their personal activities and turned their attention to the serving bar. Even Cecil, Jarvis, and Maurice stopped their brawling mid-punch, giving a disturbed look in response.

“What?” The bounty hunter asked.

The unicorn, November, uncovered her ice blue mane from out of the front of her face and revealed her shuttering cyan eyes, trying to get a better look at the stranger as well.

“K-K-Korsan, doesn’t have a bounty, he makes them. A-An avid visitor of this place actually…” November told him.

“Well, what would be his value if I were to capture him and turn him into the authorities?” He replied.

“He’s priceless,” Maurice said. “You’d never be able to catch him alive nor dead. If he were to have heard you, let alone seen you, you’d be dead.”

“What do you mean?”

The stallion scanned the back sections of his body, only seeing his wings fumbling inside the cloak.

“…?” The stallion gave a confused shrug.

“Your wings,” Maurice said.

“My wings?” The stranger gave a brief chuckle.

He, Twilight, and her friends were unaware of the true magnitude of that detail.

“'Tis no laughing matter,” Grivs in the far back corner said. “The madpony is Tartarus-bent on killing pegasi and Earth Ponies.”

“But, if I were to capture him, dead or alive, how much would I most likely get then, if this Korsan is so deadly?”

A moment of silence washed over the entire chamber, even the wooden structure of the building itself stopped rumbling, as if stunned of from the pony’s audacity of challenging the pirate.

“It’s a long story,” November replied. “Let me get somepony to explain.”

The mare then went back into the kitchen area. Everypony stayed silent as they stared at him, undoubtedly making the situation much more awkward for him. After a minute or so of silence, the mare emerged from the kitchen and to the counter. Following her was an old, indigo, unicorn stallion, with a pink scar along the side of his neck. The old stallion gave a stern, dreary look at the pegasus as he walks to the edge of the serving bar. The entire crowd of onlookers’ jaws drop, as if they’re seeing a ghost before them.

Nitin Gale… Twilight mouthed to herself. He must have really changed after we came for him to reveal himself.

Nitin spoke, “So, you want to know about Korsan, huh?”

“His value and location is what I came for,” the shrouded stranger replied. “But if you have a story to tell me, I’m all ears.”

The old stallion gives a heavy grunt before responding, “You are not worthy to know of such a tragedy.”

“Try me, I’ve faced some of the most mentally insane and abused prisoners across every sea you know.”

November’s father stood silent for a minute, staring into the pony’s orange eyes, examining him.

“Believe me," Nitin warned. "You haven’t even seen half the oceans I have seen, not that I blame you. You are confident stallion though, fine, if you think you are ready to know, then I shall begin.”

“Go.”

The old stallion fumbled with the two long white whiskers dropping from below his nose before starting. The patrons surrounding him leaned their ears towards the counter and dedicated all of their attention to him. Twilight and her friends were especially attentive.

Nitin began, “It all started around 20 years ago, Korsan, a filly, just like you and me, was born. However, his birth wasn't the most normal. He was a pegasus, and for five generations straight, his family was nothing but unicorns. This nearly threw the entire family tree in chaos. Over the course of over a hundred years of pure unicorn blood, his family believed that unicorns were the dominant pony race, and that all others were inferior. Korsan was born of wings, so at first, everypony that was there was shocked and disgusted to see him. However, his parents decided to take him in anyways, to be raised alongside his older brother and sister.”

“So wait, some nutcase wants to kill me for being a pegasus despite him being a pegasus? Sounds a bit hypocritical,” the bounty hunter noted.

“If you were to keep quiet, I would explain.” Nitin hissed.

“Sorry…”

“Over his early years of childhood, he was bullied and teased by his brother and sister, constantly picking up his toys with their magic and even him at times, as if it was a cruel joke. They, and even sometimes including his father and mother, would constantly berate him for being a pegasus and not a unicorn, and told him to stay out of their business or any close affiliation with them in public. The family saw Korsan as a weak link in their family legacy as the best metal workers in town, considering that unicorns were practically the only race that could do the job as well as they.”

“Famous unicorn metal workers for five generations… Wait, where did he live?”

“Baltimare, some city in Equestria if I remember right,”

”Equestria… Are they the Madens?”

“Yes, they kept Korsan very well hidden from public association. But this did not stop Korsan from trying to fit in and try to impress his family at their metal foundry. He had an amazing intellect and knack for building, inventing, and exploration. With the tools he could find in the workshop while his family was away in the different part of the foundry, the young colt would built an assortment of various mechanical devices, from toys, to tools that could be efficiently operated by non-unicorns, to even puzzles and devices for his own amusement. But when he tried showing them off to his family, they quickly criticized him for merely the fact that he was a pegasus."

"Hmmm..."

"When he wasn’t at school, tinkering in his private time, or being oppressed by his family, he would play at the harbour with his friends. However, his friends didn’t last for long, as time progressed; his friends got their cutie marks, everypony except for him. He was the only pony in his generation at his school to not receive his cutie mark, and one of the few ponies that to this day, doesn’t have one. As of result, he was teased by his once friends, further scarring his already destroyed childhood.”

“Wait, did I hear that right? This highly dangerous pony that can scare a bar silent, doesn’t have his cutie mark to this day?”

The stallion immediately burst out into a small chuckle. The old stallion slammed his hooves onto the counter viciously, startling the youngster.

“This is no laughing matter!" Nitin roared. "That teasing and laughing is the very reason he’s so dangerous!”

In fear, the stranger recollected himself. Nitin collected himself as well from his fit of rage.

He then continued on in a solemn voice, “As he was persistently bullied at home and at school, the rage built up boiled to the tipping point. He often engaged in brutal fights at school, with even on some occasions, using his mechanical gadgets as weapons. This resulted in him being removed, school after school, district after district, wherever he went, his rage and lacking physical attributes always dove him deeper and deeper in trouble. At the mere age of ten, Korsan was sent to jail, the earliest known arrest in Batimare’s history.”

“Yikes…”

"And this is only the tip of the iceberg of trouble this colt would bring."

As Nitin continued with the story, the ponies in the tavern continued to listen, their attention completely overtaken. So overtaken, they were oblivious from a green light leaking through the windows and the door.

Chapter 013: Dead Pony's Tale (Part 2)

Nitin continued his story, “Korsan was bailed out by his family the next day, only to take him home and give him a sharp piece of their minds. However, what was intended to be a mere aggressive lecture from each member of his family combined, quickly escalated into an ugly sight, resulting in him receiving an eye patch the next day. He was all alone, with only his gadgets and his own thoughts to keep him company.

He no longer was accepted into any school and was banned from joining any family gathering. In retaliation to the sibling’s constant bullying and the family ideology implanted into the core of his twelve-year-old, corrupt soul, Korsan directed his intellect to become as close to a unicorn as mechanically possible. He started by inventing an anti-magic substance that would protect him from any magical attacks.”

“Wait, he invented an anti-magic substance at the age of twelve? How smart was this foal?” The bounty hunter asked.

“Very smart, very creative, very resourceful, but had very low self-esteem and a body filled with rage and hatred; he was a waste of so much potential.” Nitin said.

“So did it work?”

“Not at first. Although the anti-magic functioned right, the substance would wash off of Korsan’s body faster than water. He needed a way of keeping it on him for ages to come, a suit of sorts. However, since he didn’t have the precision of his large hooves to build a proper suit to contain the substance, he built muscle-controlled claws that would give him that precision in his work.

These claws are one of the key features the madpony has. He then went on to build a harness that would have his material flow all around his body. It was a shield in the form of clothing. After many weeks of sweat and tire, Korsan completed his claws and anti-magic harness. He displayed to his family the powers and capabilities his inventions could do, only to be discredited once more.

He knew, deep inside, that unicorns could perform magical feats no mechanical device could possibly match or come close to.”

“He invented anti-magic and claws that would allow a non-unicorn to have the same precision of handling objects as one, yet no credit to his name…” The bounty hunter said, nonchalant. “I would’ve never thought the Madens would be so nutty.”

“He claims that they are right, that unicorns are the best and no work of mind nor machinery can match them. But if you were to ask me, I would say it’s just stubborn pride.”

“…”

“Back to the story… After being rejected by his family once more, the young colt had just about enough of this abuse. He flew away from his home one day, planning on going and living in Manehattan. Over the busy streets of Baltimare, however, something abnormal happened during his flight. It was some sort of unknown light phenomenon in the sky that just came all of a sudden, like lightning or something.

It blinded Korsan and sent him tumbling down into the streets. As if it were some cruel joke, the colt was hit head-on by an armoured bank chariot immediately afterwards. He was taken to the hospital, and found out that his back was broken and would require years to heal. His wings were also broken, but unlike his back, the damage was permanent. He could not fly for the rest of his life.

His family didn’t show up at the hospital to help him after the accident. He was truly abandoned. With a broken back and wings, the only thing he had was his inventions and twisted mind. He started a life of crime. Korsan began with petty theft, simple purse snatches and pick pocketing just to get some resources.”

“How was he able to do it without being caught?”

“Instead of hasty snatch and runs, Korsan used his intellect and silver tongue to get ponies to not notice when he robbed them. Only an hour later would they notice. He used the money to buy food to get by the day and metal to build a support system that would help him to be able to walk properly again. This secondary suit would act as a mechanical toy that Korsan could control with fluid motion.

The new ensemble worked better than he expected, as he found out he could run faster, lift more weight, and react quicker to immediate situations than other ponies of his age, but these upgrades came at a cost. Over the years, his support suit has been slowly forming his spine to go upright, never letting the broken bones inside to properly heal. In the past couple of years, his front hooves have never touched the ground, for he could now simply walk and run with his hind hooves.”

“This pony just seems to get stranger and stranger.” The stallion remarked.

“And he grew even more dangerous at that. In a matter of days, his crimes escalated to grand theft and even created several hostage situations. He used his spoils to buy from the black market and created weapons, from blades, to cannons, to even explosives. This created a vicious cycle that grew too big for Korsan to keep within Baltimare. He wanted to expand.

Using his experiences of his old days playing at the harbour and the use of his latest technologies, Korsan spent a couple of years building a ship, one that could fly and was large enough to be considered a self-sustaining fortress. He worked on it for three years, never allowing himself to sleep for more than three hours nor let any injury delay his work.

Upon completing his revolutionary creation, The Perfection, he gathered up a crew of unicorns to serve as his pirate minions. They took off, thus beginning Korsan’s global campaign of pillaging and plundering any city in sight, whether it be surrounded by land, sea, or sky.”

“He built a ship… that could not only fly, but also doesn’t have to land?”

“For a long time, yes. It doesn’t even run on magic. Its structure is pumped with his anti-magic substance, lining every floorboard of the vessel. This does some, odd, science thing to happen that allows it to fly.”

Twilight was astounded by what the old stallion was saying, having never heard of such a ship, or any large structure of that matter, that was able to fly without magic. Even seeing it firsthoof with her friends several times, Twilight was still in a state of disbelief.

“Impossible…” The bounty hunter thought as well.

“It’s real, I’ve been on that ship long enough to know it top from bottom.” Nitin replied.

“You were a prisoner?”

“No…”

The old unicorn stayed silent for a while, before the stranger figured it out.

“You were a crew member.”

“I was Korsan’s first mate and my daughter was a mechanic. It was odd having to be told around by a pony that was only fifteen at the time, but as the years progressed, I came to terms with it.”

“So that’s why you know so much about him.”

“He told me everything, as if I was a father figure he never had. He’d show me nearly everything he had saw, created, or stolen with a face full of pride and glee.”

“How long did you serve under Korsan? Why did you leave? Was it the guilt of just doing nothing but crimes getting to you?” The bounty hunter, now deeply intrigued, questioned Nitin.

“Easy there lad, ask one question at a time.” Nitin said with an aging gasp.

He took a moment the process the questions asked to him before replying, “I worked for Korsan for about five years until I resigned a couple of years ago. And I didn’t just do nothing but piracy, that was only my job. While me and my crewmembers were with Korsan, his adventurous spirit would take us to new locations and see unimaginable things. I remember when he would sit out on the bow, writing down his discoveries and research throughout all the night.

There was some sort of an innocent side of him that became exposed whenever he encountered something new. He wrote many books, collected so many artifacts, and built so many machines. When I was with him on those adventures, sometimes, I would forget about our crimes and think that we were a family of sorts.

It scares me sometimes. When I remember that gleeful, almost child-like face of his, that there was a savage beast behind it, gnawing its teeth and smacking its lips for my throat.”

“So what made you and your daughter leave?”

“…” The unicorn became quiet and avoided making eye contact with the stranger or anypony of that matter.

“You don’t need to know.” The old pony said.

“But I want to,” The bounty hunter pleaded.

“No, you don’t, it would be too much for a young stallion like yourself.”

“I’m a bounty hunter; I’ve hunted down murderers and absolute maniacs. How bad could it be?”

“How bad can it be?!”

Nitin then turned and gave the stallion a strong glare. The pony’s greying eyes shrunk and his mouth soon curled into snarl, as if holding back an inner demon.

“…I might tell you what happened. But are you sure you want the story?”

The bounty hunter slowly nodded his head, unaware of the true grim that Nitin was about to tell.

The old pony leaned back against the walling, taking a deep sigh.

He muttered, “Several years ago, we were coming up to a small kingdom in the clouds, preparing to attack the main castle and get as much booty as possible. Within moments of hovering right next to the front gates, we attacked. The pegasi were no match, as we merely held them in place with our magic. We stormed the castle and came back in moments, holding as much gold, jewels, and other valuables we could.

At first glance, this was just another successful plunder. That was… until we started to leave with the mountain of loot on our ship. I noticed that Korsan was looking back at the kingdom, observing its buildings, its size, but most importantly, its citizens. He stopped the vessel and turned its port towards the kingdom.

The crew was reasonably confused of his actions at first. However, that all changed when he turned to us and gave the command. He ordered us to fire the cannons into the kingdom… and destroy it.”

The other ponies in the bar gasped. Even the bounty hunter was taken back.

“I couldn’t believe what he was ordering,” Nitin said. “We usually only used the cannons in defense or if a target was being tough. This was an act of terrorism. I, my daughter, and a few other crewmembers could not bring ourselves to do it. Most of the other pirates, the ones that were once in prison for federal crimes, didn’t mind however and followed orders.

They fired into the city, and the screams of stallions, mares, and children soon echoed back to our boat. I was scarred from the horrific scene that I saw unfold before me. Before my senses and soul, thousands of futures and innocent lives were ripped from the planet, shredded apart in violent cannon fire. I was frozen in place, unable to even touch a cannon.

Korsan approached me when he saw I was struggling and asked why I wasn’t attacking. I told him that I couldn’t bring myself to hurt masses of innocent ponies for no reason. He gave me a most terrifying response.”

“What was it?”

“’Pegasi and Earth Ponies are inferior, we must shape the world to what it should be, all unicorns, no more suffering…’”

“You mean to say,”

“Yes, the beliefs of his family had been released from the darkest pits of his mind and out into his true desires! The demonic seeds that had been sowed by fools had budded into a demon! He told me that after this, we would be searching for a way for him to become a unicorn, destroying every non-unicorn that stood in his way.

In a matter of moments, the entire kingdom began to fall down into the abyss below, bringing countless ponies down, trapped within their houses. I was terrified, for I saw a small smile on the captain’s face as he watched the kingdom fall before him…”

A slow stream of tears began to run down the stallion’s cheeks, still staring at the grey pegasus with his watery, yet stern eyes. Twilight and the others were absolutely shocked as their minds visualized the old pony’s words, trying to comprehend pure madness.

Chapter 014: Korsan's Requiem

"So then you quit?" The bounty hunter asked.

Nitin Gale was frozen at the counter. His breath was nearly non-existent. Memories of the cloud city attack flickered through his mind.

November pressed herself against the old pony, causing him to snap back to reality.

“Wah-oh, yes…” The old stallion stammered.

He told the young bounty hunter, “Korsan let me and my daughter leave with no resistance; he was surprisingly lenient on the idea of letting his crew members quit. After that, I sailed out here and built this very bar you are standing in. Korsan comes by to visit and gloat about his newest discoveries and raids every once in a while. I always kept myself in the kitchen to avoid talking to the monster.”

“He grows more and more insane each visit,” Novembers said with a taste of disgust in her voice. “Despite his appearance of being a suave, controlled pirate captain, underneath, he’s a monster that won’t hesitate to kill to get what he wants. He usually tries to get me to join his crew and be his ‘special somepony’, but I manage to keep him from advancing too much towards me.”

“Never again shall we work for Korsan. He is the deadliest, nastiest, most insane creature you will ever encounter. I suggest staying away from him at all costs, and never, ever, try to pick a fight with him.” Nitin declared.

The old pony gave a large sigh of relief before turning back into the kitchen. Small murmurs and chatter soon filled the ambience of the chamber, obviously talking about Korsan.

“That’s,” Twilight stammered. “That’s…”

“Horrible!” Dash quietly exclaimed. “Korsan’s pure evil!”

“The plot thickens.” Spike muttered.

“That monster!” Rarity said, furiously slamming her hoof onto the table.

“I feel so sorry for him,” Fluttershy said. “But I also hate him now more than ever.”

“He’s scary.” Sweetie Belle cried.

“We want to go home,” the other two fillies moaned in terror.

“We gotta stop Korsan,” Applejack proclaimed. “He is now a threat to all of Equestria.”

Pinkie was speechless.

Back at the serving counter, the bounty hunter asked November, “So, how often does he visit this place?”

“Once every week or so,” she responded, returning to her deadpan tone. “Why?”

“I just want to know how long I could stick around this place.”

“He’s expected to return this day actually, he’s set up a massive bounty ten days ago and said he would return from an expedition with the bounty ready for him.”

“Has the bounty already been captured?”

“Actually, no, the ten ponies that the bounty was pinned on paid it off. All ten million bits-”

The cloaked stallion slammed his hoof onto the wood counter, nearly slipping from his standing.

“Korsan set up a ten million bit bounty on ten ponies?! He’s actually willing to give up that much money? Where does he get this fortune?” He asked.

“I told you, he’s insane.” November replied.

Within moments, the grey pegasus leaned over the counter, almost touching November’s nose with his. November could see into the pony’s uncomfortable close eyes, she could tell what was going through his head.

“I have to capture him!” November told herself as she read the hunter’s eyes. “I am terrified of him, but I need this money. I want his money, fame, and fortune, all to myself. If I can’t have it, then I’ll die.” Surely, a lost soul I see before me…

“Where can I find Korsan now? I want what he has; I can take him down if it means becoming the richest pony in the world!” The bounty hunter proclaimed.

Behind him, in the doorframe with the door wide open, an all too familiar, sinister voice replied, “Right behind you.”

Everypony winced in shock, shrinking into their seats. The bounty hunter looked over his shoulder to see a tall, abnormal shadow, looking at him. A bolt of lightning struck down from the storm outside the bar, revealing the silhouettes of his vast crew of unicorns with the being through the foggy windows.

“Korsan…” The bounty hunter gasped.

The bipedal pegasus started to make his way across the room and up to the frightened bounty hunter, revealing himself in the light of the candles on the tables. His large black cape drooped down to the floor, its corners trailing rainwater from outside as the captain walked. Passing Twilight’s table, the ten heroes got a good look at Korsan’s backside machinery. Clutched to Korsan’s back was a giant mechanical device almost as large as its user’s torso, made completely of shifting gears and pistons.

That’s what he uses to control his body? It’s horrifying… Twilight thought.

“So, a funny thing just recently happened.” Korsan said, slowing down to further distress the grey pegasus before him.

The pirate captain was followed by two of his crew members, joining at his sides.

Korsan told them, “I was just walking into a bar when I heard the funniest joke ever. ‘Where can I find Korsan now? I want what he has; I can take him down if it means becoming the richest pony in the world!’”

The brown pegasus chuckled as he continued his walk towards his victim, with his two lackeys following his lead.

Only stopping a metre away from the bounty hunter, Korsan continued his taunt, “And you know what the best bit about that was? The pony, who said it, was a pegasus. What a laugh am I right?”

All around him, the patrons of the bar laughed nervously, fearing what he’ll do if they did not laugh.

A loud gulp can be heard from the bounty hunter.

He replied, obviously trying to sound intimidating, “So, what did you do next huh? Did you and the challenger fight? Did the challenger proved pegasi were just as good as unicorns?”

The stallion then twirled around to face his body towards Korsan, holding a combat stance.

“Oh, we did fight, more of a banter to be worded correctly, but…”

Korsan gave a side glance to the crew members to his right. The unicorn’s horn glowed and in an instant, the rival’s legs were pulled from under him. The bounty hunter’s torso slammed into the wood floor with his legs being pulled away from him, to the point of nearly being ripped off. The unsuspecting pony looked down to see that a faint red aura was surrounding his hooves.

“The results weren’t what my challenger expected.” Korsan said.

“What? Afraid to fight like a stallion? Needing your lackeys to take on just one pony?”

Another short chortle escaped from Korsan’s vocals. He kneeled down to his opponent’s eye level on the floor, giving him a look of pity of sorts.

“Oh, you poor creature, you actually think that?” Korsan asked.

In one swift gesture, Korsan stretched out his right hoof in front of the grey stallion’s face. The hunter observed in horror as the five spikes attached to Korsan’s shoe transformed into metal dragon claws.

Korsan then asked, “Did you ever have the feeling, of, a great pain?!”

His metal fingers instantly pinched the fallen pony’s nose on cue, causing a large shockwave of pain to rattle through his body.

Korsan continued, “A pain, so great,”

His claw then started to twist the nose, making the pain more unbearable. The stallion roared in pain, squirming in the grasp of an unfazed Korsan.

“But, you can’t do anything about it, making it even more painful? For over twelve years of my life, I had that pain. I was powerless against my family bullying me because they had magic and I did not. Yet I learned a valuable lesson, unicorns are superior, all they have to do is perform a tiny spell, and any non-unicorn is bent to their every will and desire. That’s why my crew and I have been the most effective pirates out there.” Korsan told him. “Got that though your head yet?”

“Then why do they listen to you if they’re all that superior.” The bounty hunter asked.

“Direction, my imbecilic rival, that’s why. Sure they have the magic, but with my help with the invention of physical anti-magic and far superior intellect, we achieve the greatest of riches. And about the whole me-being-a-pegasus part, I plan to fix that.” Korsan said.

“But how?” The bounty hunter squealed, his nose practically sideways. “The only way you can change your race is ascension, and that needs the magic of the most powerful ponies. And so what if you get a horn? It takes years of education to use magic.”

“Not true once again.” Korsan retorted. “I have studied magic all of my life, what types there are, how to use it, how to tamper with it, how to forge it into weaponry, and many other applications of it. I also have gathered a vast variety of books, old and new that go into the history of it, so it should come to no surprise that I would find another way to get what I desire.”

“What?!”

“Alicorn Island, a legendary island somewhere in uncharted waters that is said to have an artifact what will grant a pony the wings of a pegasus, the strength of an Earth Pony, and the horn of a unicorn. I’m so close to finding it as well, I just need a little more time.”

He released his victim’s nose and grabbed him by a wet purple suit hidden under his cloak. The unicorn that was holding down removed his spell, as the bounty hunter is lifted up to Korsan’s standing eye level.

“So, what do you say to that?” Korsan asked.

“I say that you’re playing cheap.” The hunter weakly retorted.

“You still want an actual fight with me? Well, I was going to kill you one way or another. At least it’s going to be fun for the both of u-… wait a minute.”

Korsan’s eye darted down. He noticed the purple silk of the stallion’s suit poking out of the black cloak.

“This silk…” Korsan whispered.

He raised his prey a little higher, pulling his face closer to the suit. The suit was beginning to tear from being stretched so much. The trapped pegasus tried to flaps his wings and escape the iron grip, but the chafing cloak and suit were too soggy from the outside storm and Korsan holding the tight silk up so high wasn’t making the situation better.

The pirate captain started to sniff the purple suit, brushing the tip of his nose over it, and creating a very awkward situation for the stallion above.

Korsan pulled back, and stated his findings, “This mulberry silk has been dyed with Tyrian Purple, a rare and expensive dye made from sea snails only native to the local waters around Saddle Arabia. The stitching of the cloth has been done with the finest precision of magic. The only ponies that would be able to wear such a luxurious piece of equipment would be royalty, bestowed by royalty, or be insanely rich. I know where you got this. This clothing was given to you by the king of Saddle Arabia as a reward for catching a very high level criminal, considering your profession is that of a bounty hunter, you would be chasing after highly dangerous ponies.”

“What?!” The bounty hunter exclaimed.

He was dumbfounded. How did Korsan figure it out?

“How did you know that I was a bounty hunter?” He asked.

Korsan replied, “It was very simple to put the pieces together. Your shadowy appearance, the way you engaged me and my ponies, the fact that you are most likely not from these local waters, and the fact that you are actually willing to fight me, it was so blatantly obvious. Hey, make you a deal, I’ll put you out of your misery and I’ll take your lovely clothing from your body. Promise not to bleed on the suit, and I’ll kill you quickly.”

Korsan laughed once more, cracking at his own joke. Half of his crew outside joined him in the cheer.

Rage swelled in the bounty hunter as the hysterical laughing continued. Furious, the stallion kicked Korsan’s exposed eye with a hind hoof. Korsan screamed in pain as the opponent was dropped from his metal grip. The grey pony sprang into action. Using an unseen weapon attached to his wings, the bounty hunter tore off the cloak and stood in stance.

He and everypony else besides Korsan looked his sides to see the weapons unveiled. Two, heavily armoured, extendable wing blades were attached tightly at the front edges of the hunter’s wings. He opened the wings wide and flapped them down, causing the sharp metal blades to extend to a meter in length.

The stallion pointed the right wing blade at the tip of Korsan’s nose as continued rubbing his eye. He was taken back a bit by how soft Korsan’s nose surprisingly was. Korsan eventually stopped rubbing his eye and looked at the blade about to strike him. He then glanced up at the bounty hunter’s face and into his orange eyes. He saw the eyes boiling with determination. His rival stares back at him, with no fear being shared between the two.

“Korsan, give up these felonious acts and come with me peacefully or I will use aggressive force.” The bounty hunter warned.

“Like you haven’t already?” The captain responded in a cynical, harsh tone. “And besides, we all know you’re simply in it for the money with perhaps some justice on the side. That’s some impressive equipment you got there though. Almost makes me wish I didn’t give those wing blades away.”

The hunter shook his head in disbelief, processing Korsan’s words.

“You made these?” He asked.

Korsan answered, “Yeah I made them. But, due to… unforeseen changes to my body; I had to sell the weapons to the black market, which is where you most likely got them from. Luckily, I always upgrade.”

Korsan then reached both of his claws behind his back and pulled out his serrated cutlasses from deep inside the large back piece of his exosuit. Their bright, green glow greatly contrasted the tavern’s dim lighting.

“You still want to fight?” Korsan asked impatiently.

Korsan spun his two swords with his claws, a blatant attempt on intimidation and a subtle attempt of antagonism. Regardless, he was ready to spill blood.

Chapter 015: Attack on Korsan

“Bring it.” Korsan declared.

The pirate captain and the bounty hunter lunged towards each other. Their blades struck in middle of the bar, and the battle began. Twilight observed the two fighting, almost rapt by Korsan’s fighting style. Every action was extremely fast and power, but kept a flare consistent with Korsan’s motif.

The metal blades struck each other in a harmonious rhythm, with every strike, lunge, parry, jab, and grind, all perfectly timed. As Korsan and the bounty hunter dueled, Korsan’s crew flooded into the bar and formed a circle around them. They were making sure the challenger isn’t going to escape.

Customers observing the brawl joined in the action. Shouts rung out among the patrons behind the crew’s backs, calling bets on when the grey pegasus is going to die. Not even Cecil, Maurice, and Jarvis were immune from the heat, as they were throwing the most bets around.

Eventually, the challenger gained the upper hoof and hit Korsan’s left cutlass at the hilt with a quick swing, launching it across the bar and hitting the bullseye on a dartboard.

“Ha!” The bounty hunter cheered.

His other wing blade and Korsan’s right sword collided together. The weapons locked together and grinded each other vigorously. Sparks showered down onto the wet floor, illuminating the fighters’ faces. The bounty hunter then swung his free wing once more, aiming for Korsan’s side.

Just as it was about to slice, it stopped. A loud metal clang echoed from the blade and through the building, bringing a wave a silence to the area. The hunter looked down to see Korsan’s unarmed metal fist, grabbing hold of the wing. The trapped pegasus immediately shook it side to side, but Korsan wouldn’t let go.

“Impressive.” Korsan said.

The grey stallion’s gaze returned back to his rival, who had the most mischievous grin plastered on his face.

“Though, another design flaw I’ve noticed is that, pegasi weapons…” Korsan said.

Before finishing his statement, Korsan pulled the wing blade to him. His rival’s entire body was launched into the air with Korsan. Everypony watched in awe as Korsan performed three sideways twirls in midair with the opponent still in his clutches before landing. The bounty hunter’s body smashed into an empty table.

With apple cider from the table pouring on his face, the bounty hunter was frozen stiff as pain rippled throughout his veins. All the defeated pony could do was to pant and wheeze, frozen in shock of whatever maneuver Korsan had just pulled. His eyes looked to his right to see Korsan kneeling next to his paralyzed body, still clutching onto the wing.

Korsan finished his previous statement, “…They tend to be a bit clingy, don’t you agree?”

The bounty hunter stuttered, “K-K-K-K-ma-ka-ko-”

“Don’t strain yourself, it’ll all be over in a minute.” Korsan assured him.

The pirate let go of the wing blade, only to grab the collar of the vest once again. He then raised his prey up into the air with one claw and his sword in another.

Korsan announced to the attendants present, “Behold! This is what happens when you try to mess with me! Any Earth pony or pegasi that gets in my way will not live to see the next day, so you all better watch yourselves. Am I clear?”

The room remained quiet, as all of the patrons were still shocked silent of the battle.

“I said, am I clear?!” Korsan barked.

“Y-Yes.” They all nervously responded.

“Good.”

Korsan’s glare turned to the barmaid. He slowly walked to her with his fallen rival in tow.

“Hey, November Gale, open for the weekend? My ice phoenix Juliana has learned a new trick I would like to show you.” Korsan said in pride.

“Go away Korsan,” she sternly replied. “You’ve already caused enough damage to this place. I don’t want your parrot to freeze this place.”

“Come on, November, you know you can’t resist a pony like me.” Korsan gloated.

“Yes, I can, and if you’re going to be causing any bloodshed, do it outside.”

“Fine. If you’ll excuse me, I have some business to attend to.”

With that said, Korsan carried the bounty hunter through the open door and into the rainstorm, having grown even more severe over the past hour. As the wooden door slowly swung close, Twilight and the others caught a glimpse of Korsan’s ship parked right outside the bar. Faint mumbles were heard amongst the rain through the walls of the tavern.

Slowly, the patrons inside that are wearing hats took them off and held them up to their chest. The other patrons followed by simply clutching their chests. Korsan’s crew, however, roared and cheered as they seated themselves at any empty seats they can find.

Twilight and the gang looked back at November to see her clutching her chest as well.

“Poor soul,” November uttered below her breathe.

The mumbling noises outside stopped abruptly with an audible clunk sound.

“Poor, poor, soul,” November silently cried.

“Did he just,” Twilight asks, her face rapidly turns pale.

“Yes... I feel so ashamed just for even being associated with him. You’ve paid off your bounty. Get out of here now while you still have the chance.”

“I’m going to pass out!” Fluttershy quietly exclaimed, her stomach growing queasy.

“I’m gonna puke.” Pinkie and Spike groaned.

“That atrocity to all pony-kind!” Rarity hollered.

“We want to go home now!” The three fillies cried out in fear.

“That’s it,” Applejack declared. “I’m drawing the line here, somepony’s gotta stop him.”

“Yeah!” Rainbow Dash agreed, smacking her hooves together.

“Don’t!” November snapped. “You saw what he did. Not even a seasoned bounty hunter could stop him. He could kill all of you!”

“Not if we work together.” Dash said.

“Even if the entire bar joined in, Korsan and his crew will just kill us all. I don’t want to let you all get sliced up into tiny pieces by him. Get out!” November demanded, stamping a hoof into the floor.

“We ain’t leaving.” Applejack snapped back, “Us friends are going to stick together and take on any weather he throws at us.”

The front door then was thrown open, as Korsan returned into the tavern with Chopin, the mine, trailing behind. The white unicorn stallion was levitating the Diamond Eye and its counterpart behind him.

“The Diamond Eye!” Twilight silently exclaims. “And its other half! They’re here!”

“Just put the Diamond Eyes on that table,” Korsan told to his mime accomplish, pointing at a large round table right beside Twilight’s. “I have some things to sort out.”

“Two Diamond Eyes?” Twilight asked herself.

While Chopin set down the two large crystals on top of each other, his captain walked over to the dartboard where his sword got stuck. He yanked it out and returned it back behind his back with the other sword.

“If you can get the jump on them, we might be able to snatch the Diamond Eye and get out of here.” Twilight whispered to Rainbow Dash.

“In our wreck of a ship?” Rainbow replied. “And we aren’t fleeing, we’re going to stop Korsan.”

“His fighting technique was perfect against a veteran bounty hunter armed with his own technology. November’s served Korsan for quite some time, she probably knows we can’t win.”

As Twilight and the others watching quietly argued, Korsan walked away from the dartboards and billiard tables and approached the serving counter.

“November Gale,” the pirate pegasus said to her. “I assume that at least one of my bounties have been caught by now.”

“I’m sorry, but they paid off the bounty, all ten million bits.” November retorted in spite.

“They what?! Impossible!” Korsan exclaimed.

“A messenger brought us the money from an anonymous source. If you don’t believe me, look at what Grivs is guarding back there.”

Korsan’s single eye rapidly switched to the back of the room and saw the giant grey unicorn sitting next a massive crate with golden bits visibly seen brimming the top. He examined the wood, noticing a familiar look and scent in the planks.

“Northwestern Equestrian Oak, it is them.” Korsan hissed.

“Well, now that that’s been taken care of, how about you leave?” November rudely asked.

“Ha, ha, ha, I have some business I want to attend to, regarding your father.”

Slowly, the brown stallion reached behind his back and caressed the metal hilts of his swords.

Korsan told her, “I want to have a wo-”

“Captain Korsan!” Maria called out to him from Chopin’s table.

“What?!” Korsan barked back.

“You might want to check this out.” Maria said.

Now annoyed, Korsan stomped away from the serving counter and met up with Maria and Chopin, both carefully observing the Diamond Eyes stacked on top of each other.

“What is it?” Korsan asked.

“Well, while you were preoccupied, Chopin was organizing the Diamond Eyes and made an interesting discovery. The two parts fit together not by their edges, but by their faces.”

“Demonstrate.”

Quickly, Chopin levitated the top crystal and motioned his hooves over the bulges underneath. He then motioned his hooves over the grooves on top of the lower Diamond Eye before putting the two together, with the bulges fitting inside the grooves and making a single Diamond Eye.

“Impressive, they do go together. But why like this? Not all of the grooves have been filled. Yet, nothing seems to be missing. It’s like those grooves were made to be like that.” Korsan stated.

Taking advantage of the moment, Twilight slid out of her seat and snuck up behind the captain. She was terrified, but knew this may be her only chance to get a good look at the Diamond Eyes. Peering over his shoulder, Twilight examined the crystals, trying to figure out what was going on.

“These symbols still don’t correlate with any of my studies on that blasted island. What am I missing? Another piece perhaps?” Korsan asked his crew.

“Could very well be, Captain.” Maria said.

Carefully, Korsan grabbed the two pieces together and lifted. The faces of the crystals faced Twilight and the lantern at the center of the table, inadvertently causing the light from the fire to magnify and refract through the crystals. Refracted light blasted in Twilight’s eyes, temporarily blinding her. Quickly, the purple alicorn hovered up in the air and recovered her vision.

Korsan, unaware of what happened, continued to ask himself questions, “Where would it be though? In the middle of Eternity’s Crossing? No. Under Vaporia? No. Lost in the Ley Lines? No, no, no, it would’ve never gotten to any of those places. Based on records and my studies, there shouldn’t even be a third part. So what am I not seeing? Maria, Chopin, Have you tried swapping the top and bottom?”

“Yes, but they don’t fit Captain.”

“Blast…”

“Careful, you might blind yourself with that reflected light.”

“You’re right.”

Immediately, a memory flickered in Twilight’s mind.

Wait, Twilight thought to herself. At the gala, when Luna’s moonbeams hit the Diamond Eye, symbols appeared on the wall because of the light. What if the second eye…

With a snap of the neck, Twilight looked behind where she was hovering and saw a line of symbols made of light glowing on the wall.

What if the second eye is a filter to condense the reflections into one image?! Twilight internally exclaimed.

“Bah,” Korsan groaned. “I may have to look at this later. I have some business to take care of. Maybe another minute of looking,”

Time had become sparse. Twilight had to gain as much of a lead ahead of Korsan as she can.

Now filled with a sense of urgency, Twilight hastily scanned the image top to bottom in her mind, memorizing every symbol and their position. Upon finishing, Twilight looked back over Korsan’s shoulder. After what Korsan had just done, Twilight decided to rub in her victory by blowing a silent raspberry.

Unbeknownst to her, Twilight raspberry released a scent from her body, permeating the air between her and Korsan.

Wait a minute. Korsan contemplated to himself as the scent wafted into his nose. Northwestern Equestrian Oak.

Within half a second, the pirate captain snapped his focus to the outer part of the combined Diamond Eyes. He saw a blurry, purple reflection. Korsan drops the crystals immediately, leapt from his position, and swiped his hoof to where he saw the blur. His claws snapped and slashed, only to swat at nothing.

“Where did she-” Korsan said to himself.

“Is there a problem?” Maria asked.

Korsan remained silent, dumbfounded at what had happened.

“…None, I think it’s time that I finish my business.” Korsan said to his crewmember.

Korsan walked back up to the serving counter, oblivious to Twilight hiding under his table. Carefully, the cloaked alicorn crawled her way back to her seat. She and the others listened in on Korsan as he engaged with November.

“You again,” November groaned upon seeing him. “You don’t have any more business with me and my father anymore.”

“Oh really?” Korsan asked with a grin, resetting his clawed hooves over his swords. “Because I’ve heard he’s been doing a bit of talking recently, making a little stain upon my mark.”

November bent her head down, defeated.

“That bounty hunter told you, didn’t he?” She asked.

“Sang like a canary, he did. Now, I don’t want to cause anymore killing sprees, I want to save those for when my image has been affiliated with being a unicorn. However, if somepony wants to keep talking about my inferior self, I going to have to take action. May you please get your father out here?” Korsan demanded.

“No. Go away.”

“I’m not asking a question, I’m issuing a command. Get Nitin Gale, out here, now.”

“No!”

“Get him out here now!”

“Never!”

“I will climb over this counter and get him myself!”

“Stay back!” November screamed, revealing a small dagger from underneath the counter.

She held it up to Korsan’s chin and poked at his flesh. Korsan retaliated by grabbing November by the neck with one hoof and tossing her aside, causing her to smack onto the side of the counter. A pain-riddled gasp escaped from the mare.

“Time we meet again old mate!” Korsan screamed Nitin on the other side of the kitchen doors.

As Korsan climbed over the counter, Twilight jumped into action and swung her wooden chair at him, smashing it against his back. Roaring in shock and pain, Korsan hastily grabs one of his swords and swiped it behind him. Although the blade missed Twilight, the gush of wind caused by the speed of the swing blew off the hood of the mare’s cloak. As Korsan turned around to fight, Twilight had been revealed right before him.

Korsan exclaimed, “Twilight Sparkle!”

Chapter 016: Rarity's Capture

As the two rivals stood face to face in the light of the tavern, fury and adrenaline pulsed through Twilight and Korsan. Korsan quickly drew his second sword from his back and charged towards the purple pony. Twilight picked up the broken remains of her chair and slung the pieces at him. Korsan diced the bits into smaller pegs of wood that merely bounce off of his metal suit before lunging at Twilight. Just as one of his outstretched blades touches one of Twilight’s hair however, an orange hoof appeared from beyond his sight and smacked the pirate in the cheek, launching him onto Maurice and his gang’s table.

“Don’t just stand there you bunch of coves!” Korsan barked, sliding off on the. “Get Twilight and her hooded goons!”

“Okay girls!” Twilight announced as her friends rose from their seats. “Time we show Korsan the true power of a team!”

Immediately, the entire bar fell under chaos as the two crews clashed in a classic barroom brawl.

Rainbow Dash soared underneath the tables and the hooves of Korsan’s crew, distracting most of them.

“I got this one!” Maria Vanshwitz declared to the others as she approached Fluttershy.

While Fluttershy was distracted by three stallions running at her, Maria snuck up behind. The white unicorn pulled a dagger and aimed for her target. However, just before she attacked, another small dagger soared into the mare’s mane, snagging it and pinning her to the nearby wall.

Maria looked over to the counter to see it was November that threw the weapon at her.

“November Gale…” She hissed.

“Maria Vanshwitz…” November hissed back.

Maria pulled out the dagger from the wall with her magic. Several stands of her red mane fell to the floor. Maria then tossed the dagger back at November and immediately charged at her. She armed herself with a second dagger from a brown belt around her waist. November ducked and her blade stabbed into the wall behind. She grabbed it and she and Maria engaged in a blade fight.

“Applebloom!” Applejack called out as a giant stallion pirate, armed with axes, ran at her and the fillies.

“I don’t want you and the others to see this.” Applejack warned her.

Listening to her older sister, Applebloom led her two filly friends under the table before a very audible snapping sound was heard from where Applejack was, followed by an even louder crunching noise. A faint whimper concludes the quick bout.

“Y’all can look now.”

Looking back, the three fillies saw Applejack triumphantly standing on top of the large stallion, now writhing in pain on the floor.

“What are you lily-livered morons doing?” Korsan screamed at his crew as he and Twilight fought in the center. “Use your magic!”

“Slightly preoccupied here!” Maria snapped as she and November were in a blade.

A small pirate stallion followed Rainbow Dash as she swoops under a large round table. With a grin on his face, the bandit quickly lifted the table to the ceiling. The table’s legs smashed on impact, crushing anything below it. The pirate whooped with joy, only to be struck by a buck in the face by Dash. The table then fell and Dash grabbed it in midair.

She swung the heavy disc over to where three pirates had surrounding Pinkie Pie. The table instantly took them out, launching them across the room, through one of the windows, and out into the icy water below with the broken window.

“Oh yeah! Score!” Rainbow Dash bragged. However, the cyan pony’s jubilee is cut short by a deep blue aura enveloping her midair, holding her in place.

“Hey!” She exclaimed.

From behind Rainbow Dash, a small pink unicorn with an eyepatch over her right eye walks around to the front of her prisoner with a smirk on her face.

“Let me go!” She demanded.

Soon, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Spike, Applebloom, and Scootaloo, were grabbed by the pirates’ telekinesis and are lifted next to Dash. Their captors cackled in victory as they reveal themselves in front of Dash and the others.

“You no-good cheatin’ pirates,” Applejack snapped at the seven unicorns holding her and her friends prisoner. “Let us go, or else-”

“Or else what?” The small unicorn pirate taunted back.

“I... Got somethin’! You won’t like it!” Applejack warned the tiny pony.

“Ha! What’s an Earth pony like you going to do to me?” The pirate mare retorted. “You’re no match for even me!”

Meanwhile, in the center of the bar, Twilight and Korsan continued fighting each other viciously. Twilight ducked her head from Korsan swinging his swords above her. Twilight aimed her horn quickly and fired a magic bolt. Korsan leapt over the shot and Twilight, preparing a downward swing. While he remained in midair, Twilight fires three more bolts of magic at him. The pirate pegasus deflected them with his swords before landing behind Twilight.

He crossed his blades in front of his chest as Twilight attempts to buck him. Her hooves and Korsan’s blades smashed together with such violent force, it forced the two away from each other and launched Korsan’s swords off of his hooves.

Being pushed forward to a billiard table, Twilight saw the pool balls in front of her and grabs them with her magic. Korsan recovered from the knockback and reached into his cape, drawing out his crossbow. Twilight immediately threw the pool balls at Korsan, aiming for the head. With perfect accuracy, Korsan fired his weapon at the balls, causing them to drop to the floor one by one, each with a large metal bolt piercing them.

Upon shooting the fifteenth and seeing the cue ball approaching him, Korsan chuckled as he aimed his crossbow at it. He pressed the trigger with his claw to shoot down the final ball. However, a loud click was heard from the weapon instead and the heavy white ball smacked into the captain’s nose. He was instantaneously disoriented from the in pain and shock.

Using this as her time to strike, Twilight swooped over to the disorientated stallion and grabbed him by the shoulders, throwing him up to the ceiling and smashing his head. As Korsan dropped back down, Twilight turned around in the air and kicked him in his front, launching him across the room. He smashed his back against the wood wall upon landing. Korsan snapped back to his senses into time to see Twilight charging at him.

Grabbing a lantern from a nearby table, Korsan threw the lamp right in Twilight’s face, causing a fireball to erupt upon collision. Blinded from the blast, Twilight plummeted into Korsan’s open claws, which grab onto her wings. With his rival now in his grasps, Korsan jumped from the wall and took to the air, performing a spiral in the air before smashing Twilight into a small table.

Korsan then raised a hoof in the air and formed his claws into a razor fist. However, as the pirate captain slammed it downwards, Twilight regained herself just in time. She rolled away, causing Korsan to get his claws lodged into the middle of a wooden floor plank instead. Twilight quickly got to her hooves and aimed her horn right at Korsan’s face, charging her magic for a powerful fireball spell to finish him off.

Using his strength, Korsan tore the board from the floor with his claw still stuck in it and swung it at Twilight. Twilight fired fireball from her horn just at that moment. A large explosion erupted from the spell, blinding everypony in the bar for a few seconds before their vision returned. Their eyes darted to the source of the blast, stopping their fights for a moment.

In the center of the tavern, amongst an indoor cloud of smoke, wood chips, and embers, stood Korsan, holding an unconscious Twilight in his claws. Her face was covered in ashes and burns while Korsan’s remained completely unscaved, with only a few tiny embers lingering on the nose. The ceiling and floor of where Korsan stood were completely pitch black with some planks of wood starting to break and fall.

With a large smirk on his face, Korsan pulled out an anti-magic strap and attached it around Twilight’s horn. He flung the purple body over the serving counter before turning to face Rarity, Sweetie Belle, and several other pirates looking at him in shock and surprise from the corner.

“That was a fireball,” Rarity uttered in her frozen breathe, backing up while Korsan slowly walked to her. “That was a fireball to the face. H-how did you-”

“Even I’m a little surprised I made it out unscaved.” Korsan remarked. “This tavern must be made of some really good wood. I haven’t even noticed until now. Either that, or I’m quite lucky.”

As Rarity’s rear hit a booth against the wall, she realized that there was nowhere to go. Her attention instinctively snapped to her younger sister, who was still standing next to their table, scared stiff.

“Sweetie Belle! Get back!” Rarity exclaimed.

“I-I-I-I c-can’t,” Sweetie mumbled.

Rarity then commanded Korsan, “Get away from her you monster!”

Forgetting her own safety, Rarity charged forwards between the pirate captain and the filly. She stood midway between the two, aiming her horn at Korsan’s nose. Korsan stopped right in front of the white unicorn, towering over her and looking down at her face.

“Such determination, such fury, such willingness to put your life on the line to protect your family, I’m almost speechless.” Korsan complimented Rarity. “However, I also see fear, dripping all over you. Though very logical for you to fear the greatest sea artist, master of the mechanical arts and revolutionary of these times, it is still a weakness, as with several other things that you’re burdened with. I can remedy that. Come with me, join my crew, and I can help you destroy those burdens. You can be one of the most powerful ponies in the world! So what do you say?”

“Never!” Rarity roared back.

“I don’t want to perform any drastic measures, but if you refuse my efforts now, I will require yourself and my crew to insert a little more leverage. Think about it.” Korsan coldly pleaded.

“Here’s what I think, take this!”

With a flick of her horn, Rarity attempted to grab Korsan with magic.

Nothing happens.

“Didn’t you hear Nitin run his lips about my anti-magic?” Korsan asked.

“I can try…!”

As Rarity continued to try to restrain Korsan, the pirate glanced around to see everypony still staring in silence. They were still scared breathless how he managed to tank a fireball from an alicorn princess.”

“Come on stallions and mares, this isn’t a Titan Megalodon, it’s just a lucky misfire. Well, that would be the most reasonable answer. Crew, back to The Perfection! Gather any fallen crew members on your way while I take care of Rarity and her little ankle biter.”

Korsan’s crew eventually came to their senses upon hear of his command and promptly exited the bar while the other pirates still continue to gawk. The seven remaining crew members inside continued to hold Twilight’s friends in place.

Korsan returned his attention to Rarity, still trying to grab him, before proceeding to grab her by the horn.

“Apologies ma’am,” He said.

Rarity immediately screamed as Korsan dug his claws into her horn, abruptly cutting off her magic. The mare immediately started to thrash and flail.

“Help!” She cried.

With Rarity now in tow, the pirate pegasus made his way to the door. However, he’s quickly stopped by a sharp pain in his ankle right above his metal boots. Groans of pain echoed from his throat.

“What the,”

He looked down to see Sweetie Belle biting down into his leg with all of her might.

“Let her go,” Sweetie’s voice grumbled as she bit into the hoof.

“Get away!” Rarity squeals. “Save yourself!”

“No, I’m going to let him take you away!” The unicorn filly said.

“I didn’t mean it literally…” Korsan painfully chuckled before reaching down with his other front hoof.

He picked the small filly up by the back of her neck, and held her in place with an iron grip.

“No! Let us go!” Sweetie pleaded.

“I’ll let yous go when we’re onboard and far away from this blasted place. Now come on,” Korsan commanded.

As Korsan resumed his walk out, Rarity and Sweetie screamed out to their friends at the top of their lungs, “Help! Get us out of here! Save us!”

“What about us, Captain?” The small unicorn member calls out, still holding her prisoner in place along with the others.

“Just toss them in the corner,” Korsan replied at the doorway. “Quickly, we won’t have much time before they chase us again.”

Promptly, the seven pirates chucked the seven dazed friends into the back corner of the tavern and followed their captain out to the balcony.

Within moments, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and the others broke from their shock and jump into action.

“Twilight!” Rainbow Dash hollered as she soared to where Twilight’s laying body was.

“Wha-” Twilight wearily groaned as she woke from her unconscious state.

“Korsan took Rarity!” Fluttershy exclaimed.

“What?!” Twilight asked.

“And Sweetie Belle as well!” Scootaloo exclaimed.

“What?!” Twilight screamed.

The purple alicorn snapped fully awake and flew with Rainbow Dash over to the front door. The other friends followed as they all headed out to the balcony, only to see Korsan’s ship already charging away at rapid speeds.

“Oh no!” Twilight exclaimed. “Korsan disabled my horn while I was knocked out it seems. I can’t teleport!”

“I’ll catch up to them!” Rainbow declared.

She jumped into flight and blitzed into the thick of the violent rainstorm and towards the floating pirate ship.

“Everypony else, to the ship!” Twilight declared back at the tavern.

“Don’t worry Rarity! Don’t worry Sweetie Belle! I’ll save you!” Dash yelled out in the distance.

She reached alongside the rear of the racing airship and climbed her way forward. The screams of Rarity and Sweetie Belle echoed from below the main deck as the cyan pegasus drew closer to the front of the quarterdeck. Korsan then emerged from the galley with his crossbow in his claws, causing Rainbow Dash to fall back and below the keel.

“I can’t do anything to help them if Korsan or his crew members get in my way.” Dash said to herself.

Far ahead at the front end of the ship, Rainbow Dash saw two giant black anchors, still being pulled upwards by their equally massive chains.

“Lightbulb!”

With a target now set, the mare raced towards the right anchor, flapping her wings vigorously. She reached it in only a few seconds. In the bright flashes of lightning around her, the pegasus aimed her hooves at a link and delivered a series of hard bucks at it. Eventually, the entire chain rattled and plummeting back down into the water.

“Yes!”

However, Dash’s victory is cut short when the entire ship above suddenly tilted. But it didn’t make sense, it was as if it was for no reason.

“The anchor hasn’t even hit the bottom,” Dash said to herself.

The dwarfed mare watched in shock as the massive vessel leaned its deck towards her and was greeted by a group of Korsan’s pirates, holding onto the railing. All had their horns aimed at her. Instantly, the pegasus was wrapped in a red aura and dragged towards the slanted deck.

“We got her captain!” One of the pirates declared. “You can pull the ship back up no.”

“Let me go!” Dash exclaimed.

“Why should-”

Before the unicorn could fully respond, the entire ship suddenly came to a screeching halt. The pirates were immediately launched forwards onto the railing at the front of the bow. Rainbow Dash was released from the telepathic grab.

“That.” Dash said.

Back at the rear of the ship, Korsan was jerked forward into the wheel in front of him, clueless to what was going on.

“What in the seventeen seas is going on up there!” The captain growled as he regained his hoofing.

The voice of Twilight then echoed into his ears, “We’re here, Dash!”

“Twilight?” Korsan asked.

Quickly, the bipedal pony ran to the starboard edge of the tilted airship and looked down to see Twilight and her friends approaching in their galleon.

“It’s them…” He hissed.

After getting a good look at the pursuing vessel, Korsan climbed back to the wheel and pushed a small wooden button next to the lever next to the wheel, causing a long, thin speaking pipe with to emerge from behind the wheel.

Leaning close to the opening of the pipe, Korsan declared, “Attention all crew members! Battle stations! Twilight Sparkle is right below us at starboard!”

“Here we go.” Twilight said.

Chapter 017: November Winds

Within less of a minute’s time, The Perfection’s cannons below were manned by the crew, all scampering around with torches, cannonballs, and kegs of gunpowder.

“Hmm, new record.” Korsan said to himself, hearing the commotion from his speaking pipe.

“I need a full report of the enemy ship now!” He then yelled out to the unseen ponies at the top of the seven masts.

“The thing’s a wreck Captain!” One the onlookers replied back. “A snapped mast, three out of four sails torn, severe damage in the upperparts of the hull, six loose cannons, a missing keel, a malfunctioning rudder, and the bowsprit broke halfway through!”

“Are these mares mad?” He asked, genuinely curious.

“Course of action, Captain?” Maria asked as she climbed up from below deck.

She looked towards Korsan, seeing a more relaxed expression on his face.

“Don’t waste your ammunition. Fire one round in the middle of the bow and another in the middle of the quarterdeck. Shoot to disable, not to kill.” He said.

“Yes sir.”

Promptly, the mare hurried back down to relay the message to the gunners below.

Korsan then called out, “Juliana!”

He was immediately greeted by his ice phoenix pet on his right shoulder.

“Good girl, get ready for your new job.”

Two loud blasts erupted from the downward tilting side of the airship. Korsan observed from afar as two large metal balls flew from his vessel and down towards Twilight’s ship. It was a long drop, so the shots had to be precise.

Three seconds of silence follows just before impact. In a matter of moments, the tiny boat below exploded into a large gush of water, wood, and smoke, obscuring Korsan’s view of his rival. Though, screams can be heard as their ship crumbles to pieces. The brown pegasus turned and looked at his bird friend.

“Juliana, perform Artic Wind.” He contentedly commanded.

The phoenix replied with a chirp before leaping from Korsan’s arm and flying overboard. It dove into the dark cloud below and towards Twilight and the others.

“Captain! Incoming pegasus!” One of the crewmembers yelled.

“Incoming what-”

From behind the wall of fog and rain in front of Korsan emerged Rainbow Dash, charging at the captain at full force. She delivered a kick to his face, knocking him backwards a metre or two.

“Give it up Korsan!” Dash proclaimed as she blitzed at him once more.

The stallion reacted in time and rolled away from the dive attack, causing Rainbow to miss. She circled around for another attempt. He quickly pulled out his crossbow and aimed it at the flying mare as she charged at him again.

He said to her, “Dodge this.”

With a flick of a claw, the crossbow fired a metal bolt at the incoming pony. Dash ducked down below the speeding projectile however, and smashed her body into Korsan’s, sending the two careering overboard and towards the smoke cloud.

“Dodged it!” Rainbow boasted.

As a ball of two ponies, the fighters tumbled aimlessly through the ash and towards the ocean and dizzying speeds. The two fighters broke from each other in freefall and continued their brawl. Korsan rebalanced himself in the air first and fired his crossbow at the tumbling pegasus eleven more times.

“Get a load of this!”

Rainbow recovered as well just in time. She used her wings to create gusts of wind and pushed away the rods shot. They barely skimmed her body, but it proved his weapon could be deflected.

“Are you even trying?” Dash teased before flying away.

She previously noticed how a lot of lightning had struck in a section of the sky. She soared into the area for a bit, building up electricity throughout her entire being. As the rainbow-maned pony then made her return back towards her nemesis, Korsan put away his crossbow and pulled out his two cutlasses.

With his swords primed and Dash’s body practically growing from electricity jumping around her body, a mass burst of energy was inevitable. The two collided together with such powerful force, a small electric shockwave ruptured from Korsan’s blades and Dash’s hooves and blasting any nearby rainwater and fog away.

Meanwhile, on the now destroyed remains of the SS Raindrop, Twilight and the others onboard were now gathering at the middle of the deck. Both ends of the ship were blazing on fire, trapping them on both sides. Surrounded by smog and a panic-filled atmosphere, Twilight and her crew looked around for any sign of an advantage.

“This is the end!” Applebloom and the other fillies coughed and screamed as smoke filled their lungs.

“Now it’s not!” Applejack retorted before gagging as well.

“What do we do?” Fluttershy whimpered as she curls herself into a ball next to the mast.

“We’re going to have to jump into the water.” Twilight said sternly, looking out over her friends.

“Then what?” Spike asked at the purple mare’s side.

“No idea yet, but-wait, is that Rainbow Dash above us?”

The eight mares and Spike looked up at to see Rainbow Dash and Korsan falling towards them, both bathing in electrical sparks as they trade blows. A light blue blur caught Spike’s attention as it drew closer to the two.

“What’s that other thing heading towards us?” Spike pointed out.

“Wha-”

Before Twilight could ask or even get a good look at the ice bird, Juliana begun rapidly circling above the downed vessel. The incoming rain froze into spikes of ice and hale in the bird’s pressence. In a matter of moments, the ice rain’s front reaches the crippled vessel and sends the mares and Spike into a scampering frenzy, desperately trying not get impaled by the razor sharp frozen water.

Near the edge of the collapsing boat, Korsan and Rainbow Dash reached sea level and fall into the chaotic waves and deep underwater. The cold of the icy ocean sent pulses of cold through the two battling pegasi as they slowly punched and grappled each other in a bloodthirsty fury. Amidst one of Rainbow Dash’s punches towards her rival’s face, Captain Korsan swiftly returned one of his cutlasses into his back and grabbed the incoming hoof, digging his claws deep into her skin.

He discharged, releasing any electricity in his body and pumping it deep into her. The cyan pony mutely screamed as sparks of sharp energy and cold metal pierced into her muscles and bones before a wave of massive exhaustion soon washed over her. After several long seconds of cold water sucking up her bodily heat, fighting against the stormy weather, and being socked in the face and body by metal armour, Dash’s senses finally caught up to her and came back hard against her mind and will.

Succumbing to the pain and tiredness of her aching body, Rainbow Dash fell unconscious and slowly drifted upwards towards the surface, followed by Korsan still holding onto her hoof. Bursting through the water surface, Korsan saw Twilight’s ship, now at the brink of bursting into millions of splinters. He also saw the fallen anchor’s chain several metres ahead. Immediately, the gears in the brown stallion’s head started to spin and a plan came to mind.

Just as a large wave of foaming water stuck his behind, Korsan yelled out, “Juliana!”

Hearing her master’s call, the ice phoenix stopped her attack on Twilight and the others and flew down to him.

“Iron Head!” He commanded.

The large bird screeched in agreement to the command and swiftly flew back up high into the sky before diving back down. He, Twilight, and the others watched as Juliana rapidly accelerated downwards and dove into the waves next to the portside of the ship. The surface water froze around her, turning into a sheet of solid ice. A second later, the ice bird breached from the water off of the other side, causing all sides of the trapped vessel to be encased in stiff ice and freezing the wood of the hull as well.

As Juliana flew back upwards into the thick of the rain, Korsan dragged his soaking body as well as Rainbow Dash’s onto the frozen sheet of new land before. He gently dropped the pony and ran towards the chain ahead. The anchor was surrounded in ice, and Korsan had a clear line to it.

Twilight and the others heard the metal hoofsteps on the hard ground in the distance. They broke their glance at the bird to see their frozen friend laying unconscious and Korsan running away.

“Hey!” Twilight screamed, “Get back here!”

The purple pony then jumped off of the boat and gave chase to the captain.

“You’re going to pay for hurting Dash!” She proclaimed.

Remembering that Twilight doesn’t know that he wasted his ammo on Dash, Korsan turned around and pulled out his crossbow, aiming it right at Twilight’s forehead. Seeing the black metal weapon now poised to fire, Twilight frantically stopped only a couple of metres short of her target. Korsan now had the lead.

“Don’t take another step. Don’t flap another wing.” He coldly demanded.

“What are you going to do with Rarity and Sweetie Belle?” Twilight asked in a nervous pant.

“You know what I plan to do with Rarity. But don’t worry Princess Twilight. I won’t hurt her, nor her sister.”

“Let them go, give us the Diamond Eye, and stop this villainous plot all together now.” Twilight begged. “It may be a longshot, but if you give up now and come with us to Equestria, you could redeem yourself and become a beneficial member to Equestria. You’re a bright stallion, a genius that probably knows things that most scientists can’t even comprehend. It doesn’t matter if you’re a pegasus, a unicorn, and Earth pony, or an alicorn, you can still be special and live a good life. You might even make a few friends and find your special somepony. Please, it’s not too late.”

Korsan remained silent, as if thinking about what she said. However, this was dashed, as Korsan mearly waved a dismissing hoof at her plea.

He casually told her, “Save your boring lectures and rants, I’ve heard it all before. And everytime I hear it coming from somepony that thinks she’s the wiser, it just makes me sick to my stomach. You have no idea of the true torture I and many others will endure in this Tartarus of a world. I’ve given you plenty of chances, but your resistance has forced me to leave you all for dead.”

The pirate’s gaze slowly shifted to over Twilight’s shoulder and to the ship behind. Twilight noticed this and looked back as well, just in time to see Juliana return in another dive-bomb. She smashed into the middle of her boat, causing it to shatter into bits and small specks of wood and ember. Screams quickly followed, echoing from the ship to the two rivals at the edge of the slowly eroding ice field.

“You monster!” Twilight cried in terror and rage.

She turns back towards Korsan, who was now slowly backing up towards the large black chains behind him.

“You will not interfere with my quest to end the suffering.” Korsan told her.

“You think Rarity won’t after hearing that you killed us? She’ll never join you, and neither will her sister.”

“I’m not going to kill you. It’ll either be the natural elements or your own selves that’ll do the killing. Now, if you’ll excuse me,”

Korsan stops his sentence midway. He jumped back into a large chain hole behind, tucking himself in tightly.

“Adieu.” He said.

Korsan then looked up to the crew of his ship and yelled, “Hoist the anchor, manually!”

“You’ll never get away with this!” Twilight roared.

“I always do, Twilight Sparkle. I always do.”

With the crossbow still aimed at her, all Twilight could do was watch as Korsan was lifted into the sky and into his floating ship. Juliana and the anchor soon followed out of the water and up into the pirate ship as well. In a matter of seconds, the flying brig balanced itself flat and took off into the raining night sky.

Defeated, Twilight headed back to the wreckage that was once her prized transportation to see the damage. Dash’s body was no longer to be seen out on the ice.

“Is anypony okay?!” She asked.

“We all are!” Spike announced from inside the massive pile of wood.

“Even Rainbow Dash?!”

“I think Dash’s coming to!” Applejack called out from inside the icy wreckage.

Relieved to hear her friends’ voices, the princess darted into the wood ruins and saw the other six others, huddled around Dash’s laying body on top of a large portion of deck still in one piece. Edging herself into the circle alongside the others, Twilight was greeted by a faint gag from the cyan pegasus.

“Rainbow Dash! Wake up! Are you okay?!”

Rainbow responded with a violent cough and warm water spewing from her mouth.

“Please be okay,” Scootaloo nervously yelped

.

“I-I’m f-f-fine,” Rainbow finally replied after a quick burp. “It-it’s c-cold.”

“Thank goodness you’re okay!” Fluttershy enthusiastically cheered, leaping onto and hugging the waking mare.

“Ouch.” Dash moaned.

“Oh, s-sorry,” Fluttershy replied.

“What do we do now?” Applejack uneasily asked Twilight. “Our boat is ruined, we’re in the middle of an intense storm, we’re surrounded by ice, and we’re out of food.”

“Not exactly,” Pinkie Pie replied, aimlessly looking around the area. “We have this raft that we’re sitting on, Dashy and Flutter can calm the storm a little, the ice will go away in time, and we have most of each other.”

“Wait, before we get ahead of ourselves-”

“Pinkie has a point,” Twilight interrupts Applejack. “We can get out of this storm and-”

“And then what?” Applejack asked.

“We go after Korsan.” Dash answered.

“Again?! He just destroyed our only means of protection and transportation. Not to mention that he’s disabled Twilight from using magic and our only unicorns that came with us are now on his ship.” Applejack explained.

“As long as our friendship, will, and hope stay true, we can do anything.” Twilight comforted her.

“But…”

“Do you have a better idea?” Dash nasally snapped at her orange friend.

“Well, I guess not. But this might take some time.” Applejack said, still leaning toward caution.

“Give or take a few days,” Twilight optimistically said. “We’ll do it.”

“I just hope that Rarity and Sweetie Belle don’t get hurt on that scary ship.”

“I don’t even want to know what’s going on up there right now…”

Chapter 018: Night Aboard "The Perfection"

Three days and three nights felt like an eternity to Rarity and Sweetie Belle. Locked away in separated, two dimly lit cells at the brig of Korsan’s airship, the two were all alone, the only company being the silent Chopin, who’d come five times a day to give them bread and water. His visits only lasted for a few seconds before promptly going back up the stairs into the upper reaches of the boat. During the long hours of silence in between, the only things the prisoners would find themselves doing is sleeping, eating, drinking, or thinking about what lead up to this had.

One night, the howls and cheers of the pirates in the galley were notably loud. Their roars echoed from four stories above to the brig. It was a signal that told the prisoners that Chopin was coming down to give them their fifth meal.

“Hey, Sweetie Belle,” Rarity said before Chopin came down.

“What?” The smaller unicorn lethargically responded, having her head buried into the pillow on her cell bed.

“Want to talk or something?” Rarity asked.

”I don’t feel like it.” Sweetie groaned.

“You haven’t said anything for over six hours and I’m beginning to worry about you.”

“Will our friends come and get us out of here? It just feels like they’ve left us.”

“Ridiculous. Our friends would never abandon us. I know it may seem impossible, but we can still hope that they’re still hot on Korsan’s trail as we speak and one day save us from this retched place. I can see it now, Korsan bent over and us driving our hooves into his-”

Before Rarity can complete her thought, the familiar hoofsteps of Chopin were heard above. However, they were paired with an unexpected series of metal stamps into the wood above, following behind Chopin’s.

“Is that…” Rarity whispered.

Looking to the lit staircase, the two mares saw the unicorn mime and Korsan walk down the stairs and approached each cell individually.

Korsan, the bipedal captain, leaned against Rarity’s cell.

“You…” She silently hissed.

“Hello, Miss Rarity,” Korsan replied, leaning his head through the cage bars separating him from his prisoner. “I would like to invite both you and your sister to feast at the galley.”

“Why would we even want to join you and your ruffians in a meal?” Rarity asked, holding back a boiling rage for the moment. “You kidnapped us and held us in here for days.”

“Quite, I apologize for my more brutish force against you, but in time you’ll find yourself forgiving me. Take this invitation as not only as a token of my apologies, but also as an opportunity to show you the benefits of being one with my crew.” Korsan persuaded.

“How about no? You psychotic pirate,”

“Well then,” Korsan calmly replied, resting his metal claws onto the lever that opens the door to her cell. “Have fun wasting in this cell for a good number of your days. Hey, Chopin, have any luck with the sister?”

“Get away of me you clown!” Sweetie Belle’s voice screamed back in indirect response.

“He’s a mime from Prance, respect the stallion, will you?” Korsan asked.

“Leave my sister out of this!” Rarity barks, aiming her horn at Korsan’s face.

The pirate leader returned his attention to Rarity. His attitude and tone was cold and stoic, but a quiver shown on his face, as if he’d been betrayed or abandoned somehow.

He said to her, “What are you going to do? Everything you see is lined with anti-magic and I can already tell that you have little to no offensive capabilities. You can’t harm me in the slightest.”

Rarity realized that he’s right and raised her horn up in defeat.

“How about a deal, you join me for supper and I’ll leave your sister be.” Korsan proposed, a teasing grin appearing on his face.

Seeing as this was her only option, Rarity nodded in shame. With a full-blown smile now on his face, Korsan pulled the lever down and the metal door of the cell swung open.

“Follow me.” He warmly told Rarity.

The white unicorn obeyed her captor’s orders and followed him and Chopin out of the prison and up the stairs, leaving her sister behind.

“Don’t worry Sweetie Belle, I’ll be back.” Rarity said as she climbed the stairs.

Chopin, Korsan, and Rarity, walked past the sick chambers above the brig and followed a series of staircases leading them several stories up the hull. Past the abandoned crew cabins on the third and fourth floors, past the massive empty cannon chamber on the fifth, and up a final flight of stairs, they soon entered into the large dining chamber on the first floor of the quarterdeck.

The galley was just as active when Rainbow Dash saw it, maybe even more so.

Activity was bustling all around just as before. The food was just as plentiful, the drinks spilt as if there was no bottom to their cups, and another duel was going on in the center of the galley. Seated pirates watched it and dished out bets left and right. This time, it was a pair of short, yellow unicorns fighting each other with katanas.

Korsan then took the first step onto the galley floor.

Despite the loudness and chaos of the room, as Korsan made his across the chamber, the entire room quickly stopped, dead silent, and looked towards their captain in the corner of the room.

“Greetings, fellow sea artists.” The captain addressed them.

“Greetings, Captain Korsan!” The entire cast of pirates replied in unison.

“I would like to introduce you to our newest guest aboard The Perfection on this fine evening. Say hello to Miss Rarity.”

“Hello, Miss Rarity.” The crew said.

“Please, treat her to a seat and may your festivities continue. Treat her as one of our own.”

“Aye, Captain.”

Slowly, the galley’s chaotic activities returned, and the duel resumed. Korsan and Chopin took their usual seats, leaving Rarity anxiously standing at the corner of the main table.

Rarity thought to herself, All of these ruffians under one roof! It’s even worse than Thieves’ Hold. Where can I sit? Specifically, where can I sit and not get stabbed or worse…

“Hey, hey, hey, hey,” A voice called out to her among the pirates.

It was an orange mare with a short black mane and tail. She was wearing a brown tricorder hat, and an assortment of weaponry. She was seated at the end of the main table, right next to the serving station on the other side of the galley.

The mare called out once more to the lone pony, “Sit over here, please!”

Cautiously, Rarity walked behind the pirates roaring at the fight and reached the mare. Seeing an empty chair to the mare’s right, the now guest went to it and slowly set herself on it as to not get anything that could be dirty on her flank.

Nervous as to not do something that could end up killing her or make her look out of place, Rarity kept her eyes focused on the fight.

She whispered to the orange unicorn, “What should I do? You look like you know what you’re doing, and you look the least threatening.”

“Don’t sweat yourself,” the mare playfully whispered back. “These guys around here aren’t that threatening when we’re off duty. I’m Slasher Gutzoult.”

“My, what an, interesting name…” Rarity commented.

“My mom thought of it.”

“…I’m Rarity.”

“Yeah, I know. The captain just announced it.”

“Oh yeah, he did. Oh dear,”

“Hey, don’t be embarrassed. I remember this one time that-”

“I’m not embarrassed. I’m trying to keep my skin attached to my body.”

“I see, I gotcha. Hey, maybe this will make you unwind,”

Rarity looked over to her new friend and saw her sliding a mug away from the stallion to her left’s table area and in front of Rarity’s blank space.

“Try it.” Slasher then said.

“What is it?” Rarity curiously asks, slowly holding the drink up to her lips.

She let a few drips of the whitish-clear liquid into her mouth.

“You don’t want to know.” The orange mare said.

Upon having her tongue touch one of the drops, Rarity immediately spat out all of the fluids in her mouth.

“That was awful!”

“That’s the same thing we’ve been telling Anton for years, but he still drinks it. Seemed to work though in your case,”

“Are all of you pirates this invasive? Is there somepony else I can talk to?”

“Oh no! Sorry, I’ve just been a little jumpy, you know, with this being our first guest in a long while. Maybe I need a bit of Anton’s stuff to unwind as well.”

“Well look, I don’t consider myself a guest.” Rarity told Slasher. “I was forced into this by that tyrant you call Captain Korsan. So if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to look for another empty seat.”

“But wait! Don’t you want to know who you’re sitting with? I can help with that!”

Rarity’s ears immediately burned after the hyperactive pirate girl screamed right into them.

Rarity, now fully resenting her decision to go up to the galley, turned to Slashed and said, “First off, I’m right next to you. You don’t need to shout. Second off, no, I’m not interested in knowing.”

“But some of us are really interesting, like me. I was arrested for twenty charges of cat burglary in Ti and was sent an all-girls prison until Korsan broke me out and hired me for his crew.”

“You were a cat burglar? You don’t look like somepony who’d be so stealthy.”

“Not that type of burglar, I was a burglar of cats. I just love them so much! I have three in my cabin, Bob, Curly, and Moe. Want to meet them?”

“No-”

“Wait, I should tell you about the rest of the crew, they’re interesting to!”

“That won’t be necessary-”

“Oh, like Lazarus Lazuli over there!”

Slasher pointed a hoof across the room to a skinny blue stallion with a grey hoodie over his head and covering his mane, peacefully eating a bowl of soup in front of him at the end of the table.

“He was banished to the Island of Perpetual Tickling for life for treason against the king of Talos by working as a terrorist spy. He claims that he was on the island and tortured for ten years before Korsan came, but I have my doubts. Ooh! And her!”

The brown mare then pointed to a white mare with a red mane and tail. She was talking with the chef through the serving window next to where Rarity and Slasher were seated.

“Maria Vanshwitz, one of the deadliest out of us all, she was put in maximum security for providing fighting services in the resistance. She was the queen piece of their game.”

“Which resistance?”

“No one really knows, she doesn’t mention it apparently because it lost.”

As the young mare turned around to return to her seat, the two onlookers got a good look at her sharp face. The fiery red eyes Maria wielded punched a hole in their souls. A scar could be seen running from her chin down to the fluff of her chest.

“Hey, I saw her at the bar, fighting November. Wasn’t she part of your crew?” Rarity asked.

After her question, Rarity realized that her curiosity was getting to her and that she’s gaining interest in the backstories of the many pirates around her, the pirates that kidnapped her and her sister and nearly murdered her and her friends.

Despite that, Rarity continued her chat with Slasher, mildly brushing aside that little tidbit.

“November Gale? I remember her. She and Maria were practically arch nemeses whenever in the same room.” Slasher replied.

“Why?”

“They were always fighting over Hans Kraus, one of main cannon operators. I don’t blame them, he is kinda cute. In the end, November and her dad left and Maria won Hans’s love. Though, we don’t talk about November and her dad anymore, at least in public.”

“I see. How about the two near-identical stallions fighting each other?”

“Yin and Yu, they’re brothers from Gorgonzola. Before they joined Korsan, they were a powerful gambling team and were even banned from Glascow, Los Pegasus, and Monte Canter for cheating. They’re compulsive gamblers and cheaters, though if you ask them now about it, they’ll deny it.”

“Hey,” Rarity said, pointing at a pale and bald stallion with a light blond beard, silently sitting near the middle of the center row of chairs of the table alone, eating a loaf of bread.

“What about that guy?” She asked.

“That’s Horus, the quartermaster.” Slasher said.

“What’s his story?”

“No pony really knows, we just picked him up from a large prison in Pearis. He changes the story of how he got there every time you ask him. Like one time, he told me that he defrauded the royal kingdom of Cervidas.”

Hearing the conversation between the two mares, the pair of yellow fighters in the center of the room, Yin and Yu, decided to join in the chatter. They carried their fight over to where Rarity and Slasher were as their blades continued to clash. Their bodies were tightly held against each other, entering a blade lock.

“Hey, Slasher,” the two brothers coolly said to the orange pony.

“Hello Yin. Hello Yu. We were just talking about Horus.” Slasher replied with a smile.

”Yu’s so cute.” She whispered to Rarity.

“We heard you were talking about Horus,” one of the brothers replied in a groan as the weight of his rival started to push on him. “He told me that he robbed the second largest bank in Prance with only an inked quill.”

The other sibling tried to punch his competition.

Shoving him aside, the other sibling told the mares, “As for me, he claimed that he created a hole in the ozone above Cowrea.”

The two fighters caught each other in a strangling fit and rolled back towards the middle of the galley.

“See, he changes the story everytime,” Slasher told Rarity. “Watch.”

The brown unicorn turned to the buff albino pirate, shouting, “Hey, Horus!”

Immediately, the large stallion snapped his head towards the energetic pony and sharpened his small red pupils into her eyes.

“What did you do to get in jail?” She asked.

The blond stallion hastily grabbed a silver spoon on his table area with his magic and held it up in front of his face.

He rapidly exclaimed, “I killed a stallion, with this spoon!”

“Okay. Thanks!”

She then returned to Rarity.

“Anypony else?” She asked.

“So Korsan just picks up these criminals and hires them for his crew?” Rarity asked.

“Yep,”

“All of them?”

“Well, most of them.”

“Most?”

“There’s one or two members around here that us crew members aren’t really sure of where they came from.”

“Who?”

“Chopin, the mime, and Isyan…”

Slowly, Slasher raised her hoof and pointed at a dark beige stallion, standing next to Korsan’s large elevated table. He’s wore a black tailcoat suit. His short, dirty blond hair was combed back to his ears, allowing him to appear to be studying the captain from the corner of his vision.

Korsan wasn’t really doing anything notable, just slowly eating his fruits while watching the battle.

“and Captain’s cousin,” Slasher finished.

“Cousin?!” Rarity asked in surprise.

“Yep, he is one of our newest members actually. Korsan picked him up last year while we were all asleep one night and didn’t say anything about him to us the next morning other than Isyan’s his cousin and will be serving as the boatswain.”

“He doesn’t look like the piratical type.”

“He isn’t, he’s just some snob-nosed jerk that’s constantly pushing us lower ranking members around. The mechanics, the coopers, the carpenters, and the janitors, all of us are just swabs to that stallion’s brown, soulless, eyes.”

“Why don’t you talk to Korsan about it?”

Slasher turned to Rarity, with a face that said, “Are you serious?”

“I’m a janitor, a poop-deck cleaner, a toiler scrubber, a sick bed washer, what gives me the authority to even talk to him, let alone tell him about how much a jerk is own cousin is?” She asked.

“…Maybe Korsan would understand.” Rarity said, somehow giving Korsan some credit.

“How would you know?”

“I’ve, heard some things from a certain stallion.”

“You mean, Gale?”

“Yeah,”

“Did he tell you about-”

Before Slasher could finish her question, one of the brothers shrieked out from the battle area, “Uncle! Uncle!”

Retuning their focus to the center, Rarity and Slasher saw that the one screaming was being pinned down by his rival. Their blades were wedged in the ceiling, how they got there was a mystery. The roaring of the crew immediately followed this defeat as well as processions made into bets being thrown around the galley table.

“Whoop! Nice job, Yu!” Slasher cheered.

The orange pony leaned to Rarity and whispered to her, “Yu’s so cute. Though, I can never tell the two apart at times…”

“I’m Yu,” the defeated pony said. “But thanks for the encouragement.”

“Oh, sorry!”

“Okay, you can get off of me, Yin.” Yu yelled out to his brother.

Not noticing their swords were still in the ceiling, the two yellow stallions got up and walked to the front of Korsan’s table. They awaited their leader’s report.

As the room quieted down, Korsan spoke, “Yu Shou, rigger, congratulations on your victory.”

“I’m Yu, Yin won.” Yu said.

“Apologies, would help if one of yous wore something… But that’s another matter. Yin, powder monkey, congratulations on your victory. Your form was most adequate, and your balance is one point. However, I would recommend less, silly fighting methods when dealing with opposition from the field.”

“Yes, Sir,” Yin replied before heading back to a seat at the table.

“Ahem…” Korsan coughed.

“What?” Yin asked.

“Your swords?”

Looking back at the fighting area, the leaving unicorn immediately saw his and his brother’s stuck weapons.

“Oh! Yes! Sorry! I’ll take care of both of them.”

Swiftly, Yin grabbed the bladed weapons with his magic and hurried into the armoury to put them away. While he did that, Korsan contemplated to himself, staring blankly at his table.

“If I were to align the second piece at a forty-seven degree angle over the first, that would formulate a symbol equation. Then using the cipher system in the edge of the first half, I could then create a series of solutions with the decoded variables and translate those solutions to translate the symbol…”

“Captain?” Yu hesitantly asked while Korsan silently rambled in his chair.

“Huh, what?” The captain said.

“I lost to Yin.” Yu replied.

“Oh, right, right, right. Ahem. Yu Shou, rigger, although your creativity was put to good use, you are still being easily tricked. Try to remedy that.”

“Yes, Captain.”

With the two brothers returning to their seats, Slasher and Rarity returned their attention to one another. There would be a minute or five break before the next battle would begin.

“Pity the poor captain,” the pirate mare proclaimed to her friend. “He’s been so sidetracked by that Diamond Eye stuff and the new weapon he’s working on.”

“Pity him?” Rarity said. “He’s just using you criminals to do his dirty work, no offense. You’re practically prisoners on this ship from what I’ve heard of your captain.”

“Just using us? Prisoners? Korsan’s practically saved us. He’s given us new lives and plenty of adventures to foreign lands. Sure we’re pirates, but that’s just our standing in life.”

“And murderers?”

“What?”

“That day, three years ago,”

“…We don’t really discuss that day in public,”

“You know what happened, you were involved, all of you.”

“Sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-sh-” Slasher tried to shush Rarity.

“Is this what you want? To remove most ponies from the world, take away their lives, all for some arbitrary reason that their not unicorns?” Rarity asked, her questions turning more intense than the last.

“No, I don’t want to talk about it!”

“No, you’re doing something you know is wrong. You can do something about it, even if your boss won’t like it.”

“No! I don’t want to go back to prison!” Slasher pleaded, holding back from shrieking with all of her mental will.

“Please, just-”

“Attention everypony,” Korsan declared as he rose from his chair, causing the entire galley to quiet down. “I shall now duel. And the lucky pony that I shall spar with will be Miss Rarity.”

“What?!” Rarity exclaimed.

“Yes ma’am. As a treat of being an honoured guest with us tonight, you will be firsthoof to see my true fighting power. Now, what’s your preferred weapon, Rarity?” Korsan said.

“I’m not really the fighting type. So you can just pick another pony.” Rarity calmly said, turning down the offer.

“Don’t worry, it is only a spar. We fight until one of us is disarmed or the first sign of blood. Now, what will it be? Cutlass, claymore, longsword, sabre, dagger, rapier, katana, broadsword, Khopesh, lance, mace, we got them all.”

Seeing this as an opportunity to gain the upper hoof against Korsan, who was now practically giving her the unit of her escape on a silver platter, Rarity decided to join along in the fight.

“Rapier, please,” Rarity said.

“Prance or Cervidas make?” Korsan asked.

“Prance please,”

“Right then. Chopin!”

Within a few seconds, the large white stallion pulled out a long, thin sword from the back room and levitated it to Rarity, who carefully seized it with her magic. She aimed it towards her rival, who begun climbing from his wooden throne.

“Initial positions,” Korsan demanded.

Slowly, Korsan and Rarity walked to the middle of the galley. Their audience was still in silence. As he walked, Korsan drew out one of his large cutlasses from his mechanical suit. He pointed the razor tip of it at Rarity. Now in position, only the sounds of undistinguishable mumbles echoed around the chamber and between Rarity and Korsan. It was as if a murder was about to happen.

“Ready?” Korsan asked.

“Ready.” Rarity replied.

“En garde…”

“…”

“Prêts…”

“…”

“Allez!”

In an instant, the two competitors charged at each other and swung their blades into each other’s, creating a loud chink upon collision. As the sound resonated across the room, the onlooking pirates burst into fanatical chaos and started to call their bets. After the initial hits, Korsan soon broke out into a furious series of slices and jabs at the unicorn, forcing her to back up and parry the attacks from a distance.

However, within only ten seconds, it looked to be that Korsan was running out of steam. Rarity used the moment to her advantage. Between Korsan’s slowing barrages, she switched into an attack position and lead the fight. Her thin rapier charged forward at the stallion, aimed right for his heart. Just before the blade could even get close, the pirate pegasus sprung back to full energy and jumped over the charging sword, performing a backflip in midair whilst doing so.

Several oohs and aahs could be heard from the crowd as Korsan stuck the landing on his hind hooves.

“What?!” Rarity gasped.

“Just as gullible as Yu it seems.” Korsan taunted.

“Just as gullible as me?”

“No, Yu Shou,”

“I shall what?”

“No I mean Yin’s brother.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“I mean you are as gullible as Yu for falling for my fake fatigue.”

While Korsan angrily responded to Rarity’s questions, the white unicorn sneakily turned her sword around. She aimed the tip at her opponent’s back, like a perfect cannon shot.

“I’m as gullible as me?” Rarity asked.

Rarity made her move immediately, thrusting her rapier forwards towards her and Korsan.

Korsan told her, “No, Yin’s brother, you are a gullible as-”

The pegasus suddenly stopped midsentence and leapt over the incoming blade. Everypony was caught off-guard with this perfect dodge. With the long rapier having missed its intended target, the speeding weapon charged towards Rarity instead.

The white mare panicked and released the sword, but momentum kept it going. It continued to speed forward into Rarity, slicing into her back right leg as she attempted to leap out of the way. Rarity screamed in pain as the sharp edge cut deeply into her skin and severs her nerved. The room burst in a flurry of gasps as the rapier cut through Rarity’s flesh and stabbed one of the corner legs of the massive table behind her. It pierced through the wood before coming to a sharp halt.

As Rarity then fell onto the wood floor, wrapping her hooves around the cut on her leg, she saw the tip of Korsan’s cutlass in between her eyes.

“Very clever, trying to play me like that. Too bad I was tricking you into thinking you were tricking me. Other than that though, everything about your fighting needs improvement.” Korsan told her.

The captain turned to his back to see his crew silently staring at him, all of which were amazed, some still trying to grasp what had happened in front of them.

“So wait,” Yu whispers to his brother in the left corner of the table. “Who was tricking who into tricking who?”

“Well, my fellow sea artists, it would seem that I have won. Hurry along with your bets and let the next match begin.” Korsan declared.

Obeying their leader’s order, though still stunned at the quick fight, the pirates slowly and silently dealt with the bets and got back to their meals.

Korsan then turned to his mime crewmember and told him, “Chopin, take Rarity to the medial chambers and get Lilis to deal with that cut please. After which, escort her back to her cell, but also give a ration of baked potatoes to both her and her sister, would you kindly?”

“…” The mime silently nodded.

Chapter 019: Night on a Raft

The dark night sky above glistened with stars as a lone wooden platform drifted across the midnight ocean. Gentle waves lightly brushed against the rigged rim of the raft as it floated along, creating a hypnotical ambience in the otherwise deathly silence. On the damp raft, Twilight, Spike, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack, Applebloom, and Scootaloo were all huddled together in the center, keeping each other warm as they slept in the dark of the new moon.

The soft strokes of the breeze weaved through their fur.

“Hey,” a recently awoken Applejack whispered among the motionless bodies. “Is anypony still awake?”

“Now I am…” Twilight groaned in the center of the pileup.

She made her presence known right below her orange friend before releasing a loud yawn.

“What is it this time, Applejack?” Twilight asked.

“I’m just having a little trouble sleeping, that’s all.” She replied.

“For three days straight?”

“Somethin’s just constantly popping in my mind, and I can’t get it out.”

“What?”

“…What Korsan was boasting about back at Thieves’ Hold, about how me and other folks just aren’t as good as, ya know, unicorns and alicorns.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? You’re way better than any of those criminals. You don’t run around and commit crimes.” Twilight said, still half-asleep

“Not that, I mean how I wasn’t able to put up much of a fight once they started using magic. Me, Dash, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Spike, all of us that can’t use magic,”

“Oh, yeah, I guess you do need magic to cancel out other’s spells. But that doesn’t matter all that much. They weren’t being just with their fighting style. No honour...”

“What if… what if it does matter, Twilight. I might be starting to realize that I may not be able to protect my family as well as I used to, especially with my little sister with us.”

“We’ll be there to help you something happens that’s beyond your power Applejack.”

“And what if you’re not? And what does that say about me, my sisters, and the others, that we’re weak when you’re not around? You and Korsan, the stallion that could take on three alicorns at once, were at each other’s throats while we were stuck in the sidelines. You and Rarity can create and launch fireballs at will with enough education. Me and the others on the other hoof would never be able to do that in a hundred years.”

“…”

Applejack was returned with a the faint yawns of the princess.

“Twilight!” She quietly barked.

“Huh?! Oh, yeah, don’t think like that Applejack. You’re special in your own way.” Twilight muttered.

“How?”

“…You have great strength.”

“You can lift something twice my maximum height into the sky.”

“…You have a powerful kick.”

“You can use magic to grab a large rock and cause even more damage than one of my stronger kicks.”

At this point, Twilight had fully awoken from her sleep and was growing agitated at the mare’s retorts.

“You can run fast.” Twilight said.

“You can teleport.” Applejack returned.

“You…”

The purple alicorn hesitated before continuing, hitting a rut in her freshly-awoken mind.

“What about Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Scootaloo? They can fly, manipulate weather, and a bunch of other cool things.” Twilight said, internally praying for this late-night debate to end.

“Unicorns can do the same thing as well. Heck, you can make your own wings. Remember when you gave wings to Rarity when we went to Cloudsdale with Rainbow Dash?”

“Well, they weren’t legitimate pegasi wings,”

“Still, you as a unicorn did it.”

“Are you seriously saying that Korsan has a point to his madness?” Twilight angrily barked, causing the pony pile to shutter a bit.

“Maybe I am,” Applejack snaps back, even louder.

“You want him to murder every non-unicorn he finds, just because he has a point?”

“No!”

“Then why are you siding with him?!”

“I’m not siding with him. I’m just saying he has a point.”

“What’s the point of the point then?”

“Maybe I want to be a unicorn now that Korsan has proven a point.”

“…?!” Twilight was taken back a bit.

An Earth pony becoming a unicorn? That was one of the most absurd things Twilight has heard of. And to see Applejack completely change in character, to despise her race, all because of some pirate, it infuriated Twilight. For how could see allowed this to become of one of her close friends?

“He hasn’t proven a point. There is no point! Alicorns, pegasi, unicorns, and Earth ponies are all equal. It’s been that way for hundreds of years. Equality is the symbol of Equestria, our home. Forgotten that?” Twilight asked.

“Why is that?” Applejack asked, now turned cold.

“It just is. Great minds of unknown knowledge have agreed upon the idea to this day.”

“So why can’t I just want to be a unicorn if they’re so equal?”

“You don’t have to change yourself since we’re equal. You’re basically rejecting what Equestria stands for with this nonsense about being a unicorn. If I didn’t know you better, I would’ve considered that you were the bad pony.”

Something then snapped within Applejack. To see Twilight being so condescending towards her, putting aside the possible safety of others just because somepony has an idea she agrees with. Applejack was mad.

The two silently stared at each other for a short moment. They contemplated to themselves before talking, deciding whether this was merely a petty argument between sleepy friends, or a war in the works.

“Me, the bad pony? Just for considering a point?” Applejack asked.

Twilight nodded, “Korsan’s point, yes,”

“Just because of that?”

“Well if you’re so insistent on being a unicorn and proving the villain’s point, how about you join him on his killing crusade?”

“You know something? Sometimes you can be real stuck-up with your fancy schmancy readings of yours and not see what I’m seeing!”

“You know what? Sometimes you are just an inconsiderate mare who thinks she above all of the intellectuals based on her own stubborn logic!”

“Big nosed,”

“Half witted,”

“Thick skulled,”

“Even thicker skulled,”

“Why I-”

“Hey!” Rainbow’s voice yelled over Applejack’s response.

The two bickering ponies stopped arguing and looked to Dash, her wedged between a sleeping Fluttershy and Scootaloo. Dash’s eyes were half open.

“I don’t know what happened, but what I do know is that you two need to stop arguing and let us sleep in peace.” Rainbow Dash groaned.

“But she was thinking that Korsan has a-” Twilight tried to reply, only to get her muffled by Dash’s outstretched wing.

“I don’t care.” The pegasus told her. “No pony here really cares about what Korsan’s thinking. We all know that he’s the villain and what he is doing is wrong. Right?”

“Yeah,” Twilight said.

“Applejack?”

“It’s true. Killin’ innocent ponies is just plain wrong,” Applejack answered in defeat, as if she has lost the argument somehow.

“Good, now let me get some sleep!”

Quickly, Dash’s head slumped back down to the cold floor, immediately dozing off into slumber.

“Twilight,” Applejack muttered in a tone with a hint of sarcasm. “I’m sorry if insulting you.”

“I am as well.” Twilight replied, though also showing a taste of dishonesty in her voice. “Have a good night.”

Clouds started to appear in the sky above once more as the two mares snuggled back into the heated heap, attempting to fall asleep. However, as hard as they tried, they can’t force themselves asleep after their brutal bickering just a few seconds ago. Minutes upon minutes passed as the two roused ponies tried to calm themselves down.

But subconsciously, they held a wrath against the other that surpassed sleep. As much as the two hated fighting each other mentally, their minds would not stop. Finally, after an hour of tossing and turning after closing their eyes, Twilight’s and Applejack’s minds disconnected from their physical bodies and entered the world of dreams.

After falling asleep, Applejack soon found herself in an empty void of darkness, standing on what seemed to be an invisible ground. Oblivious that this was all a dream as most ponies are when they sleep, Applejack searched through the darkness for any sign of anything in this unknown location.

After curiously looking around at her surroundings for what felt like hours, the orange Earth pony started to become paranoid, sensing a malicious presence in the empty void.

“Help me!” A familiar voice echoed from behind the lone mare.

Applejack responded quickly, instantly recognizing the voice, “Applebloom?!”

Turning around, she saw the small yellow Earth pony, frantically galloping towards her with her eyes tightly sealed and tears pouring out.

“Applebloom? What is it?” Applejack asked.

“It’s that villain!” Applebloom exclaimed.

Applejack watched in horror as a black set of sharp claws emerged from the darkness behind Applebloom. They grabbed her by her red tail and yanked her back. The small filly screamed, dragged back into the darkness with her voice ringing in Applejack’s ears. Horrified, the orange mare pursued the evil figure, seemingly zipping throughout the black space surrounding her.

Applebloom’s voice cried out again, “Help me Applejack!”

“I’m coming!”

After a few minutes of chasing, Applejack was hit by a burst of red light, temporarily blinding her. She hobbled to a stop. Recovering from the blinding strobe, Applejack now saw that she was on the edge of a large unseen spotlight’s red shine. On the other end of the lit circle was Applebloom, being tightly held onto by a dark bipedal figure.

Applejack saw the figure’s black metal claws covering her little sister’s face. She recognized the figure’s shape in the partial dark.

“Korsan!” She roared.

The villainous shadow cackled in response to Applejack’s shout. The mare bolted forward across the red light and towards her target. However, halfway across the room, a black metal bar wall suddenly dropped from above and fell right in front of Applejack, blocking her from Applebloom. The cage wall reached all the way up to the bright, red light in the black sky.

“Bahahaha!” The figure laughed in a demonic tone. “What are you waiting for? Lift the wall, and save your family.”

Seeing no other option, Applejack obeyed the bipedal pony’s orders, reaching her hooves in between the bars of the cage. She attempted to lift it up, only to find it too heavy. Heaving and huffing, the orange mare tried with all of her might, but to no avail. The mysterious shadow chuckled once more, its claws pressing into Applebloom’s body.

“Let her go!” Applejack demanded.”

“If I can lift that wall, then so can you.” The being replied, its voice sounding identical to Korsan’s.

“I can’t! It’s too heavy! Please, I’ll do anything, just let my sister be!” Applejack pleaded.

The shadow slowly moved forward with Applebloom and spoke again, this time in a surprisingly feminine voice.

“What are you talking about?” It asked.

As the red light hovered towards the face of the unknown pony, Applejack’s jaw dropped, her pupils shrunk to pinpoint, and her body froze in shock.

“Twilight?!”

There, standing on the other side of the wall, was Twilight Sparkle, but not. She was wearing Korsan’s mechanical suit and standing on her hind legs like if she was him. Her inflections were not those Twilight had, but of something deranged.

“We’re all equal!” The Twilight and Korsan hybrid barked in Twilight’s voice.

“What are you doing?”

“The world isn’t all black and white you know!” The hybrid being then spoke in Korsan’s voice. “It just requires a point!”

Throwing Applebloom to the ground with a magic shove, the nightmarish pony drew one of the cutlasses from its spine. The cutlass was then positioned right above Applebloom’s laying body.

“No!”

“Lift the gate!” Twilight’s voice shouted.

“I can’t!”

“Help me!” Applebloom screamed as the sharp edge of the blade caressed her tiny neck.

“I can’t!” Applejack cried.

“End the suffering!” Korsan’s voice roared throughout the bleak universe.

“I can’t!” Applejack proclaimed.

“You can!”

Applebloom violently screamed in pain as the sword enters her flesh.

“AHHH-”

Twilight suddenly found herself inside the throne room of the castle of Canterlot, with no sound to be heard and all signs of life absent. Surprised by her new bearings and with no memory or even the awareness of her actually dreaming, Twilight examined the long chamber in search of answers to what was going on. Without even her hooves making a sound, the purple alicorn found herself becoming paranoid as she looked out the large windows.

Only the white void was outside. It stared back at her with an eerie silence.

The red fluffy carpet felt flat on her hooves. The length of the corridor seemed to expand and shrink randomly. Upon reaching the other end of the room, Twilight saw four thrones, standing side by side. Each looked similar to the royal thrones used by herself, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Princess Cadence. A brief wave a relief washed over the lone pony as now something familiar was in her presence.

However, the relief was brought to a crushing halt as the wall behind the thrones blasted apart into an explosion of flame and stone, sending Twilight back several metres and grinding against the floor. Pain pulsated through the mare’s body as she got back up. Looking back, she saw an enormous hole where the wall once was and Korsan’s airship floating outside it, with a raging storm above.

“Hey! Stop!” Twilight yelled at the attacking ship.

The operator of the ship appeared to not listen and fired another explosive cannonball into the throne room, this time destroying the four thrones. Furious of this terrorist attack, Twilight took off into the air and soared over to the pirate ship parked right next to the chamber. The alicorn princess then landed onto the deck and was greeted by a shadowy figure behind her. It kicked her in the behind, launching her into a nearby mast and smashing her head into the thick wood. Twilight groaned as her brain liquefied and the insides of her head swirled from the impact.

“Well, well, well.” The mysterious pony chuckled in a ghastly voice. “It looks like we require a new order.”

“You won’t get away with this, Korsan,” Twilight grumbled, the shaded bipedal figure standing in the corner of her vision.

“Korsan, what a wise pony,” the being replied in an oddly feminine and accented voice. “All he needs is a point, and the world bends to his law. Even genocide is warranted by his singular wisdom.”

Slowly, the shadowy villain walked closer to Twilight, revealing its true form.

“Applejack?!”

There, standing over her, was Applejack in Korsan’s metal armour and cape, smiling down to her. A callous smile showed on the hybrid’s face.

“Bahahaha!” The nightmarish fusion cackled in Korsan’s voice. “Your friend shall be your undoing.”

“Not if I-”

Before Twilight could retort, her face is smashed and squished into the mast by a kick by the Korsan and Applejack hybrid. Gently, Applejack picked up the paralyzed Twilight by the throat and carried her over to the edge of the deck.

Below her, Twilight was that an ocean of molten lava awaited her. Its intense heat already begun to fry her behind.

“No! Wait! Applejack! Come to your senses!” Twilight begged.

“Why?” Applejack replied in her own voice. “What’s the point?”

“We’re friends! Remember! Let me go!”

“…”

“Please!”

“…You know,” Korsan’s voice echoed from the burning pit below. “Very poor choice of words.”

The mechanically enhanced Earth pony released its grip on Twilight, dropping her into the abyss below.

“NOOO!”

“Gah!” Applejack and Twilight gasped, catapulting themselves from their resting positions and their nightmares.

After a minute of blanking out and recollecting their thoughts, the two realized it was a dream, and came to their senses. It was daylight now in the sky above, with the sun shining its light and warmth through the few clouds and down onto the two ponies. Brushing off the haunting images of the nightmares, the two mares stretched and looked about to see how the others were doing.

However, as Twilight looks about, the raft was abandoned, save for her and Applejack.

“Wait, what?” Twilight stammered in confusion. “Where are they?”

“Uh, Twilight,” Applejack replied, looking the opposite direction in which her friend was.

“We were sleeping in a giant huddle and now they’re gone.”

“Twilight,”

“How did we not notice?”

“Twilight,”

“Where would they have even gone without us?”

“Twilight!”

“What?”

“Looked behind you?”

“What?”

Twilight turned and was shocked at what she saw. Where their raft had stopped was on the shoreline of a large island. With thick forests of tall trees, a large beach area stretching around the entire land, and a monstrous volcano emerging from the center of it all, Twilight and Applejack were awestruck.

They wondered if this was a paradise.

“What?” Twilight gasped.

“Where are we?” Applejack asked.

“Are we dead?” Twilight asked back.

“Good morning!” Pinkie’s voice called out from the forest a hundred metres away from the broken deck and ocean.

The pink mare soon emerged from the thick of the trees, with two halves of a coconut balanced in her mane. She hopped towards Twilight and Applejack.

“What happened? Where are the others?” The two confused ponies asked Pinkie.

Pinkie explained, “Our raft drifted onto this island while we were asleep. When we woke up a few hours earlier, we decided to explore this island and settle down by a small river Rainbow Dash found. We decided not to disturb you. You both looked exhausted.”

“Huh.”

“So what do you think?”

“Thanks for setting up a place for us to recover, Pinkie.” Twilight said. “But we shouldn’t spend too much time here, we still have to stop Korsan and save Rarity. Right, AJ?”

Applejack answered, “Yes.”

The aftertaste of hesitation lingered on the Earth pony’s tongue.

Chapter 020: Word of a Pirate

A kilometre above the ocean, The Perfection flew across the cloudy blue skies. Inside the low brig of The Perfection, Rarity and Sweetie Belle were inside their cells as per usual. With the ambient noises of wood creaking and hooves trotting along the upper floors as their only permanent company, the two prisoners were practically statues in beds, waiting to come alive and eat when Chopin brought them food every few hours.

The loud metal creaking of a door snapped the two out of their ceiling-bound glances and the two sisters look to see what caused the sound. Much to Rarity’s surprise, it was Slasher. She had pulled the lever to Rarity’s cell door, opening it. Her gentle hoofsteps were noticed by the two prisoners before, as they were used to the mime’s heavier stomps.

“Slasher?” Rarity silently exclaimed to the chipper pirate. “What are you doing here?”

“Captain’s recalibrating his suit,” the brown mare calmly replied as she then approached Sweetie Belle’s cell. “It’ll take a while, so I thought it’d be nice to show yous around The Perfection. It must suck being stuck in here for days.”

“Aren’t you worried about us escaping?”

“How? We’re thousands of metres above sea level on one of the heaviest militarized ships in existence,” Slasher said.

“Fair point…”

“It’s tough to pull these without magic, err,” The brown unicorn groaned, eventually pulling down the adjacent lever and opening the filly’s prison door.

“Thank you, Miss!” Sweetie cheered.

She bolted from her caged room and hugged the slightly larger mare’s leg. Slasher was overcome with awe.

She exclaimed, “Aw, you’re so adorable! So, where would you two like to go?”

“The treasure room! Please?!” Sweetie asked.

“Now, Sweetie Belle,” Rarity firmly stated. “We trapped on a boat filled with cutthroat pirates, no offense, Slasher, and I don’t think they’d appreciate us messing with their stolen valuables.”

“Yeah,” Slasher agreed. “Not even most of we are allowed in there. Oh! We have the gardens, you can visit there!”

“Wait, a garden?” Rarity asked, immediately bewildered.

“Yeah, we grow all sorts of plants and foods there, especially potatoes. They’re delicious. Can we go there? I want to go there with yous.” Slasher insisted.

“Sure…”

“Yes! Follow me.”

With Slasher Gutzoult leading the trio, the mares headed up the stairs and into the medical area. There, they came across a light green mare with a silvery mane and tail. She was wearing a nurse’s coat, cleaning the wooden floor with a mop. From the smell and sheer amount of mop fluid, there seemed to have been a rather large mess on the floor earlier.

Rarity instantly recognized her and instantly called out to her, “Hello, Lilis.”

“Hm?” The nurse responded.

She looked up from the damp flooring and was surprised to see the ship’s captives free from their cells without Korsan or Chopin with them.

“Miss Rarity? What a surprise. How’s that cut of yours doing?” She asked.

“My cut?” Rarity asked.

Rarity looked back at her hind legs and saw her right one wrapped in a thick white bandage cloth.

“Oh, I nearly forgot about that. It’s doing well. Thanks for taking care of it.” Rarity said.

“Rapiers make a might of a gash if you’re not careful.”

“I figured.”

“So, where are you taking them, Slasher?” The nurse, Lilis, questioned Slasher.

“I’m just showing our guests around while Korsan’s recalibrating,” Slasher enthusiastic replied, bouncing up and down.

The cat-loving pirate’s black mare flopped in front of her green eyes. Lilis remained indifferent.

“Please tell me it’s not your room. Your cats have already put me to hard work with whatever diseases they manage to pick up.” The nurse told her.

“No, it’s the botany chambers.”

“I’m not sure the cooks would like you interrupting their work.”

“It’s fine. I promise.”

“Fine, just make sure that Yu and Yin don’t see you. Don’t want that little foal with you picking up on their bad habits.”

“Will do, Lilis. By the way, who revisited lunch this time?” Slasher asked.

“Fawnswa,” Lilis said.

“Oh…”

“We should get going,” Rarity interrupted, holding back her disgust. “Right?”

“Oh, yes. Quickly now,” Slasher said.

Going around the wet wood, the trio made their way upstairs into the cabins. Down the hall, they reached the entrance of the gardens. Peaking inside, Rarity and Sweetie Belle were immediately stunned, as rows and rows of plowed land and water span across an entire sector of the ship. Carrots, watermelons, pumpkins, wheats, all neatly organized. Slowly following their guide into the gardens, the two sisters looked around the massive indoor farm, all brightly lit by lanterns on the ceiling.

“How is this ship this massive able to fly?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Especially with an entire farm built into it?” Rarity added.

“I’m not entirely certain,” Slasher sheepishly answered. “I’m not the smartest when it comes to this stuff. I think Korsan said something about electrocuted anti-magic built into The Perfection’s structure counteracting a magic air-field, making it able to fly regardless of massiveness. I don’t know too many big words.”

“My friend, Twilight, would probably kill to learn about this anti-magic stuff your captain knows about.” Rarity said.

“Princess Twilight Sparkle?!”

“Yes? You saw her at Thieves’ Hold, didn’t you?”

“No, I was busy cleaning a spare sail while Korsan and half of the other crew members entered the bar three days ago. But I heard that the battle was amazing! Princess Twilight and Captain Korsan, beating the ever-living daylights out of each other, exchanging blows one right after another. I wish I’d been there to see it. How’d it start anyways? Did your crew and Korsan’s crew stand on opposing sides of the bar and then charged into each other like in an epic action book?”

“Not really, Korsan was about to attack November and her dad and Twilight decided to intervene by smashing a chain into Korsan’s back.”

“Oh no, he said too much again.”

“Who? November’s dad? What do you mean?”

“A little less than three years ago, several months after… then… We visited Thieves’ Hold. The bar had been recently built by November and Nitin Gale. When we first walked inside, Nitin was talking about his experiences with Captain Korsan. He talked about Korsan’s childhood extensively. I wasn’t able to hear much before the captain got furious all of a sudden and attacked Nitin Gale. He bashed the old ex-member into every corner of the bar in a seething bloodlust, never stopping and even tossed November across the bar when she tried to stop him. After a while, Korsan ran out of steam and ordered us to leave immediately.”

“That’s horrible. How old were you when you saw this?” Rarity asked.

“I was fourteen, but I’ve seen worse even before then.”

“Aren’t you in the least bit concerned about Nitin Gale and all that he went through? Aren’t you upset at your boss doing such a horrible thing?”

“I was concerned! I was even going to try to break it up if the captain continued. When he ordered us to go, I was practically furious with him. However, as we were leaving Thieves’ Hold, I saw the captain head up into his chambers, looking as if he was about to cry or something like that. I don’t really understand it, but there I realized something. It was like, Korsan was regretting what he just did and tried to hide his shame from the rest of us. Look, I know that the captain appears to be this merciless maniac, and he is at points, but he really does care for us. He has feelings and emotions like the rest of us.” Slasher explained, tears building in her eyes.

“…Is that really a reason to forgive him for attempting to kill most of my friends?” Rarity then asked.

“Well, no, it’s just… He has good reasons-”

“Good reason my flan-”

“Shhh!” The pirate mare hissed at Rarity as they reached the edge of the gardens.

Ahead of them was a large glass room with trees inside it. With the sunlight from outside beaming into the massive tree room, Slasher and her two companions turned deathly silent. Sounds of what seemed to be stallions whispering could be heard above them.

“That sounds like its coming from the cellar, follow me quietly.” Slasher said.

Sweetie Belle murmured, “But why-”

“I said quietly,” Slasher demanded.

Confused, the two sisters listened and followed the small brown pirate as they snuck across the dirt floor of the room, bobbing and weaving between the trees. They climbed up the staircase in the chamber to the top, leading to the cellar that was right below the kitchen and galley.

Peeking their heads over the landing on the top floor of the hull, the trio looked through the open doors and into a large room. The room was filled with wooden barrels of liquids, but no pony could be seen inside. The voices grew more audible though as they drew closer to the room. Slasher’s thin ears sharply pointed forward in attempts to interpreting the voices.

“What’s going on?” Rarity asked.

“I don’t know, for a while, I’ve been hearing this talking around this area whenever Korsan’s busy with something. Be quiet for a tick,”

Curious of what Slasher’s hearing, Rarity sharpened her ears towards the mumbles and begun to hear them more clearly.

“…so that’s when we’ll hit him?” The voice of an older stallion uttered.

“Yeah,” A younger stallion replied in a strict tone of voice. “He won’t know what hit him.”

“Is this really the best idea? You saw what he’s capable of late night.” The older stallion asked.

“For all we know,” a mare then replied. “He could very well know of what we’re planning and will strike back when we do. Why else would he have been showing off during that fight against that wench we got?”

The younger stallion retorted, “He’s an oblivious moron. Listen, if we don’t get this done sooner or later, he will find out and we’ll all be dead.”

“Well,” a third stallion replied. “You’ll at least be dead. After all, you know more than we do.”

“Dead pony tell no tales,” the elder pirate said.

“The sooner we complete this mission, the sooner we get the riches.” The younger stallion declared. “I’m sick and tired of that twit running us into the ground. High time we do something about it…”

What’s going on? Rarity thought to herself. It sounds like they’re upset at somepony. Wait, didn’t Slasher say something about a certain somepony…

Rarity slowly turned to the focused teenager, thinking she may have a clue. Sweetie Belle, right between the two, began to wrinkle her nose as some loose dust tickles her insides. In one swift motion, the filly violently sneezed, causing the other two to cringe in fright as their cover was blown.

“They didn’t hear that, right?” Rarity hastily asked.

“Somepony’s over there, check it out.” The leading stallion of the unseen group yelled out.

“Oh no,” Rarity gasped.

“Shoot!” Slasher silently exclaimed. “Rarity, get your sister and run back. If they know we’re here-”

“What about you? Who are they?” Rarity asked.

“Just go!”

Frantically, Slasher head-butted Rarity’s side and forced the two down the stairs to the room floor. Getting the message, the two sisters darted into the gardens while Slasher returned to her position at the stairs. Running as fast as they can without making a sound, Rarity and Sweetie Belle darted into the cabin area. However, as they turn around to the stairway down into the lower floor, they accidently collided with Yin and Yu walking up, sending the two brothers tumbling down and smashing into the lower floor.

A pair a mildly pained groans escaped the two.

“Sorry!” Rarity exclaimed.

“Ow…” One of the brothers moaned in response.

“It was an accident!” Sweetie Belle cried out.

“Figured,” The pirate replied.

“Hey,” the other tangled unicorn broke noted. “Why aren’t you two in your cells? We were just going up to find yous when we found your cells have been opened.”

“We were just taking a small tour of the boat, nothing more,” Rarity quickly replied.

“With who?” The stallion duo asked.

“With… Fawnswa, yes!”

Yin and Yu glanced at each other, as if mentally judging her answered. They both returned to her, looking surprisingly happy.

“Oh, he needed an escort after his technicolor spitting fit. That makes sense in his case. We told him not to try carpentry upside with a shot of Anton’s stuff.” The right brother, Yu, said.

“What were you two even doing down there?” Rarity asked.

“Fetching you two. Yeah, Captain wants to see you, Rarity, in his private chambers.”

“What about Sweetie Belle?”

“She is going to be supervised by Butch and Ivan while they prepare dinner.” The first brother, Yin, proclaimed. “Something about letting her interact with the crew and having fun.”

“In the kitchen?” Rarity asked, her eyebrow raised.

“Don’t worry. They’ll keep a good eye on her.”

“…”

“If you don’t like it, too bad. Captain’s orders,” the first brother coldly stated.

“Oh come on, Yin,” Yu playfully retorted. “Don’t be in such a downer because you slipped down a few stairs.”

“Your hoof is in my spleen,” Yin answered.

“Oh. Sorry.”

As the two pirate brothers untangled themselves, worry set into Rarity’s mind. She wondered about what’s happening to Slasher now.

Please let her be okay, Rarity silently prayed.

Upstairs, in the back of the top floor of the quarterdeck, Korsan was inside a small library. He was doing his scheduled recalibration of his suit. It seemed like every month, the suit’s mechanics needed to be tuned.

With his front left hoof resting on a golden table and his right turning a wrench jammed inside his left elbow’s metal parts, all the bipedal pony could do is look around to see the same sights he had always seen in his library. Hundreds of shelves, each packed with books of all sizes and colours, neatly organized by his personal system, lining every wall of the room all the way to the ceiling. Only two sets of dual doors in each corner of the triangular room were not bombarded with books.

On the table where his body sat on were the two Diamond Eyes stacked on top of each other, buried in a small pile of notebooks and broken writing quills. As the pirate captain felt his mechanical armour beginning to squeeze his back and joints, he gave the final tug on his wrench embedded into the gears of his suit before yanking out the wrench. He tossed it into the corner of the massive table before him, relieved to get that thing out of him. A slight gasp escaped the brown stallion’s mouth as he rested himself into a nearby chair and examined an open journal in front of him.

“Let’s see,” Korsan mumbled to himself. “It’s in a combination of both a greater integer function and a quantic function, similar to a diamond’s particle structure when in crystalloid formation. Graphing the equations on a single table and transforming the image created by the graph gets me somewhere, but where’s the next step? Is this step even finished? Perhaps I need to read on Bloomsburg’s studies on the ‘Alicronicom’ again and cross reference it with ‘Daring Do and the Lost Kingdoms of Trihearth’. Maybe I should check Star Swirl the Bearded’s-”

Before he can finish his internal monologue, a knock on the right set of dual doors interrupted his train of thought.

“Who is it?” He asked.

“Rarity-gram.” Yu replied behind the closed doors.

“Let her in.”

Slowly, the doors swung open to reveal Rarity nervously standing there. As organ music then echoed from the adjacent bedroom into the library, the two ponies silently stared at each other for a moment. Yu has already fled.

Korsan greeted her, “Rarity,”

“Korsan,” The white unicorn replied in a sharp, yet frightened tone.

“I see that your leg’s doing well.” Korsan said.

“Why have you brought me here? You know well that I’m neither a fan of you nor your work and would request that you let me and my sister go.”

“It’s been merely three days. Surely you’re not as insistent as you believe yourself to be.”

“What does that mean? How are you so certain of what’s going inside my mind?”

“’Phycology Studies 13C’,” Korsan declared, pointing to a book behind him. “You should read up on it, it’s a good book. What I’m trying to put is that you’re probably interested about the bells and whistles that make up this fine ship. I can arrange something to help that craving. I can arrange a private cabin for you and your sister, give or take a few moves. I can also arrange a little private get-together between you and me, just to know a little more about each other.”

“Aren’t you saving yourself up for November Gale?”

“Not exactly. I have a very limited number of choices for a good mare by my side. I’m just trying to find which one fate truly has set for me.”

“You, some super-sciency pirate, believes in fate?”

“To a scientific extent.”

“…?” Rarity gave a look of confusion.

What is this loon even talking about? She internally asked herself.

Korsan explained, “You see, everything in this world can be given a numerical value. And if you’re clever enough, you can use these numbers to better your odds in whatever goal you’re trying to achieve. Fate is just another one of those numbers. I myself will never be able calculate all the numbers in the world, but I can get quite a few for my life close enough.”

“So what? Are you now planning to go on some date with me?”

“That’s the concept.”

“Never in a million years.”

“Oh, we’ll see in fair time. Now, how about that personal tour?”

Author's Note

👍 Remember to add this story to Tracking and follow me for updates regarding Ultimate Equestria.

Chapter 021: Deserted Island

With the boiling sun sitting at its peak of the sky, the tropical island below boiled. The large island bathed in heat and sunlight, beautifully reflected from the leaves of the tall trees. The ocean surrounding the lone land glistened as it gently rolled across the horizon, slowly washing over the silky white beach.

Walking along the meeting point of land and sea, Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash were quietly enjoying their surroundings as the clear seawater flowed between their hooves.

“It’s so peaceful and quiet out here,” the small cyan mare said. “I love it!”

“I like it to,” her friend replied. “But we can’t stick around here for long. Rarity and Sweetie Belle are counting on us. If we build a raft and set off early enough, we should find Korsan, or at least Thieves’ Hold.”

“And how are we going to find them once we build a raft? Where are we even?” Dash asked.

“I don’t know… We should be somewhere in the Western Antlertic Ocean if what’s left of our ship followed the main current.”

“And if we didn’t?”

“Then we’re completely lost, Dash, but that’s a rare if. Though, now that you mention it, we could very well be lost regardless…”

“Hey, chill out.” Rainbow Dash responded in a relaxed tone. “We always find a way to get out of these types of scrapes together. For now, how about we just rest. We have plenty of time before any raft will be built.”

“I guess.”

A cold foaming wave of water then washed onto the shore and slipped between the two mares’ legs. A soothing chill pulsed through their bodies, causing Twilight to unconsciously coo at the sensation.

“Oh… That does feels nice.” She moaned.

“See? Just let it all go for now.”

“Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.”

As Twilight’s nerves gave wave to her surroundings, a wave of positive energy flowed through her body and soul. Her mind slowly shut down of all previous thoughts, replaced by all of the beautiful sights, sounds, feelings, and smells of the island. The glittering ocean and verdant plants mesmerized her eyes, the waving of the large leaves and the harmonious fumbling of the smooth water echoed in her ears, the smooth sand and clean water caressed her hooves while the soft breeze and beating heat brushes her fur, and the salty air and flagrant, distant flowers purifies her nose and subconscious.

This unified euphoria of relived innocence was interrupted however by Twilight’s quivering stomach.

“Oh dear,” Twilight quietly giggled. “I’m actually a bit hungry. I’ll go look for some food, alone.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, I like the peace.”

“Figured you would. Well, good luck.” Dash said, waving goodbye to Twilight.

“Same to you.”

Twilight waded away from the sandy coastline and went into the forest of palm trees and exotic plants just beyond.

Hidden deep inside the thick of the jungle, there was a large meadow clearing that ran along a tiny river. With only a few large trees dotted around the flowery valley, the entire patch of land was bright throughout the day, with only small shades scatted below the leaves.

Near the edge of this meadow, where the thick bushes and palm trees meet the small flowers and beds of grass, four small tents, made of loose planks of wood, thick sticks, and leaves, stiffly stood in the breeze, surrounding a well-made fireplace. The yellow pegasus, Fluttershy emerged from one of these tents with half of a coconut held in her mouth and headed towards the river. It was a brisk walk, only a hundred metres away.

As the pink-haired mare reached the flowing creek, she was greeted by Twilight on the other side of the brook.

“Oh,” Fluttershy mumbled, dropping the coconut onto the grass to free her mouth. “Hi, Twilight. Like what we did while you and Applejack were asleep?”

“Yeah, you and the others did a great job on those tents back there.” Twilight gleefully replied. “Say, do you have any food? I’m starving.”

“Sure, there are some dates and coconuts in one of the tents.” Fluttershy said.

“Thanks.”

“You look like you’re in a good mood.”

“Yeah, I just figured I’d take it easy while we’re here.”

“You?”

“Well, with some help from Dash.”

Fluttershy softly giggled to herself before replying, “That’s okay.”

Quickly, Twilight leapt across the small river and headed towards the sunlit camp while Fluttershy continued with her own business, collecting water from the stream.

After a minute of pure silence, Twilight’s voice echoed from across the meadow, “I don’t see any food.”

“What?”

Twilight quickly flew back to Fluttershy.

“I checked all of the tents. I didn’t see any dates, and the coconuts had nothing in them.”

“Oh, I guess somepony ate our supplies. Oh well. Want to help me fetch some more?” Fluttershy asked.

“Sure.”

Leaving the coconut half on top of a stone at the edge of the creek, the two mares headed into the thick palm tree forest. As the two walked through the thick plants below their hooves, the sounds of chirping birds and the squeaks of monkeys could be heard all around them.

“Hey, Fluttershy,” Twilight said.

“Yeah?”

“I’m not sure if I’ve asked this, but what’s your favourite animal?”

“Most certainly rabbits. They’re just so fluffy, warm, and gentle. What about you?”

“Owls are my favourite. They’re really smart and can do a lot of neat things. Speaking of animals, what are your thoughts on Juliana, Korsan’s ice phoenix?”

“I’m still trying to figure out how he found her.” Fluttershy replied. “Fire phoenixes are already extremely rare in the world. It would’ve taken a miracle to find one that produces ice.”

“I know. But what about Juliana herself?”

“Well, she is very pretty, despite how mean she is. I feel bad for wha she did to Philomena back at Equestria. I am glad that she looks to be well taken care of though, as well as the rest of Korsan’s crew it seems.”

“I hope Rarity’s getting the same treatment-No, wait, I gotta let that go for now.” Twilight told herself.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m just trying to unwind after Korsan’s last attack.”

“I see. Oh! Here we are.”

The two ponies stopped and looked up to see bunches of large bananas, hanging from the treetops above.

“Oh, good! I’m practically famished after that walk!” Twilight exclaimed.

Immediately, Twilight attempted to grab the ripe fruits with her magic.

Nothing happened.

After a fair second or two of trying, the purple pony remembered Korsan’s anti-magic strap wrapped around her horn.

“Oh, forgot,” Twilight said, a bit embarrassed.

She then flew up to the yellow bananas and attempted to pull them down with her bare hooves. However, as she tried with all of her might, the bananas stayed put on the tree and Twilight soon ran out of energy, falling to the jungle floor.

“They’re too strong for me.” Twilight panted in exhaustion and hunger.

“Let me try something.”

Fluttershy placed a hoof over her mouth and blew into it, causing a loud whistling noise to rupture throughout the forest. Soon after, a small black and white lemur appeared from one of the treetops. It looked down at the two strangers with its big yellow eyes, curious.

“Hello there.” Fluttershy gently called out to the small animal. “Can you please help us by getting some bananas?”

The small animal turned its head down towards the bananas and then back to the onlooking mares.

“Please?” Twilight begged the lemur.

As if repulsed by Twilight’s command, the lemur started to back away from its post.

“Wait! Mr. Lemur, we’re very hungry. Can you please help us? We’ll even share some bananas with you.” Fluttershy told the lemur.

Interested by the tone of Fluttershy’s voice in this new request, the lemur returned to the girls, leaning below the treetop. He reached out his small hands at the main stem of a large bundle of the yellow fruit and pinched it, causing the entire bundle to snap off and fall down onto the jungle floor.

“Thank you!”

Taking a single banana out from the group, Fluttershy flew up to the lemur.

“Here you go.” She said to it.

The small critter grabbed the yellow fruit and scattered away into the jungle, out of her and Twilight’s sights. Twilight took a larger banana from the bunch and attempted to peel it open. Although having trouble at first, the hungry mare managed to pop open the end. Immediately, she shoved the revealed white insides into her mouth. Physical satisfaction was returned for her nutritional deeds.

“Yum, thanks, Flutter.” Twilight thanked Fluttershy.

“You’re very welcome.” Fluttershy replied.

“How come you’re so good with animals?”

“I just have a gift, I guess. Though, I’m pretty sure you could do the same thing with your magic.”

“I couldn’t. Even the most advance unicorn magic can’t allow ponies to communicate with animals as well as you do.”

“Huh. I must be very lucky then.”

“I guess so. Anyways, where are the others? I’ve only been walking along the beachside with Dash the past hours when AJ went with Pinkie.”

“Applejack, Applebloom, and Scootaloo are searching for parts to build a raft and any passing ships at the beach along with Dash. Spike’s at the volcano trying to make a smoke signal. And Pinkie’s…”

“Being Pinkie?”

“I have no idea where she is.” Fluttershy bluntly said.

“Well that’s okay. A little exploration around here wouldn’t hurt.”

“Just be careful with snakes if you’re planning to do that. They don’t like it when you step on their tails.”

“I’ll keep note of that.”

“Anything else I can help you with?”

“Hmmm… Do you have any guess when we might be able to leave?” Twilight asked.

“I don’t know, a month maybe.”

“…Okay.” Twilight replied, a little taken back by the answer.

“Is there a problem?” Fluttershy said, now concerned.

“No. Still a little concerned about Rarity and Sweetie Belle.”

“It’s fine. We’ll save them.”

“Yeah. Bye, Fluttershy”

“Bye, Twilight”

After hastily forking down the rest of her banana, Twilight took off into the air and above the tall jungle. Adjusting to the sun in her eyes, the flying mare circled around the island and several certain areas, searching for anypony or anything of interest.

In the back of her mind, the princess took note of specific areas. The volcano, the meadow, the beach and coastal outline, the lagoons, the small lakes, the tall cliff peninsula, the mountain range on the opposite side of the island from the meadow, their raft, some small shipwrecks by the beach, and the large whirlpool a couple hundred kilometres on the horizon, all presented themselves as points of interest.

However, as she flew over a particularly thick portion of the forest jungle, her eyes caught a glimpse of what appeared to be a large wooden structure, hidden in the foliage.

“What’s that?” She asked herself.

With a sharp turn of her large wings, Twilight dove down next to the structure, gently landing at the entrance of the large shack. Made of dark brown wood and carved stone, the seemingly abandoned hut looked to be having been in a dilapidated condition for several years, shown by the copious amount of plant life sprouting between the cracks of the building.

With a growing sense of paranoia tingling in her spine, Twilight slowly walked up to the small entry. The wood and stone creaked louder as she drew near. Twilight pushed the door open, revealing a near pitch black room beyond the swinging door.

“H-hello?”

The only thing that responded to the nervous pony was a hiss of wind and another creaking noise. Opening the door all the way, Twilight illuminated the front room of the abandoned building, revealing its contents. It was a small room, only roughly four metres by five metres, with its wooden walls, ceiling, and floor nearly completely covered in vines, cobwebs, and rot. A door stood on every side of the room, each barred shut with rotting wooden planks and rusty nails.

In the back right corner of the room, a ladder could be seen extending into the floor above and a basement below. Many pictures, large and small, were decorated along the wall, all having their glass covers coated in dust. Curious, the purple pony slowly walked deeper into the room and approached one of the larger pictures. It seemed special, one that required more space around its dirty, golden frame.

Using her hoof to smear away the heavy dust, Twilight immediately turned astonished, as her eyes gazed onto the revealed image in front of her eyes.

As the sun began its slow decent into the afternoon and eventual night, Applejack paced around the sandy coast with Applebloom and Scootaloo trailing behind her. Paying no mind to the water splashing into her legs, the orange Earth pony’s mind was set on another, more critical thought in her perception.

“Hey, Applejack,” the mare’s younger sister cried out. “Can we get back to camp? We’re getting’ hungry.”

No response was given by the sidetracked leader of the team.

“Sister? Hello? Hellooooooo…”

Still no reply or even acknowledgement is given.

“What’s going on?” Scootaloo asked her filly friend. “Is she sleep walking?”

“Maybe I should try screamin’?” Applebloom suggested.

“Wait, isn’t that the opposite of what you’re supposed to do-”

“Applejack!”

Immediately, Applejack snapped from her mental distraction, snapping her neck towards her sister.

“Are you alright?” Applejack fearfully hollered back, on the verge of hyperventilating.

“Sorry. Can we head back to camp now?” Applebloom asked.

Before answering, the frightened pony took a deep breathe to settle her nerves from the shock.

“Sure, you all lead the way.” Applejack finally said.

Scootaloo cheered, turning towards the jungle. Without paying mind to others, the energetic filly swooped into the trees, leaving a stunned Applejack and a confused Applebloom behind.

“Sister, I’m sorry for giving you a fright.” Applebloom apologized.

“It’s fine, it’s all hunky dory. I was just a little, distracted.”

“With what?”

“A thought,”

“What were you thinkin’ about?”

“Well… Adult things. Nothin’ to worry your lil’ head about.”

“What adult things? Are you gettin’ married?”

“No, no, nothing like that,”

“Then what?”

“Well… It’s complicated.”

“Applejack,”

“Yeah?”

“Is it about Mom and Dad?”

A moment of silence manifested between the two as they waded through the forest. After several seconds of silence, it was eventually broken by Applejack.

“Sort of.” She said. “Now that, you know, we only got each other, Big Mac, and Granny, and Granny’s is reaching her limit, there’s been a lingering problem about keeping us safe and all. I haven’t really been getting into thought about it much until our encounters with Korsan and what happened after them.”

“We’ll be alright. Our friends will be with us and we’ll still have each other.”

“…”

“Right?”

“…”

As Applejack turned silent again, the yellow filly started to feel nervous. Her body quivered in worry and concern.

“…You’re starting to scare me.” Applebloom told her sister.

“Sorry. But, even if I am with you when something happens, what if I can’t protect you?”

“No, that won’t happen. That won’t happen, right?”

“I will make sure that never happens. You have my word.”

“And besides,” Applebloom cheerfully replied, seeing her sister now putting on a strong face. “We’ll always have our friends, right?”

“…Sure.”

Chapter 022: Cruise Dating

The Perfection gracefully sailed across the cloudy skies as the warm sun descended into the horizon. The golden rays of dying light reflected off of the shiny woodwork of the deck, turning the thirty black sails of the tall masts fluttering in the wind into a warmer grey. At the forecastle deck, shielded from the direct sunlight by the array of gib sails, sat Korsan and Rarity.

Seated in two chairs at a small round table with a small set of fancy drinks and elegant foods, two ponies were on what was intended to be a date.

“So,” the brown stallion, Korsan, suavely asked his guest of honour. “Have any questions? Feel free to ask me anything.”

He lifted up a small silver goblet from the table and drank down its contents.

Rarity took a moment to look around. Without any of the other pirates around, the ship and surrounding sky was perfectly peaceful. But this wasn’t the time to relax, now was the time to get answers, to find some weakness.

Rarity then asked in a curious, yet still bitter tone, “How is this ship flying?”

“Simple.” Korsan pridefully stated. “I lined the exterior hull with thick amounts of anti-magic. Anti-magic, in thicker amounts at least, reacts with the magic field surrounding our world, holding the ship in a locked altitude above the ground, similar to a magnet really.”

“Where have you been?” Rarity asked.

“Everywhere. Ti, Pingwin, Heliopolis, Cervidas, Vaporia, Prances, Heliopolis, and many others, I’ve been to every nation east of the Forgotten Sea. I tell you what, the various cultures scattered across our world are fascinating, especial when they’re compared side by side. Watching my band of diverse crew members interact with one another is one of my biggest sources.”

“How did you pick out your crew members? By random, I’m guessing.”

“Actually no, I study a bit of their history before breaking hem out of whatever bottleneck rut they were stuck in, to determine who’s truly worthy to become part of this ship.”

“Even the mime?”

“Especially Chopin,”

“Okay…”

Rarity thought for a moment before asking another question. For some reason, she was intrigued by Korsan. She couldn’t tell if it was because of the pirate’s exotic history, the sheer bizarreness of his world compared to her own, or the cool, comforting tone of speech he has when simply chatting.

Before her mental defenses could be lowered, Rarity had to know one thing.

“Do you actually care about your crew members?” She asked him.

“Oh course I do, why would I not?” Korsan replied a bit stunned.

“Aren’t you worried about them backstabbing you, being mostly criminals?”

“…From what I’ve seen from their past, and how I run this ship, I’m highly certain that they’ll be loyal to me.”

Rarity was shocked. For the first time, she sensed some sort of doubt in Korsan’s voice, as if he wasn’t sure. She wasn’t sure, but perhaps the fact that he, as well as any other pony, has doubts and takes a moment to think of an answer gives comfort.

Before Rarity could ask another question, Korsan instead questioned her.

“Actually, I have some questions for you.” He said, curious. “Where did you come from?”

“Ponyville,” Rarity answered, a bit hesitant.

“I figured. You didn’t look like a local or foreign bigwig that night. What do you do for a living?”

Although apprehensive to answer at first, seeing as Korsan was going to be stopped sooner or later, Rarity decided to play along and openly talk with the pirate captain about her life.

“I’m a fashion designer, the best of the best some celebrities say.”

“Interesting, perhaps I could use your assistance in designing a new costume for me.” Korsan joked.

“No.”

“Fine, fine. Does your sister want to follow your lead and also do this designing business?”

“I can’t really say for certain. She just seems to be doing anything that gives her some sort of opportunity, even after getting her cutie mark.”

“Heh, I never even got mine, though I won’t say it really matters where I’m standing.”

“As much of a foal she is, Sweetie is quite fond of these adventures.”

“At least she has a childhood…”

As Korsan continued on, his voice became notably softer.

“Miss Rarity, what’s it like being an older sibling?” Korsan asked.

“It’s most certainly not the easiest if that’s what you’re implying.”

“But you have so much power, so much control. Surely, you must have no problem taking a hold of the world around you.”

“Oh now that’s just silly. Sweetie Belle’s a filly. Half of the time, even I can’t control her.”

“Do you still love her as your sister though?”

“Well, of course. That what siblings are for…”

Rarity stopped talking for a moment as she remembered of what Nitin Gale told her about Korsan’s family at Thieves’ Hold.

“Although she can sometimes drive me insane,” Rarity then said, careful of her wording. “Other times, she’s one of the greatest ponies I know. All of those good times we shared together, I’m real sorry that you only got rejection from yours.”

A small moment of silence came by before the pirate pony spoke, returning to his more callous and villainous attitude.

“But they had fair reason to be,” Korsan coldly said.

“That’s not tru-”

“Say, does Equestria still uphold that moronic equality thing today?” Korsan interrupted her.

What seemed to be at the drop of a hat, Korsan removed whatever warmness he had in personality, and replaced it with that crude pirate bravado he has with outsiders.

“Yes, and its most certainly not moronic.” Rarity told him.

“Well, perhaps you need to take a moment to see that it is a moronic principle.”

A small huff escaped Rarity’s nostrils.

“Being forced into having a date with some monster like you is moronic.” Rarity said, equally as cold as Korsan.

“I am no monster, but rather, a revolutionary, a necessary evil of sorts.” Korsan said.

“Does your crew know about what you mean when you say that? The fact that you’re slaughtering every non-unicorn in your path?”

“They, have some awareness of my goals. We haven’t been doing anything all that violent.”

“But what about that day three years ago?”

The pirate pegasus’ voice suddenly sharpened into an aggressive tone.

He replies back, still trying to keep his cool, “Oh yes, that’s right, Nitin told you all about that day. I wasn’t in the best of moods to say the least.”

“You’re probably never in the best of moods. For all I know, you are is just some psychopath using some false cause to justify whatever crime you want to commit. I am not joining your crew on whatever circumstance.”

Now furious at her partner, Rarity promptly got up from her seat and headed towards the stairway to below deck. She didn’t even bother to look back. She had it set in her mind that all Korsan was doing behind her was sitting in that chair with that Cheshire grin on his face.

“Wait.” Korsan’s voice echoed from across the boat.

“I don’t care, I’m going back in my cell and away from you.” Rarity told him.

“Let’s just finish our supper at least.”

“I’ll starve, thank you.”

As the angered prisoner reached the galley doors, Korsan called out to her.

But what he said was nothing imaginable by Rarity. Instead of his cruel, pirate bravado, Korsan spoke in a more benevolent voice. It sounded almost sorry, and more like a genuine try to appeal to her.

“Look,” he said. “I was being stupid. I’m not all that tough or brooding as I set myself to be. Really, I feel like we might have more in common that either of us know. Let me show you, back in my chambers. You might actually like a few things.”

Rarity slowly turned towards the pirate, interested of this immediate change of heart.

“…” Rarity kept silent however, not sure what to say next.

“Please? Hear me out,”

A small spur of delight and interest sparked in the mare’s head as she watched her rival now starting to beg to her. Despite her still disgust in Korsan, she couldn’t help but feel pity for him as his voice degraded in pride.

“Hmmm… Like what things?” She asked Korsan.

“Books, maps, mechanical devices, treasures, gemstones, artifacts,” Korsan said.

“Gemstones?”

“Yeah,”

“Show me.”

“Yes!” The captain surprisingly cheered in delight. “Follow me.”

Within a second, Korsan’s body had already left the chair and was now running across the main deck to the other end of the long ship.

“What the,” Rarity muttered to herself as she slowly followed behind the captain. “I wasn’t expecting him to be this, enthusiastic, or even this… childlike.”

Rarity met up with her guide inside the second floor of the quarterdeck. Before them was long wall of solid wood and a vault door in the middle of it. As Korsan eagerly pulled several levers alongside the steel door, the white unicorn looked at her surroundings.

Outside, she saw a random stallion crew member climbing up one of the masts ladders with a dagger in his magic grip.

A loud clank was then heard behind her, causing her to snap her head back and see Korsan pulling the vault door open. The sight revealed caused Rarity’s jaw to drop.

The inside the massive vault turned out to be an utter gigantic treasure room, filled to the ceiling with many riches and treasures of unimaginable value. A mountain of golden blocks and coins stood in one corner of the room. The alongside wall was stuffed with ancient books, including an entire set of Daring Do novels. Several flags of different countries and kingdoms hung from the ceiling. Smaller sorted piles of iron, silver, quartz, emerald, diamond, bronze, and other valuable metals and abundant crystals were spread across the vault floor. Mechanical toys and devices made from wood, metal, and strings were displayed on shelves and tables. Large container units, holding special objects, were all arranged in a nice pattern, in one corner of the room. Even more trinkets and valuables dotted every metre of the massive chamber.

Shocked stiff, Rarity continued to silently stare into the room, mystified of the front half of the chamber her eyes can see alone.

“So,” Korsan gleefully asked. “What do you think?”

“I’m speechless. I never imagined you had such tastes.”

“Come, you said you wanted to see the gemstones.” Gently grabbing Rarity’s front hoof, Korsan led her into the large room. The two searched around for where the jewels were placed.

“Now where did I leave those? By the Altar of Aspidochelone? How about the condensed anti-magic? No, was it the Snapneck Claw prototype? No, no, no, it was by Captain Cutlass Cornelius’ skull.” Korsan muttered to himself.

“Where did you find all of these things? I know you pillage and plunder and all of that, but some of these things look like they’re centuries old, even millenniums.” Rarity asked, looking at a wall of highly detailed paintings of nature.

“I found them on some travelling ventures, only a few I ‘stole’ per say, specifically the gold and some gemstones.”

“Why didn’t you show me this room before?”

“I didn’t really think of showing you this room because…”

“Because what?”

“…I don’t know. Maybe my big talk, my thick privacy, I’m really more of an idiot.”

“Why are you telling me this now?”

“…Back at the forecastle, when we were talking, something just triggered inside of me. It was some feeling, a really good feeling, one that I haven’t felt in a while. For some reason, I feel like I can be honest with you. I-I just can’t really describe it.”

“You mean you see me as a friend?”

“…Perhaps, perhaps. Ah, here they are.”

The two ponies approached a pair of long shelves, one above another. Both were lined from end to end in a vast array of valuable jewels and stones. From red diamonds, to yellow star-cut rubies, to green crystals, to blue emeralds, they all glistened in the lantern light above them. Rarity was immedialty, completely entranced by her favourite things in the world.

“They’re beautiful.” She silently exclaimed.

Korsan looked over the display of stones alongside her, explaining what some of them are.

“Let’s see, that small white one’s the Eye of Calypso. That red diamond’s a Sparkle Blood Diamond. This pink one in the corner is an old birthstone of the current princess of Germaneigh.” He explained.

On the middle of the top shelf, the white mare noticed the Diamond Eyes, leaning against the wall side by side. Rarity was then immediately reminded on why she and her sister were even here on this ship. She looked over her side to see her guide continue to ramble on about each and every one of the hundred or so jewels before them.

“Korsan.” She said.

“Yes?” He asked, turning to her.

“Where did you find the second Diamond Eye?”

“Off from the shores of Pingwin. I had to, ‘borrow’, the other half in Equestria during the gala in order for the thing to actually be usable.”

“Usable for what?”

“To find the place I’ve been looking for, my ticket of finally being able to use magic, Alicorn Island.”

“Alicorn Island…”

“There’s some sort of map hidden in the Diamond Eyes, I just can’t find it though.”

“What do you plan to do once you do find the island?”

“Well, seeing as you and your friends came all this way after me for it. I might just return it to Equestria with both halves for a small ransom, I wouldn’t really need it since. But at this rate, I may never be able to find that blasted isle.”

“You’re really trying hard to find a way to use unicorn magic.”

“It’s been my lifelong dream, to be able to do things you and most other unicorns are able to do at any moment. To teleport to anywhere in only a second, to levitate massive objects with only your mind, to protect myself from ponies trying to use magic on me, it’s all a wonder to me.”

“Captain Korsan.” An old stallion’s voice called out from outside the vault. “We’re approaching alongside the western coastline of Wisteria. Continuing northwards, we’ll be far beyond the charted waters of the Outer Kingdoms and the Antlertic Ocean.”

“I see, Butch, I understand.” The captain said to his crewmember.

“Course of action, Captain?” Butch asked.

“…Let me take to the wheel. I got this taken care of. Come along, Rarity.” Korsan said, an eagar smile growing on his face.

Chapter 023: Speed Dating

As Rarity followed Korsan out of the vault, she heard nervous huffs of air from the cook, Butch. Korsan wanted to do something with his ship, something that made even the crewmember anxious.

“Please tell me it’s not another joyride.” Butch said.

“It’s a fair time to see if the ship’s in full working order.” Korsan casually dismissed his worries.

“Isn’t that Isyan’s job? Your boatswain?”

“Bah, the slacker’s as daft as the mere concept of flank piercings.”

“Ew…” Rarity groaned in disgust.

“Believe me. It’s hard to contemplate its existence even when it’s right in front of you. Don’t ask how I know.” Korsan said.

“Korsan, please,” Butch pleaded to his leader passing by him. “We’re already under enough stress as it is working.”

“Exactly, that’s why I would suggest a good flight to loosen up.” Korsan said.

“Oh, bother…”

While Korsan and Rarity reached the open deck and climbed up the stairs to the top deck, the large dark blue stallion sprinted to the main deck.

He yelled out to his colleges, “Joyride Alert! Joyride Alert! Joyride Alert!”

Immediately, all of the crew members on deck and on top of large masts scrambled. In seconds, they all collected into the galley and down into the cabins below, the loud rumbling of their hooves against the wood floor roared all the way up to Korsan and his guest at the wheel of the great vessel.

“Heh, never gets old.” Korsan chuckled.

The bipedal pegasus reached to his far right and pulled down the farthest lever amongst the selection of two other levers and a button. Upon pulling it, an enormous clank ruptured from inside the wheel. Five levers emerged from the insides of the wheel’s stand. Two sets of three more large stick controls arose from a rising section of the floor, turning into a complex control box.

As Rarity watched in awe of Korsan’s wheel area turning into an advanced control panel, the top of her eyes caught a glimpse of Korsan’s ice phoenix hovering around the airship. The last of the new steering devices settled in place and the entire airship was ready for action. It bolted, jolted, and shivered around, throttling up and loosening its stiff cruising path.

“You might want to hold onto something.” Korsan warned Rarity.

“Why?” Rarity nervously asked, slowly reaching her hooves around the deck’s railing in front of the wheel.

“Things are about to get real fun… Right. Now.”

With one swift motion of his leg, he flicked the initial middle lever up. Suddenly, The Perfection dropped from the sky and plummeted towards the ocean several hundred metres below. Rarity screamed as the massive ship rapidly accelerated, tipping into the blue abyss below.

“Pull up! Pull up!” She cried.

“One second…” Korsan said, tightly grasping the controls before him.

After five endless seconds of free falling, and the entire behemoth now only a single hundred metres above the waves below, the pirate reached to his side and yanked a side lever down. The long flagship suddenly jerked upwards and straightened out. The Perfection was now blazing across the open sea at blinding speeds, tearing the sky in two.

Only the keel pierces into the rolling water as the pirate ship charged forward at its ridiculous speeds. Korsan’s and Rarity’s manes could barely keep up with their bodies, rapidly fluttering against the passing wind. Korsan’s cape turned into a parachute of sorts, almost tearing him from the wheel. Ahead of them, the two saw a long range of rocky cliffs at the horizon. With no sign of the ship stopping, the cliffside quickly grew larger in their sights, covering their entire peripheral vision in only a few seconds.

At this rate, Korsan’s going to crash! Rarity mentally exclaimed, her mouth unable to move by the sheer velocity of the ship. He has to have a trick up his sleeve.

Sure enough, Korsan yanked another lever. The Perfection immediately pulled up, turning vertical on the dot. It traveled along with the tall vertical cliffs, quickly reaching the top. He then pulled down followed along the tops of a forest at the cliffs. Shifting between two levers, Korsan bobbed and woven the speeding airship between the more gigantic trees. A few accidental clippings with the trees scraped into the sides of the boat, sending massive chunks of wood chips out over the environment.

“Who taught you how to drive?!” Rarity asked.

“Me.”

Korsan then pulled the ship directly upwards, letting it rise into the sky for a quick while. He and Rarity grabbed onto the wheel and railing with all of their might as the speeding airship tore into the clouds.

Rarity looked behind her and saw a large ravine right below them, only barely larger than the airship.

She immediately knew what he was planning.

“You’re not doing that are you?” She nervously asked.

“The ravine?” Korsan asked.

The airship then begun to stall. It slowly turned back around, plunging back towards the world below. As it tore through the clouds again, it was obvious that he was aiming for the ravine. With a wide grin on his face, the pirate pegasus prepared for his ultimate stunt.

“It’s going to fit.” He declared.

“No it won’t!”

“I know this ship like my front hoof! …Although, I haven’t really seen my hoof for a few years-”

“Watch out!”

Korsan focused back on what was in front of the ship and saw the bow sprint charging directly towards the outer edge of the chasm. He frantically yanked several levers and whipped the wheel to the left. The massive ship slipped into the hole and down into its caverns below, just barely clipping the land. The sounds of wood scraping against stone echoed into the darkness as Korsan piloted the lightning-fast airship. The only light giving him any direction was the faint green glow of his ship’s hull and sparks generated by the grinding of wood against the stone walls.

Corkscrews, loops, hairpin turns, wide bends, and gravity twisting maneuvers were executed one right after another in the dark and tight cave. Rarity could barely hold onto the railing or her stomach for much longer. It was like The Perfection would never stop.

Eventually though, the massive behemoth stopped its frantic whips and slowed downs upon reaching a long, wide stretch of the cave. It was filled with glittery gemstones, generating a shining light that illuminated the underground area in an aria of colour. Rarity and Korsan were in awe of their surroundings as the gently cruising ship passed by massive crystals in the wall. Colours of the rainbow danced along the wooden deck and sails of the vessel. On the ceiling of the length of cavern, enormous golden crystal stalagmites hung, skimming the tops of the masts and sails. And just below, the faint sounds of a quiet river could be heard lapping into the keel.

“Wow,” Rarity muttered.

“Indeed.” Korsan replied in wonder as well, almost at a loss for words.

“Look at those things above us.”

“Must be a solid vein of pure gold being mixed with quartz due to water erosion above that’s creating these,”

“Have you ever been here before?”

“No, I wish I did. This place is beautiful.”

“Incredible…”

“Miss Rarity, hold on tight.”

“Why?”

Rarity looked back forwards at the bow of the ship and saw that the incoming end of their cavern goes into sharp drop. The pirate airship started to tilt down into the abyss. The vessel roared back alive with speed.

“Here we go again!” Korsan whooped.

In a second, the ship snapped back to its neck breaking charge into the darkness below. Screams erupted from Rarity and cheerful howls roared from Korsan with the boat resuming its insane maneuvers. Rocks and wood debris smacked against the massive ship as it barreled through the caves, but the ship couldn’t care less.

The ponies onboard were flung left and right, never stopping for a second. The chaos ensued for several minutes before light could be seen around a corner. Hitting the turn, Korsan and Rarity saw the daylight at the other end of a final stretch of cave. The Perfection charged towards it, but as it reached the halfway point, a large section of the cave roof suddenly collapsed and covers the exit.

“We’re trapped!” Rarity exclaimed.

“Not if we drill our way out!”

“What?!”

Korsan flung another lever forward, causing the vessel to rapidly spiral whilst still speeding ahead.

“Hold on!” He commanded.

The ship then rammed into the rock pile, its full force and spiral motion colliding with the stone at disintegrating strength. The wall of stone burst into pebbles, and the huge airship blasted through the exit, escaping the cave. A gentle gust of ocean breeze washed over the boat as the white unicorn and brown pegasus breathed out a sigh of relief.

With the golden sky now back over their heads, the captain reset the levers surrounding him, returning the huge brig to its normal glide across the sky. After returning the farthest switch to its initial positon, the wheel area collapsed back to its normal, simple form.

“So,” Korsan panted. “What do you think of that?”

Rarity quietly muttered in her gasps for air, “…That. Was. Too scary,”

“…Oh…”

“But fun. I may not a big fan of you, but that doesn’t mean I can have a little fun.”

“So, want to go agai-”

“No!”

“Haha,” Korsan chuckled to himself for a moment upon being immediately denied.

“Cousin Korsan,” A stallion’s voice cut in on Korsan’s laughter.

Rarity and Korsan looked down to the entrance of the galley. Isyan was looking back up at him.

“Oh, hi Isyan,” Korsan cheerfully said.

Isyan’s returned with a brutal rant, “Do you realize what damage you just caused by this joyride of yours?! One of the lavatories has a giant hole in it with its toilet gone, the bowsprit’s bent, the paint’s chipped, one of the kitchen windows are scraped,”

As the beige boatswain angrily barked at his leader, Rarity felt as if she’s heard Isyan’s voice from somewhere. However, as hard as she tried, the events of just a minute ago had scrambled her brain for the moment.

“Yin and Yu have caused a riot over bets on your joyride. Fawnswa revisited lunch again, Pip’s stuck in a cannon, and your treasure room is spilling out all over the deck!” Isyan roared.

Korsan looked down towards the entrance of his vault of treasures, seeing the Diamond Eye halves lying out in the open.

“Oh, forgot to close the door… Well, it’s just those two pieces, and they didn’t get too far-” Korsan talked complacently.

“Korsan! How are you going to atone for the damage of The Perfection?”

“Don’t worry Isyan, that’s your department. You got this under your control, no need to worry about me.”

The formally dressed unicorn growled in fury of his kin’s immature attitude towards the matter. He stormed onto the lower quarter deck to clean up the loose gemstones.

“Oh, dear cousin, you’re never without a laugh.” Korsan dryly taunted Isyan.

Isyan’s only response was a grumble as he picks up the Diamond Eye halves and placed them together. Upon locking them in place, Korsan’s eyes sharpened at the rainbow light refracted onto the deck under the crystal.

“Wait!” Korsan screamed.

“What now?”

“Don’t, move.”

The caped pirate leapt over the top deck’s rail and next to his cousin and the floating Diamond Eye. He crouched down to the rainbow glow on the wood and examined the tiny symbols created in the blurry shine of the diamond.

“Lift the Diamond Eye up, slowly.” Korsan told him.

Curious of what he was now on about, Isyan followed along and gently lifted the crystal. The symbols slowly sharpened to firm shapes.

“Stop!” Korsan then demanded.

“Korsan, what’s going on? It’s just some sunlight going through a prism and making some weird rainbow reflection.”

Rarity walked up to Korsan and Isyan and upon seeing the glowing symbols, she was immediately reminded of Twilights interest in them back at Thieves’ Hold.

“Don’t you remember from ‘Daring Do and the Lost Kingdoms of Trihearth’?” Korsan asked his partner. “Why didn’t I see this before?! It was so obvious from the fact that Daring Do’s mother is-”

“The point?” Isyan rudely asked.

“These light symbols are the map! It’s our ticket to Alicorn Island! Ha, ha! Just a bit of time for translating and travel, I will finally be able to use magic, and it’s all downhill from there!”

Korsan rose from his squat and gave manically laugh in joy. A slight feeling of joy overcame Rarity as she saw the fun stallion so happy, but also a feeling of dread of what this meant for her friends and everypony else.

“Korsan, must you be so open in front of Rarity over here?” Isyan asked.

“Bah, you worry too much, cousin. To the books!” Korsan declared.

With the Eyes in tow, Korsan mad a mad dash to the library, with Rarity slowly trailing behind, still nauseous from the joyride.

Chapter 024: Lord of the Horns

Now alone within a pitch black and musty room, armed with only a small lantern to light up whatever’s a half-metre ahead of her, Twilight found herself adventuring into the basement of the abandoned shack on this seemingly deserted island. Whatever was ahead was a complete mystery. As the purple alicorn blindly wandered into the unknown, she reflected on picture she revealed.

“It was a map of the known world,” Twilight muttered to herself, the handle of her light held by her teeth.

It wasn’t just any ordinary map, and Twilight knew that well. It was one that extended out towards the west and beyond the Outer Kingdoms. Accurately depicting the fabled Old World, somewhere that has only been mentioned in legends, this map was one of perhaps three in the world. Barely any pony had ever even dared ventured out there, let alone charted it. The distant sea and lands bore dangerous weather and tales of horrific monsters.

But the questions remained. So how did this stallion do it and what was with the red writing scribbled on it?

“Where is it?” Twilight repeated the writing.

Twilight’s mental recap was interrupted however by a sharp force smacking her forehead. The pony yelped in shock and backed up, dropping the lamp onto the floor. Rubbing her now pulsing headache, Twilight looked at what hit her and saw it was another lantern, hanging from some ceiling boards. It was put out though. She grabbed a nearby stick and carried some fire from her light to the hanging one, lighting it up. It wasn’t easy in her disabled state, but Twilight managed. To her surprise, it had a lot of oil inside of it, and the light immediately illuminated a large portion of the room. Twilight could then see that she was in the center of a massive underground dock of sorts. A stream of subterranean water ran through one side of the room, leaving the raised stone floor as a sort of platform. The floor, walls, and ceiling around the cave was made of chiseled stone, covered in vines and tiny brown mushrooms. Seeing eight more unlit lamps surrounding her, Twilight slowly lit them as well before flinging her burning stick into the river.

With the area now fully lit, the curious mare looked over to the river. In the new light, a large, sleek, ship was revealed in the middle of the dock, anchored to a wooden post on the floor. It had three great dark- grey sails attached to three stubby masts, all of which almost covering the entire top of the grey and blue painted vessel. The ship was no higher than ten metres tall and twenty metres wide, but had an odd length of just over fifty metres in length. Sporting only five cannons on each side and barely enough room for storage, a galley, and a single cabin, it was a bizarre boat. Twilight was intrigued by the unusual water vehicle.

“This thing looks like a racing boat. Custom, clearly…” Twilight commented.

Squinting her eyes towards the bow, Twilight read the inscribed title of the ship.

“Lightning Rod.”

Twilight looked around at the rest of the basement area and saw a long table against to the opposing wall. It was covered in dusty papers and books, all strewn across every inch of the table. Interested in this new sight, Twilight walked to the long wood table. Upon closer inspection, several maps and charts on the table and nailed to the wall behind were completely coated in a layer of black ink stains and red letters and symbols.

Jumping up and down, Captain Korsan bolted into his bedroom with the Diamond Eyes in his claws, approaching his large golden organ next to a giant king-sized bed. He saw that the organ was in operation, its keys moving on their own and its bellowing music played. With a mightly kick of his hind leg, the automatic organ stopped.

“I need silence!” The captain excitedly barked before hurrying into the library behind the bedroom.

He shoved away all previous items on the main table onto the floor and set the Diamond Eyes down together at the far end of the table. He grabbed a lit lamp at the side of his chair and held it up to the ceiling with one hoof. He then grabbed his crossbow with the other and fired a bolt into the handle, lodging it into the wooden ceiling. The brown stallion swiped several books from nearby bookshelves and creates four supports with them, stacking them up to almost to the ceiling roof. Korsan immediately darted back to the Diamond Eyes and gently set them on top of the book stacks. The combined diamonds refracted the light into white, glowing symbols, projected onto the golden tabletop, just like what happened outside.

“Where’s the Ancient Trihearth language reference book?!” He giddily exclaimed to no pony.

Twilight looked over the open books at the center of the table below a lantern and read what appeared to be a journal entry.

Day 186 of Exploration Exhibition #4 of Madenison Island

Over the past weeks, I have been searching the seas for signs of the ancient island kingdoms of Trihearth across all exterior tier waters of the Old World. Although I have not found the legendary island, I have found something even better. On my travels, I have uncovered a Rosetta Stone at the bottom of a trench, one that translates the writings of the ancient citizens of Trihearth to its most recent incarnation that has been passed down by the Cystic Family, a family to have claimed roots in the elusive island multi-nation, for generations…

“There it is!” Korsan cheered as he grabbed a red woven book near the top of a shelf.

With the tip of his claw holding the top of it, the pirate captain flung it down and grabbed it with his hind claws. He hobbled over to his chair and tossed it to his upper claws as he sat down. Rarity peered through the open door to the library and watches her captor wriggle like a foal as he pried the old writings free from their years of abandonment on a shelf.

He muttered to himself, “Let’s see, let’s see, where to start…”

Why I bring this up is not only a matter of history, or anthropology, but of another legend that has been rumoured across land, sea, and air: Alicorn Island, one of the most mysterious locations on our world, if it even exists on our world. It is said that anypony to come in mere contact with its treasured water at the center of it will gain the angelic flight of a pegasus, the arcane magic of a unicorn, and the earthly power of an Earth Pony. However, this is purely rumour and speculation, and we don’t know the true effects of the mystic waters or its application methods. Of course, even that’s a sketchy idea. The only ponies said to know of the true details of the island were the ancients of Trihearth. These details though, may have been wiped out completely by the fabled sinking of the island. However, with this discovery, we may be able to find the truth about the island. And perhaps, even gain from its unknown magic properties linked to it…

Korsan leapt from his chair, striking a pose on the golden tabletop. He’s cracked the code.

He triumphantly declared, “Finally, finally! After so many years of searching and searching, I finally have the means of which to find that island, give me what I deserve, and fix everything. I will finally make my family proud of me! I know it, they’ll be so proud once I show them my magic. They’ll forgive me, they’re glorify me, they’ll respect me, they’ll accept me. And with my ship, my crew, and my complete self, we shall do great things for the world, I know it. Mother, father, brother, sister, cousins, uncles, aunts, grandmothers, grandfathers, all of my ancestors, this is the day of Korsan Arasinda Maden’s true birth!”

Perhaps even my own family can benefit from it. My nephew, pity his soul, has been born of a dire deformation. And although my kin have come to terms with it, the poor lad will never truly be accepted as one of us. And although my efforts of trying to lift the colt’s spirits are worthy, even my own son and wife have come to despise him for his ill fate. If the powers of Alicorn Island hold true however, I may be able to save my nephew, and rewrite his fate. Only time and fate will tell.

-Alexander Tas Maden

Twilight, overcome with shock, dropped the book to the ground. A whole slate of dust popped from the cover and scattered on the cold stone.

“Maden?!” Twilight explained upon reading the authour’s last name.

This stallion who had lived on this island and may hold the key to the long sought-after Alicorn Island was a relative of Korsan. Frantic to find some more insight about this relative of Korsan, Twilight flipped through the pages of the journal, only seeing crossed out notes, equations, and absolutely destroyed pages. Eventually, she finally came across another written entry that she could read.

“Almost there,” Korsan cheered as he rapidly flipped through the pages of the shedding book. “Just have to find the right pages…”

Day 911 of Exploration Exhibition #4 of Madenison Island

It’s no use, despite countless attempts and workarounds for over two years, I can’t uncover the secrets of Alicorn Island. And it’s too late as well. From what I’ve heard via letter, my nephew, he, ran away a few weeks ago and never came back. I’ve consider returning, but to what? My wife and son probably won’t recognize me since I’ve been gone for so long, I’ve lost all of my assets in Equestria, and my brother, my only brother, disappeared as well just a week ago. I may not be able to live with myself after this has all happened. I may abandon this shack and live amongst nature as a mindless animal to escape this insanity I can’t bear. Whoever finds this, if you find me alive, leave me be. If you find me dead, tell no pony. Tell no pony that I even existed actually. What are you even doing here anyways? Leave! The more you gain interest in the Alicorn Island, the more you destroy your own life! LEAVE!!!

~~-Alexander Tas Maden~~

Listen, if you’re still reading this, you still want to pursue the Alicorn Island. There’s nothing I can do to stop you. Instead, let me make it easier on you, perhaps give you less time to realize that you’re just wasting yourself doing this. In the event in which the original book is not here, I have made several copies of the Rosetta Stone and donated them to some of the most backwoods black markets in the world. There, somewhere, you’ll find the translator. However, what you need to find, and what I didn’t find, is an artifact, a map, that’ll lead you to Alicorn Island. I don’t know where it would be, but knowing the ancient rituals and cultures of Trihearth, it will be difficult to find. No matter how much reverse engineering you do, no matter how hard you try to find some loophole, another clue, or just empty searching you do, you’ll never find that wretched island. May good luck fall upon you, whether you do find it, or just realize that it’s a waste of time.

-I Don’t Exist

“Oh my gosh…” Twilight gasped. “I feel so sorry for him, wherever he is.”

Fortunately, the original copy of the translator was with Twilight. Next to the journal was an old red book, opened up to a random set of pages. Looking at the symbols, Twilight recognized them as the symbols that came from the Diamond Eyes.

“Don’t worry, Alexander, you’re work’s not going in vain.” Twilight declared.

Using her memory to recall the symbols and her studies of the language of Trihearth passed down by the Cystic Family, Twilight begun to decode the map.

“In the blackest of night,

And the empty of gone,

Stands one splendid island,

Known Alicorn Island,”

“Beyond distorts of space,

Beyond sand grains of time,

Past creature of great length,

And thinnest of all paths,”

“All inside a grand trench,

Of no magic nor flight,

To be called as a leak,

To be known as the Breach,”

“And inside the dark heart,

And through a second pulse,

Thou will find the treasure,

Of Alicorn Island,”

“Blessed be you many things,

The wings of gentle flight,

The power of the earth,

The divine magic horn,”

“Applied to thou as said,

Taketh one single touch,

By hair or bone or flesh,

And do within post haste,”

“Which all be given you,

As the moon strikes the sun,

And the sun strikes the moon,

In unified balance,”

“But take heed this warning,

Thy Equivalence Law,

Reigns above all no stock,

What form or fate you hold,”

“If thou pass the creed,

And takes to his new form,

Then fate shall then ensue,

No matter of thy past,”

“As all is said and done,

Then thou art free to go,

To pursue the riches,

Known Alicorn Island.”

“So it’s there.”

Korsan slumped back into his chair upon finishing the translation. Silently, he processed what he had read, still oblivious to Rarity’s presence.

“The Breach,” he said to himself again. “I would’ve never figured it be there. From our current position, that would at least be a week's travel. Will my crew even be willing to go there? It’s a forsaken death trap.”

“The Breach?” Rarity’s voice whispered out loud.

The captain jumped from his chair in surprise, quickly noticing his partner peeping from the doorway.

“Oh, it’s only just you.” He breathed in relief.

“Sorry.”

“Apologies are on my part, I should’ve been paying attention. What was your question?”

“The Breach, what is that?” Rarity asked.

Before the caped stallion replied, he reached over to a shelf behind his chair and pulled out a thick, black book.

He explained, “The Breach is… well… No pony really knows what it is. Some claim it’s a portal to Tartarus, others say it’s a sacred gateway to a place beyond and worse Tartarus, certain tales call it the mouth of a great beast, obscure folk lore points to it as the edge of the world. The best science can come up with is that it’s some form of chaotic rip in the fabric of reality. Either way you look at it, the Breach is a giant, bottomless canyon that spells out trouble for anypony or anything even close to it.”

Korsan slowly opened the book and held it up to Rarity, showing a wall of text on one page and a sketch on the other, showing what appeared to be a large, black crack in the middle of some ocean. The white mare loudly gulps on sight of the large abyss presented.

“See, impossible for fear to not strike your heart.” Korsan said.

“So does that mean you’re going to give up?”

In instinctive response, the stallion slammed the book close with his claws.

“No, I’ve gone too far.” He confidently declared.

Twilight stumbled backwards from the table as the chants of the verbal map and shrills of headaches echoed in her head after a long session of translating.

“The Breach?” Twilight muttered to herself. “So that’s where Korsan’s going to go as soon as he figures it out, if he hasn’t figured it out already…”

Recalling from her first entry of the shack, an idea came to Twilight’s head. She immediately headed up the ladder and returned to the front room. The excited pony returned to the map she saw and located a large black crack in the Old World section of the map. In small text, it read.

“The Breach”.

This was her goal, her chance to getting to Korsan and saving her friend.

Twilight bolted back down into the basement area and ran towards the docked boat. She grabbed the rope around the pole and pulled it, releasing the ship. Twilight quickly hopped behind the stone wheel and took control. Lightning Rod lightly bashed into the sides of the underground port a few times before quickly accelerating into the cave tunnels ahead. Light jumped across the water to Twilight and her new ship, leading her to the outside world.

Chapter 025: Disruption

With the sun dipping into the sea at the horizon and the moon rising for the night, The Perfection’s kitchen gained a moody glow from the red light made from the torches, furnaces, and other heat-operated artifacts. The dim red glow from the kitchen clashed against the silky white and blue radiance of the moon just outside the windows. At one of the several preparation tables, Sweetie Belle and Ivan Voorhees, the chef, were cooking a large stew. Butch Taylor, meanwhile, was sifting through the inventory against the wall, his back turned away from the windows and his fellow cook’s backside.

“So now the pepper?” Sweetie Belle asked the hulking massive black stallion.

He was chopping onions next to her in a rapid fashion, though, not a tear shed from his eyes oddly enough.

“Aye.” He dryly replied.

“Wait, Burgundy or Ayleen?” Sweetie asked, holding two shakers of peppers.

“Ay-”

“Oh wait, I remember, the Ayleen.”

“Aye.”

“This is actually a lot more fun than I thought it was going to be.”

“Aye.”

“Do you do this every day?”

“Aye.”

“Is it difficult?”

Ivan paused a brief moment, thinking of what technically counts as “difficult”.

“…Aye.” He answered, bobbing his head side to side.

“But I guess it’s worth it from what I’ve heard. Yin and Yu told me all of adventures you guys have, not just pillaging, but those as well do sound fairly impressive.” Sweetie remarked.

“Aye.”

“Korsan’s ‘joyride’ from earlier was like being on a massive roller coaster. It was awesome!”

“Aye.”

“I wish my friends were with me to experience it though.”

“Aye.”

“Well, tough luck,” Butch replied back in a solemn voice. “The captain isn’t all that accepting of non-unicorns hopping on his boat. Unless they’re prisoners,”

“Aye.” Ivan nodded.

“Wait,” Sweetie Belle asked in confusion. “Aren’t you, I don’t know, supposed to be strong followers to whatever your leader’s intentions are?”

The large blue pirate, Butch, calmly corrected Sweetie Belle, “Listen, most of us aren’t as, determined, as Korsan is with his plans. We pretty much see this as a better lifestyle than being in a rut. But that doesn’t mean we’re barbarians or something like that. Hey, Ivan, I’m going to check on the potatoes. Got that?”

“Aye.” Ivan stoically answered as he continued to cut onions.

“Thanks.” Butch said.

The elder Butch walked around Sweetie and Ivan and headed down the nearby stairway into the cellar below.

“Aye.” Ivan quietly said.

The small filly looked back at Ivan, noticing his stiff face.

She asked, “Are you seriously not crying from this?”

“Aye.”

“Huh, cool.”

As Sweetie finishing her bit of stew, several distinct voices faintly echoed from the cellar, catching her ear. The foal immediately remembered those exact voices from earlier, when she, Rarity, and Slasher were in the gardens. Curious of what they’re saying now, the filly crept towards the large stairs and listened in.

“Has anypony seen the captain recently?” A familiar mare asked out from an unseen sector of the chamber. “He seems to be a lot more chipper than recent. Could it be because of that mare, Rarity? I mean, he even showed her around his private stash.”

A second, older mare replied, “I know, even when Korsan was hitting on November, he never showed her his treasure gallery.”

“Please don’t remind me of that wench.” The first mare groaned.

“That’s not important to the matter we’re here for. Did you clean up our last attempt?” The voice of the second stallion from before echoed.

“I did.” The third stallion crankily replied. “How was I supposed to know that Korsan would be pulling another joyride at this point?”

“None of us did. At least none of the other crew members are in the know of what we tried to pull off. For all they know, that mast broke when Korsan decided to drill out of a cave.” The second stallion declared.

“Well, given our newest itinerary, more options may be available to us.” Butch’s aging voice boomed in response.

In an instant, Sweetie Belle realizes that he’s was the initial stallion she heard from the rogue pirates’ previous meeting.

“Korsan’s already discovered the secrets of the Diamond Eye. We’ll being heading out to locate Alicorn Island any second now and we may never be able to strike as soon as the captain becomes an alicorn.” The second stallion warned Butch.

“Perhaps we can use Rarity to our advantage.” The first mare suggested.

“That’s ridiculous.” The stallion retorted. “Even with Rarity on our side, he’ll be able to notice any direct advances onto him just like anyone in the lot of us.”

“Have any better ideas?” The second mare rudely asked.

“…A storm,” the second stallion cryptically declared.

“A storm?”

“While everypony is busy during a heavy storm, we make our move and give that quill-pusher a taste of his own medicine, by pushing him.”

“Huzzah!” Butch proclaimed. “Wait, what about Slasher?”

“That pipsqueak? Don’t worry, she won’t be stepping out of line now that she’s with us.”

A quiet series of chuckles echoed from the unseen sectors of the cellar. Having heard enough, Sweetie Belle galloped to Ivan, but stops halfway as a chilling thought came to her head.

Wait, she thought. What if he’s in on this too?? If I tell him, what’s going to happen to me? I should probably stay quiet for now…

The moon and stars emerged in the night sky above the island, casting their nightly glow across the island and sea. Spike watched the spectacle from the lip of the massive volcano. With the red head from the boiling lava pool several hundred metres below providing heat for his reptile body, Spike felt as if he was at peace with the world. He outlined the shapes of famous constellations with his claws for minutes on end, as well as creating his own in the shape of himself and his friends.

However, his stargazing was suddenly interrupted by the earth violently shaking below him. The baby dragon Spike yelped in panic as he stumbled on the vibrating ground. Small surrounding rocks and pebbles started to pour down the face of the steep mountain, followed by boulders of ever-increasing size. Even the surrounding hills began to bend to the will of the tremor.

“What the hay is going on?!” Spike screamed as chaos erupted all around him.

Crawling along the ground, he looked over the edge of the volcanic crater and saw the pool of lava rapidly rising up the cone.

“This isn’t good.” He uttered in horror.

In the midst of the thick jungle, Applejack, Applebloom, and Scootaloo were recovering their hoofing as the earthquake continued to roar. The large palm trees around them collapsed one by one, sending even more panic throughout the unsuspecting ponies, having to now dodge them. The two fillies squealed as more and more of the wood towers fell, nearly crushing the. As the trio scampered through the woods, one of the larger pine trees ahead of them collapsed and plummeted directly at them. Applebloom and Scootaloo embraced themselves in fear.

CRASH!

A loud smashing noise bellowed across the entire island. Much to the fillies’ surprise, they found their bodies still intact. Applejack stopped the falling tree with her body. With her hind legs digging into the snapping wood and her front hooves buried in the fallen vines and bush, Applejack found herself stuck and slowly losing strength against the mass of the tall tropical pine.

“Oh shoot!” The orange Earth pony declared. “I’m stuck!”

“Sis’!” Applebloom cried. “You can’t get stuck now, we have to go!”

“You two just have to get to the meadow or the beach. I’ll last.” Applejack assured them.

“We’re not leaving you!” Scootaloo exclaimed.

“Oh yes you twos are. Go!” Applejack demanded.

“But-”

“Go!”

Applebloom tried to plea, “Please, we can try-”

“Go! Get out! Scat!”

Overwhelmed by the elder mare’s demands, the two foals decided to follow her command and ran into the further reaches of the tumbling forest ahead. With her hooves now embedded into the landscape, Applejack remained stuck for at least a minute as the quake still continued.

“Move! Move! Move!” She told herself.

As hard as she tries, kicking, punching, and destroying her Earth pony muscles, her body continued to stay firm.

“If only I could use magic to lift this darn thing, then I’d make sure that my lil’ sister’s safe out there instead of worrying back here. If only I was a unicorn… What would they think of me for trying something that insane?”

A distant voice hollered out from behind the mare, “Help!”

“What the-?”

Stiffly turning her head, Applejack saw that it was Spike, running right to her.

“Spike?! What’s going on?” She asked.

“Volcano’s erupting!” Spike screamed at the top of his lungs.

“Volcano?!”

Applejack’s green eyes immediately darted towards the middle of the island. She saw that the volcano was in fact erupting violently, as pillars of smoke rushed from the top and large rivers of molten lava rained down from the cliffside. The destruction was charging straight towards her, Spike, and the fillies. In an instant, her body gained a second wind and the mare immediately launched the fallen tree from her hind legs with a mighty buck. She then yanked out her hooves from the earth with a series of rapid tugs, freeing herself in less than three seconds. She charged towards Spike as he ran towards the coastline.

“Don’t look back!” Spike exclaimed.

Slightly curious of how close the lava was, Applejack looked back for a split second, immediately jumping in shock as she saw a massive wave of flowing molten rock rapidly speeding right towards her and Spike. The wave incinerated any fallen trees or plants in its way with no sign of slowing down.

“Oh shoot, oh shoot, oh shoot!” Applejack rapidly cursed.

“I told you not to look back!”

With Applejack now right behind Spike, the orange mare quickly lifted Spike onto her back with her head as a scoop.

“Hot-hot-hot!” Spike exclaimed as his tail hovered over the lava sea.

“Wait, don’t you dragon types not burn in lava?”

“Yeah, when static enough, not when it’s just come straight out of the volcano and flowing at rapid speeds!”

“Oh.”

“Your tail’s on fire!”

High above the erupting anarchy of nature, Rainbow Dash looked over the carnage in utter shock. From her high view, the cyan pegasus could see large chunks of the island breaking apart and sinking into the ocean below, sending whatever life and molten rock on it plummeting into the roaring waters. The island was falling apart and sinking, fast. Dash swooped down to get a better look around the epicenter of destruction. She saw Pinkie Pie standing on top of a stone spire poking from the lava flows along the side of the volcano.

“Pinkie!” Dash called to pink Earth pony from above. “Hold on, I’m coming to get you!”

“Look at the lava, it’s so cool!” Pinkie cheerfully replied. “Look! Look! It’s making pretty red bubbles!”

“Now’s not the time to be goofing around!”

“Aw, but lava’s so fun to look at.”

Disregarding the energetic mare’s intrigue, Dash soared towards the top of one of the thicker clouds and immediately started pounding into it, releasing a small shower of rain from it onto the volcano. The pellets of water struck the lava in an endless barrage of liquid missiles, quickly cooling the molten stone and turning it into a thin, black bed of obsidian. Pinkie moaned at the sight of her entertainment being destroyed and her mane and tail turning into a flat mop of hair from the rain. However, before her mild lament lasted for long, Rainbow Dash landed down onto the new rock floor and approached Pinkie.

“Are you okay?” She asked.

“I’m as cool as a cucumber,” Pinkie happily replies, immediately getting over her melancholy.

“This whole island’s about to go under if we don’t get out of here.”

“Aw, that’s a shame. I saw a bunch of really cool stuff in the jungle.”

“We have to find the others and make sure they’re okay.”

“Okey-doke-”

An immediate jolt erupted from seemingly nowhere, sending the two mares to the back of the obsidian platform.

“What was that?” Rainbow asked, shocked.

“Yay! We’re lava-rafting!”

“What?”

The stunned pony looked around to find that the large stone sheet she made had split up into smaller slabs, all being swept down by the raging flow of lava. Looking forward, Dash saw that the platform they were on was approaching the edge of a cliff, about to hurdle over a lava waterfall.

Dash screamed, “Ahhh! Pinkie!”

The pegasus attempted to grab her friend and lift her off of the ground. Rainbow Dash flapped her wings violently as the impromptu raft started to teeter over the edge. As hard as she tried, Pinkie is too heavy to be lifted even a fair inch for only a second at most.

“You s-should r-really start to lay off of the c-cake.” Dash groaned.

“Hold on tight, it’s going to be a bumpy ride. Please keep your hooves, legs, wings, horns, and head inside the vehicle at all times.”

“Oh, relax. Don’t you like doing stuff like this? Or maybe you just completely lost your touch as soon as we hit the sea and have become a stick in the mud. Come on, don’t be a stick in the mud.”

“I’m not a stick in the mud.”

“Prove it. Let’s have some fun and turn that worried frown upside down!”

Upon hearing those words, a rush of overwhelming pride and adrenaline flares through Rainbow Dash’s body. This was a challenge, one that Dash could not deny.

“No backing out?” Dash asked.

Her face scrunched into a determined stance, her mouth slid open into a grin, and her hooves locked into the cracks of the obsidian slab. As long as the challenge stood, Rainbow Dash will tough it out and prove herself victorious. Just as Pinkie had planned, Rainbow Dash was back in her good old fighting spirit, ready to take on a bet and have a good time.

“No backing out.” Pinkie confidently declared.

The slab began to accelerate off the cliff, revealing the true height of the drop. At that moment, Pinkie realized what she had done.

“Oh-”

“No backing out.” Dash declared.

“Uh-oh.” Pinkie said.

“Don’t tell me. You just realized that this was a bad idea, and we’re now plummeting off a sheer cliff face.”

“Yep.”

“We’re going to get seriously injured from this?”

“Most likely,”

“Bring it on.”

The large slab fell from the cliff edge and rocketed down the lava waterfall. As it tumbled several dozens of meters to the molten jungle below, the whoops of Dash and cries of Pinkie echoed across the island.

Chapter 026: Volcano Escape

On the beach, next to the remaining deck of the SS Raindrop, Fluttershy was running back and forth across the sand, hoping and waiting for her friends to arrive. With the infernal glow of the destruction of the land growing larger and closer to the mare, fear and dread overwhelmed the timid pony. Fluttershy’s breathing escalated to rapid speeds as glimpses of the rabid lava flows appeared in between the quickly decimating trees.

“Can anypony hear me?!” Fluttershy yells out as she backed towards the wooden raft.

No response.

“Hello?! Anypony?!”

“We can!” A filly’s voice called out from the brush.

Soon, Applebloom and Scootaloo emerged from the bushes ahead, running right towards Fluttershy.

“Don’t take off without us!” Scootaloo yelled out.

“Hurry! Is anypony else following behind you?” Fluttershy asked.

Applejack’s voice replied in the distance, “We are!”

Immediately, barreling down the beach at rapid speeds, Applejack and Spike burst from the forest. They charged across the beach behind the two other foals.

“Thank goodness!” Fluttershy exclaimed. “But what about Rainbow Dash and Pinkie? Have you seen them?”

Fluttershy’s question is immediately answered with a loud howl coming from deep in the jungle.

“…Was that-”

Suddenly, a giant slab of solid obsidian flew out over the falling palm trees and soared over the ponies’ heads before landing into the shallow waters behind them. The four running ponies and baby dragon joined Fluttershy on the raft. They all then looked to the rock slab, now wedged in the shallows. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie revealed themselves from around the side of the cooled lava, looking quite dazed and exhausted as they paddled in the waters to the raft.

Pinkie Pie nauseously moaned, “Here… and accounted for.”

Rainbow Dash dizzily asked as she hopped onto the wooden raft, “Can we do it again?”

As the final two ponies eventually tumbled onto the wooden raft, a loud explosion sounded off behind the mares. Fluttershy turned around and was immediately blasted in the face with a warm and sandy shockwave. She blinked for a second to shield from the blast, only to open them and see that a massive chunk of the jungle had been disintegrated into a smoldering crater, all in the blink of an eye. The crater was then quickly filled with the swift lava.

“What was that?” Applejack yelled out. “Get us the blue blazes out of here!”

“Oh, right!” Fluttershy stammered as she hops off of the raft.

Using what’s left of the beach, she attempted to push the raft forward.

“Garr, it’s too heavy.” She groaned.

“Step aside!” Applejack commanded.

Applejack hopped off as well. She gave a mighty buck to the beached deck piece, only for it to merely move a centimetre forward into the water. Applejack kicked it again, causing it to inch a tiny bit again. With the sea of lava rapidly approaching, the mares saw that they were stuck. No matter how any kicks or aid from the others, the raft wouldn’t escape in time.

“Oh shoot.” Applejack groaned.

“What now?!” Fluttershy asked.

“Hey! Look over there!” Pinkie piped up, pointing her hoof along the burning coastline.

Rainbow Dash exhaustedly groaned, “We get it Pinkie, lava is cool.”

“Not to mention we’re about to be burnt to a crisp by it!” Applejack said.

“No!” Pinkie said. “Another ship!”

“What?!”

Fluttershy, Rainbow, Applejack, Spike, Applebloom, and Scootaloo followed the energetic soggy mare’s shaking leg along the beach and saw a mysterious, sleek sailing boat race around the island towards them. As it rapidly drew closer, the glow of burning rock revealed the driver of the ship.

Twilight.

Her movements were a bit spastic, panicking as she’s veering the wheel left and right, but she seemed in some control.

“It’s Twilight!” They all exclaimed.

The long racing ship slowed to a stop alongside the raft. The purple alicorn on board the thing peered over the edge to see her companions down below.

“Need a lift?” Twilight pridefully asked.

She lifted over a long plank of wood and set it between her new ship and the tiny raft, creating a ramp.

“We sure do!” Pinkie cheered before bouncing up the ramp and onto the main deck next to her friend.

Spike soon followed, just as energetic.

“Great to see you again,” Twilight said.

“Where did you even find this?” Applejack asks as she followed and climbed aboard, soon being followed by her younger sister.

“I found it in the basement of some researcher’s home in the jungle.” Twilight said.

“…Huh?”

“Wait, somepony else is on the island?” Fluttershy asked as she flew to the main deck. “Shouldn’t we find him?! What if he needs our help?!”

“I’m not sure if he’s still around.” Twilight said.

“The entire island’s already gone,” Dash impatiently said as she and Scootaloo galloped up the ramp. “It’s only us and we need to go!”

Another large chuck of the island exploded on the beach, causing the Lightning Rod to shake in the immediate shockwave.

“Now!” Dash roared.

“Right then!” Twilight said.

“Let’s get a breeze going!” Rainbow Dash declared.

“No need to.”

“What?”

“You girls stay down, things are about to get hairy.”

Twilight quickly ran back to the wheel. A blue, glowing glyph appeared on the wooden floor upon being touched. The onlookers were absolutely mystified.

“Hey, what’s that?” Spike nervously asked.

“Some sort of magic steering spell embedded into the-” Before Twilight could continue, a series of three explosions want off on the island, sending molten stones and debris flying everywhere around the ship.

“How about we save the tour and get us out of here?!” Applejack exclaimed.

“Right!” Twilight replied.

With a snap of her head, Twilight aimed her horn, still with the anti-magic strap on it, down to the back of the magical glyph. Instantly, the bottom section of the marking faded away and the top portion shone even brighter. As that happened, the ship immediately launched itself forward, accelerating to rapid speeds in a few seconds. Everypony on board clutched onto the woodwork, screaming as they flew forward across the water. The black waves below turned into white mist and sprayed the onboard crew. Twilight returned to the wheel and turned it, sending the speeding cruiser right alongside the island.

“Okay, so what I figured out, is that this is usually a magic operated control scheme, with the magnitude of magic on the glyph determining the velocity and acceleration of Lightning Rod, this boat. With this anti-magic device on my horn, I realized that I have to use it to push the magic already embedded into the wood to where I want it to go, like a magnet with similar poles aimed at each other.” Twilight explained.

“Watch out!” Spike exclaimed.

Twilight broke her attention from Spike and saw that she was dashing right into a cliffside. Quickly, she aimed her horn down to the left part of the blue glyph. The ship immediately veered right, just scraping against the melting rocky wall. Along the cliff, another set of explosions go off, each barely scorching the speeding ship with their spheres of fire and melting stones. One section of the wall blasts right next to the side of the hull. The ship tilted over from the blast and a large chunk of its wood is torn off, flying off into the burning mass.

“Pull right!” Applejack yelled.

“Quit backseat driving!” Twilight retorted.

“I’m passenger seat driving, let me drive.”

“I know what I’m doing!”

Twilight turned the vessel away from the island, sending it hurdling across the sea. Several more, larger explosions set off on the sinking island, launching large boulders and clusters of lava at the fleeing ship. As Applejack and Twilight continued to fight, the boat swerves left and right to avoid the incoming projectiles, hurling everything and everypony on board side to side in a chaotic fashion.

“You clearly don’t.” Applejack criticized Twilight.

“Well it’s not easy when you have to drive this thing with your head and hooves because you have no magic!”

“See? Even you know it!”

“Know what?”

“Unicorns and alicorns got a leg up!”

“Back to this again?!”

“It’s true isn’t it?”

“No!”

“Isn’t it?! Think about what you just said.”

“And let us crash?!”

“Quit avoiding it!”

“I’m not avoiding it!”

Spike then screamed out, “Look out!”

The two bickering mares looked behind them to see a colossal portion of the isle bursting away from the mainland and flying right towards them. As it travels over the speeding boat, a large hole was blasted right in the center of the rock mass. A barrage of giant boulders soon followed in a massive cluster, too many for even the sleek watercraft to dodge. Applejack quickly grabbed the wheel and steered the speeder directly towards the hole as the huge landmass flew. It dove into the sea a hundred metres ahead, its melting hole slowly descending to the water surface.

“What are you doing?!” Twilight exclaimed.

“Saving our hides-!” Applejack answered, only for her focus to be cut off by Twilight’s wing being shoved in her face.

“Are you trying to kill us?”

“Are you?”

“What is that supposed to mean? You’re siding with the villain!”

“I want to protect my family, but apparently I can’t because somepony wants to villainize anything somepony with different ideals says despite them being obviously true. Even I can see that!”

“I’ve had enough of this. Get off of the wheel!” Twilight demanded.

“You get off!” Applejack demanded back.

“I said get off, you double-crosser!”

“I know what I’m doing, you ignorant pain!”

“You traitor!”

“You moron!”

“Villain!”

“Wench!”

The two mares immediately gasped upon hearing each other’s’ final insults. A wave of both anger and shave crashed into their minds, spreading its nasty vibes throughout their thoughts. For a moment, all of time seemed to come to a stop as the two ponies, once best of friends, have now unwillingly turned into the fiercest of enemies.

The two silently stared at each other. They both were unsure what they were doing. Were they figuring out what was going on in their heads, or their own?

“Applejack! Twilight!” Spike yells out at the two mares.

He was unable to hear what they were saying over the environmental chaos surrounding them, but able to understand they were angrily fighting over the wheel. Noticing their hooves have backed from the wheel, Spike darted in between Applejack and Twilight and grabbed the wheel, holding it steady as the falling land mass splashed into the sea. The vessel barely squeezed through the blasted hole and popped out of the other side. The cluster of boulders then smashed into the island chunk, obliterating it.

Now in open water, the ponies and Spike were safe whilst the sinking chunk of land took the attack of molten boulders. On the main deck, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie, Fluttershy, and an exhausted Applebloom and Scootaloo cheered out in joy. Pinkie immediately, though, dropped to the deck, looking as if she was about to hurl.

The pink Earth pony nauseously grumbled, “Hey, did all of you take a swim in the Mirror Pool? I’m starting to see two of everypony…”

“Pinkie, are you alright?” Dash asked.

“What's that, Papa? No, I don't wanna wear the big lobster costume… Why do you make me wear that anyways?”

In an instant, Pinkie collapsed onto the deck, snores immediately heard from her still body.

“She’ll be fine.” Dash remarked upon examining the sleeping ponies.

As the peaceful night returned to the heroes, so did their natural clocks. Tiredness swept over the crew of the Lightning Rod.

“Actually, it’s pretty late. Maybe I should hit the hay as well.” Rainbow Dash remarked, looking up to see the glittery night sky.

“Me to,” Fluttershy replied.

“Me three,” Applebloom said.

“Same here,” Scootaloo yawned at the back of the group.

Slowly, all four of the sleepy ponies shuffled inside the cabin of the ship.

“Now where are the beds?” One of the mares asked.

“I think this thing may only have one bed.” Another replied.

With most of the group now below deck and Pinkie fast asleep, Spike looked back to see the remaining two ponies awake still staring at each other in shock and disbelief at one another.

“Applejack? Twilight?” Spike timidly called out to his frozen friends.

Cautiously, Spike tapped Twilight on the shoulder to break her from her freeze, causing her to immediately gasp in surprise. Applejack soon follows suit and snapped from her glance.

“Sorry!” Spike exclaimed.

“Oh,” Twilight slowly responded, returning to her senses. “It’s you. It’s fine.”

“Are you and AJ okay? What were you two fighting about?” Spike asked.

“…We’re…having some difficulties on certain viewpoints. It’s nothing really.”

“Yeah, what she said.” Applejack stiffly replied. “I better, check on the fillies.”

“S-sure, you do that.” Twilight said.

“Y-yeah, yeah.” Applejack awkwardly confirmed her statement.

Slowly, the lone Earth pony walked down the stairs to the main deck and turned to the slanted trapdoor leading down into the quarterdeck. She gave one final glance to Twilight before going under.

Spike sensed something was off. Call it his dragon intuition or simply what makes a good friend, Spike knew something was wrong.

Spike asked once more, “Are you sure you two are alrigh-”

Twilight immediately snapped, “We’re fine-!”

She then immediately recollected herself and talked calmly, “We’re fine.”

“…So, what now?” Spike asked, a bit hesitant.

“…We’re going to save Rarity. I know where Korsan’s going to be going.”

“You do?!”

“I do, we’re heading to the Breach, in the Old World.”

“Wait, you mean,”

“Yes, the Old World.”

“But how? We’re probably thousands of kilometres away from wherever it is, not to mention the legends told about it. And what about when we actually confront Korsan with his giant airship?”

“We’ll make it, and we will find a way to stop Korsan once and for all. It’s our old motto.” Twilight proudly declared.

The princess returned to her central position on the glowing glyph and aims her horn at the bottom portion of the blue marking. As the upper potion illuminates even more, the already quick vessel accelerated to lightning-fast speeds, rocketing along the night sea, northwest to the Breach.

Chapter 027: What is Love?

It was a golden evening for The Perfection. The clear, distant waters shimmered in golden light and rich waves. The sky, just like treasure found at the bottom of a sea of blue, was a gradient of oranges of yellows. The sun that evening was a gold coin, shining blinding light from the sheer wealth and power it wielded.

The crew aboard The Perfection silently agreed together, “This is a golden evening,” before going back to their regular work.

The sounds of clashing blades echoed throughout the ship, though not like a battle was taking place. Rather, it was more melodious, with each strike set to a certain, yielding power. These were the sounds coming from the galley, as Korsan and Rarity sparred.

Korsan, wielding his dual cutlasses, swung at Rarity, wielding a pair of rapiers with padded tips. Rarity caught the cutlasses and swung below Korsan’s body. She rose from behind and went in for the stab. Korsan deflected the stabs with a blind cutlass swing. He turned around and defended a volley of stabs. Korsan saw an opening and attacked. He sliced his cutlasses at her. Rarity barely deflected the attack, her fur fluffing from the subtle wind of the blade.

At the table, watching the fight from afar, sat Yin, Yu, Hans, and one or two other pirates. They had finished their shifts and were interested in, what is strongly implied, their new crewmate, Rarity.

“Look at her go,” Yu commented. “She is hustling him like crazy.”

“Too bad her form’s all sloppy,” Yin pointed out to his brother.

Yu silently agreed with a nod.

“Look at that,” Yin said. “She’s folding her swords like they’re scissors.”

“Here comes the cross-wedge.” Hans said, watching Korsan prepare his next attack.

CLANG!

“Perfect.” Hans said.

“So, you think Korsan’s going to win ‘er?” Yim asked.

Yu answered, “I don’t know. His chances of winning her are about likely as… as-”

“You getting Slasher?” Yin cracked.

“Hey! I’m going to ask. I mean, how can she say ‘no’ to a skilled, handsome stallion like I am?”

“Easily.” One of the other pirates joked, immediately met with laughter and applause.

“Ha-ha, very funny.” Yu sarcastically replied.

“Speaking of failing relationships,” Yin said, turning to Hans. “Where’s Maria, Hans?”

“She had to clean up a mess below.” Hans replied.

He slowly turned from the others and stared out the window. He and Maria had not been getting along over the past few weeks. Their ideals had been clashing against each other more frequently, and it’s tearing a deep hole in their relationship.

“Here comes the finisher.” Yin said.

Korsan’s mechanical suit accelerated its processes as he unleashed his final attack. He violently threw a cutlass at Rarity. She barely caught it with her crossed swords. The three blades collided and scattered. Korsan lunged forward towards the mare. He held his other cutlass in both claws and rammed towards her.

SHING!

Rarity opened her fear-stuck eyes to see a metal blade right between her eyes. She was alive, as Korsan had stopped the attack just before it made contact. The pirate slowly returned the cutlass to his back piece before reaching out a hoof to the mare.

“Close.” He modestly said.

Rarity rolled her eyes and replied, “No, that was horrible.”

The spectators turned to each other and nodded.

“The problem is in your rhythm and focus.” Korsan said. “You have the melody of the attack down, but if your soul and heart don’t beat in tune with your attacks, then it’s easy to be overwhelmed by a pony who has a stronger fighting spirit.”

“Hm… I get it. It is like wearing a dress. You don’t just put it on you,”

“You embrace it. You make it your own identity.” Korsan finished Rarity’s analogy.

“Quite right!” Rarity exclaimed, rather shocked at Korsan’s proficiency in fashion.

“Perhaps changing styles will help.” Korsan suggested.

He walked over to the fallen blades, picked up a rapier, and gave it to Rarity, who gladly accepted it. Korsan kicked aside the other rapier and grabbed his fallen cutlass. The two then stood in their battle stances, now only equipped with one weapon each. The onlooking pirates fell silent, and watched as the two then slowly approached each other.

“Korsan doing singles,” Yu said, confused. “Why is he taking it so easy on her?”

“This is all probably some long con he has going on.” Yin replied.

“Or perhaps,” one of the older pirates cut in. “He’s showing a bit of true compassion for once.”

The Shou Brothers, as well as every other spectator, turned to the lone pirate.

“…Yeah, that’s stupid.” He clarified.

“Here they go.” Hans said.

Korsan and Rarity stared each other down for a minute. They scanned each other extensively, seeing what parts were twitching and which were not. They looked into each other’s eyes, trying to peak at what their souls were plotting.

“Ready for Round Two?” Korsan said, cocky as ever.

“I don’t know, ready to lose?” Rarity returned, equally as confident.

Korsan pridefully sneered. Rarity lightly chuckled.

With a might kick to the floor, Korsan lunged at Rarity. Rarity held her blade to defend, and caught Korsan’s diving attack. The two held each other in blade lock, separated, and returned to blade lock. It was an endurance game, to see who will lose more energy in the first phase of the duel.

The watching pirates cheered as the metal weapons smashed into each other, generating sparks and satisfying pops of energy.

“That ferocity, that power!” Yu exclaimed. “They are certainly not holding back.”

“Not quite,” his observant brother replied. “This is only to tire out each other. In a moment, the real battle begins. Combat depends a lot on psychological advantages, something even we have yet to even understand.”

“Rarity seems to already be ahead of us.” Yu said.

“Indeed. It almost scares me, like Korsan.”

“You want to see something actually scary?”

“What?”

“Check out Ivan when he isn’t wearing that shirt of his. Blister City,”

“Oh my…”

Yin could barely hold back his vomit. Just thinking about it made his stomach perform loops.

“Will you two pipe down and focus on the fight? You could learn something.” Hans hissed.

“Will you patch things up with Maria? The ship reeks of yous’ foul mood.” Yin retorted.

Korsan and Rarity had finished their slug-fest and have moved on to the actual fight. With precise movements and control of power, the two attacked and defended in near-perfect timing. Although the sparks of power had died, the onlooking crowd remained as drawn in as ever. It seemed as if Rarity and Korsan would always land an attack on each other’s weapons.

At one point however, there was a miss. Rarity lunged her magic-guided rapier at Korsan’s face. She missed through, and the padded tip only brushed Korsan’s fur. Before Korsan could retaliate, Rarity pulled her sword back and lunged again. She missed again, and again, and again.

The crewmembers were in shock. It was a rapid barrage of near misses and almost blind jabs. None of Rarity’s attacks seemed to make an effort in connecting to Korsan at all.

What is she doing?! They all thought.

The pirates looked to their captain for a meaning to this. Korsan simply stood there, letting the attacks whiz by his face. A small smile grew on him as he stared down Rarity.

“This isn’t an immediate bad stroke of luck! This is a mind game!” Yu exclaimed, absolutely dumbfounded.

“Rarity is intentionally creating a barrage of missing attacks as to lure Korsan into a state of stillness. If he moves, he could risk getting hit by a random jab. Once Korsan is not expecting it, Rarity will strike him!” Yin explained, overwhelmed by the lightning speed of Rarity’s magic.

Korsan already knew all of this, and knew what to do to counter this. Ignoring the flickering silver in the corner of his eye, he kept his focus locked on Rarity’s eyes and horn. The instant her eyes twitch and the aura of her horn warps would be the moment she goes in for the blow.

I find your methods amusing, Korsan internally spoke to Rarity. However, you are no match for-

A flash of silver overtook Korsan’s vision.

“What?!” He gasped.

Rarity had changed up her barrage attack. Instead of simply brushing his face, Rarity had her rapier swipe in front of his face between the jabs. This was her plan all along. Overtaken by a slower, but blinding, barrage of misses, Korsan can’t tell what Rarity is plotting.

As Rarity’s rapier flashed in front of Korsan’s vision, he thought he saw Rarity signaling her actual attack. He quickly swiped his weapon in front of his face. If Rarity’s rapier would hit the cutlass, Korsan would be able to perform a quick retaliation and defeat his rival.

A faint whoosh of air brushes the fur on the left side of his head.

A look of shock was engraved on Korsan’s face.

With Korsan now in the midst of a deflecting move, Rarity unleashed her true attack. She lunged her rapier into Korsan’s exposed gut. Korsan jumped back and blocked the. He tried to keep distance, but Rarity pressed onward. She went in for another jab. Then another jab. Then another. Korsan couldn’t keep up. He was slowly backed into a corner.

The onlookers roared in surprise. Was this the day Korsan was bested?

As Rarity went in for the finishing stab, Korsan caught the rapier with his cutlass. He locked the two swords together, keeping his final ground.

“Hey, Korsan, good match.” Rarity said.

“Indeed,” Korsan said, still as confident as ever.

Rarity immediately knew by the tone of his voice; Korsan had one final trick up his cape.

With a powerful, proud roar, Korsan yelled, “Overdrive!”

In seconds, his mechanical suit went haywire. The gears rotated at blinding speeds, the pistons hissed and cried, and the bearings and joints gyrated to no end. This was Korsan’s Overdrive, his suit’s final resort.

With now more than quadruple of his original strength, Korsan threw Rarity off of him. She slid back into the dining table. She didn’t even have a moment to breath before being assaulted by a barrage of slices. Korsan’s overdriven speed, added atop of his pegasus assets, allowed him move at incredible speeds with incredible accelerated. Sound barely stood a chance against Korsan, let alone a unicorn.

Rarity didn’t even realized what had just happened. One moment, her back was being struck against the table. The next, a cutlass was pointed right at her throat. Her rapier hung from the ceiling, wedged between the wood boards. Korsan had not only turned the tide of battle, but won in the blink of an eye.

Korsan backed away from Rarity and withdrew his sword. His mechanical suit shrieked and spewed steam as it exited from Overdrive and returned to normal. The gears, pistons, and Korsan’s body froze for a moment, like he skipped a beat. But Korsan recovered and went to his chair. He sat down and let out a deep sigh, exhausted.

Rarity slumped down to the floor, her head rested against the edge of the table. The pirates around her were dead silent, not only for the sake of modesty, but also that they have never seen Korsan use Overdrive on a rookie who had only been on the ship for about two weeks.

Korsan and Rarity looked at each other, eyes half-open. They analyzed each other, and mentally congratulated each other for a good sparring.

She read right through me, Korsan thought to himself. How could she have known what I was planning?

Huh, turns out that fantasy romance novels do have some realism in there, Rarity thought, reflecting on her barrage attack.

“Good fight.” Korsan eventually told her. “Your form still needs some work, but you have shown great wit.”

“Yeah, thanks.” Rarity panted.

Korsan then said to his crew, “The rest of yous, scram. I’m taking a rest.”

“Aye-aye, Captain.” The onlooker pirates replied.

Two by two, they left the galley and returned to their regular work or leisure. The only pony who remained was Hans, staring out the window and thinking.

“How’d you know to catch me off guard with that blinding maneuver?” Korsan asked, honestly intrigued.

“...Good intuition,” Rarity said, softly lying. She didn’t want to say that she made a blind decision based off of a fantasy novel.

Korsan gave an accepting huff and eased deeper into his chair. At this point, all the captain wanted to do was rip off his suit and sleep in his bed. Of course, the captain knew, that until the moon reaches its peak, there is no time to sleep. A creaking sound was heard at the closed galley door.

“Hm?” Korsan groaned, his head strained to raise itself an inch.

At the other side of the galley was Maria, holding a jar of black goo. She looked exhausted, not just physically, but also mentally. At any moment it seemed that everypony would just drop to the ground and take a snooze.

Maria’s voice was frail, struggling to escape her throat.

“The goop spilled outside the vault again.” Maria said, absolutely exhausted. “I did my best to clean it up.”

“Again?” Korsan groaned, rising from his chair.

He slowly staggered to Maria and picked up the jar. Rarity noticed that the white fur of Maria hoof was stained in the mysterious goo. If she wasn’t so exhausted, she could’ve sworn that her veins also had a black semblance in them.

“I was certain I sealed the thing up. It’s like the goop has a mind of its own.” Korsan said.

“I’m sorry if it was valuable.” Maria apologized, modestly bowing her head.

“Well, no pony has appraised it yet, so I can’t really be mad at you, especially at this time. Wash up and take the night off.”

“Aye.”

Maria left the galley and went below into the cabins, followed behind by Hans. There was a darkened look to his face as he followed behind, private, but painted with a vast array of emotions. Perhaps it was also tiredness; Rarity did not know.

With the jar in his hooves, Korsan approached Rarity, still slumped on the floor.

“Have I shown you this yet?” He asked.

“No.” Rarity replied.

A warm smile appeared on Korsan as he reached Rarity. He slumped over and sat next to her, giving her a good look at the black substance. It was extremely thick, but flowed quite quickly around the bottle. It was almost alien to her.

“We found this stuff in a temple in Wisteria. The walls were absolutely coated in it. I guarantee, there’s nowhere else in the known world that this is found in.”

“It looks like tar.”

“It may look like tar, but I assure you, this is something far from tar.”

Carefully, Korsan uncorked the bottle. He held the bottle over one of the floorboards of the galley, keeping it a far distance from his suit. A faint, green glow emanated from the floorboard due to the anti-magic that was in it. Korsan tilted over the bottle, and a few droplets of the black ooze fell onto the floor. In seconds, the green glow died down, and the floorboard hissed and boiled as if it was being eaten by acid.

“What is it doing?!” Rarity asked, a bit shocked.

“The black goo is eating the anti-magic in the wood. Eventually, it will eat through the lower floors and leak out the bottom.”

“So, it’s an anti-anti-magic substance?”

“Yep, as stupid as it sounds,” Korsan nodded.

He put the cork back onto the bottle and rose to his hind hooves.

“I’m putting this back in the vault.” He told her. “Hopefully it doesn’t get out.”

“Alright,” Rarity replied.

“Be ready for tomorrow. We’re expected to hit the Breach by then.”

“Aye-aye, Korsan. Goodnight. See you tomorrow!” Rarity cheered.

“…Goodnight.”

Upon closing the door behind him, Korsan slammed himself onto the wall. He looked out over the deck and the evening sky, processing what just happened.

It wasn’t common for a pony to wish him goodnight, especially in such a happy tone and even more especially when it came from a prisoner. It felt nice, not in any winning sense like in looting or pirating, but in a reassuring sense. It was the first time in a while since Korsan felt somepony was by his side, ready to greet the day with him rather than just nearby him.

As the sun set in the horizon, Korsan looked over the scenery surrounding The Perfection.

“It is a golden evening.” He said with a smile.

Chapter 028: Desert Hurricane (Part 1)

The Perfection was now hundreds of kilometres away from any charted land mass, with the only thing able to be seen at this point being the bright blue sea, the even bluer skies, the several white clouds, and the topaz sun. The brown airship gently sailed amongst the rolling clouds. While the crew members on and below deck prepared to land at their next destination, the lookouts in their crow’s nest looked in every direction with their spyglasses, searching for the Breach their captain told them about.

Eventually, one of the lookouts saw it. A massive pitch black rip in the world, a huge canyon swallowing the sea as it pours into it endless depths, peered from the horizon twenty kilometres ahead of them.

“I see it!” The stallion cried out to his companions behind him. “I see the Breach, exactly ten and a half dead ahead, we got four minutes!”

“Inform the captain immediately!” The lookout behind the first yelled out.

“By thunder, it’s the edge of the world!” The stallion continued, absolutely awestruck.

“Hey,” a mare lookout calls out from another mast. “I’m starting to see it as well. Is that where Korsan wants us to go?!”

A third stallion then yelled, “We gotta turn back! I’ve heard legends about these types of things in the Old World, and they’re all bad things.”

“I’m with Salty Bob. I’m not going into that thing if it means risking my hide.” The mare pirate agreed.

“Tell Korsan to turn back!”

“Will you twos pipe down!” the second lookout proclaimed. “The captain knows what he’s doing.”

“Does he, Alex?”

“Very made point,” a commanding voice replied far below the panicking ponies.

They looked down to see Captain Korsan looking up at them with Juliana perched on his shoulder.

“But I most certainly know what I’m doing.” Korsan declared.

“C-C-Captain!” One of the lookouts exclaimed.

“Keep The Perfection sailing straight towards the Breach, we’ll gently hover down with all cannons at the ready for any beasts that dare tangle with us. However, for safe measure, I suggest you make peace with yourself.” Korsan commanded.

“Y-yes sir,”

“Good.”

Korsan walked around the massive deck area and supervised the preparations going on. Ponies were bustling back and forth, carrying several various items in each of their magic grips. Crew members climbed up and down the rigging, fastening the flapping sails. Chatter roared across every corner of the vessel.

Korsan elevated his voice and movements as he relays commands to his minions.

“Perform a maintenance check on the anchors! Batten down the hatches! Secure all sail knots! Prime all cannons! Prepare life-lines! Tie down any loose cargo! Check the rudder! Seal all the bathrooms! Lock down the anti-magic generators!” He commanded to his crew.

As the captain reached the entrance to the galley, Isyan emerged from the dining area’s doors.

He spoke to his cousin, “Korsan, the crew members are freaking out. They, as well as I, aren’t secure about going into that thing. I suggest we turn back around now before something terrible happens and kills us all.”

“Bah, dear cousin, we’ll be perfectly fine.” Korsan casually dismissed Isyan.

“Korsan, for once, quit acting like a foal and see the danger coming right at us at any second-”

“Give or take three minutes.”

“I don’t care! We’re already tired out from ship repairs after that joyride you pulled two weeks ago. Speaking of which, we aren’t even secure our ship’s in the best condition to go on such a perilous journey. Pull back now!”

“No!”

“Yes!”

“No!”

“Captain Korsan?” A mare’s voice gently called out behind the stressed stallions.

Korsan looked over his caped shoulder to find Rarity standing behind him. She was dressed in a thin dark blue and black combat dress, small belted black boots, and a black tricorn hat with a golden trim. A long, ice blue feather fluttered from the hat.

“Yes, Miss Rarity?” Korsan asked.

“Is there a problem?”

“No, be sure to secure your sister before we hit the Breach.”

“Yes, sir.”

Quickly, the white unicorn hurried back inside. Korsan watched her from between the diagonal muntins of the large window as she went towards the kitchen area.

“Ah, to think, about two or three weeks ago, you and your sister resented me. Now look at you, one of my most loyal tailors. And your sister is one of my finest cooks.” Korsan spoke to the glass, fully knowing Rarity couldn't hear him.

“’Loyal’ is a bit too soon to call.” Isyan stated. “She hasn’t been part of any looting ventures, just sparring, still intends on returning to Equestria, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d say that she’s just trying to take advantage of your unreasonable kindness towards her. That dress she has is one of your most prized possessions.”

“Look, Isyan, I have faith in Rarity, for good reason as well. Ever since she and her sister joined our crew, the nightly galley sparring have become more entertaining, the food has become much more delicious, all of our boots are finally fixed, and the overall morale of the ship has increased drastically. Sweetie Belle is fantastic. Rarity is even more so. She is one of the nicest, savviest, most beautiful-”

“Ahem,” Isyan snapped at his leader. “Apologies for intruding on your fantasies, sir, but we’re current approaching death!”

“Hold on one second.”

Swiftly, Korsan climbed up to his wheel and activates the speaker pipe.

“Attention all sea artists!” His voice echoed across The Perfection.

Almost immediately, the entire boat turned silent and all of its members looked towards the pirate captain at the wheel.

“Now, I know what most of you have going through your minds as we are approaching the Breach. You’re scared, you’ve lost all hope, you’re questioning my leadership, and a million more things. However, let me remind you of who we are. We are the crew, of one hundred proud unicorns, of The Perfection, the greatest band of pirates the world has ever known. We have traveled to every corner of the known world and beyond, doing the impossible. We hunted down the Emperor Kraken, yes?”

“Yeah,” A few pirates quietly replied.

“We discovered the lost city Marelantis, right?”

“Yeah,” Several more pirates answered more audibly, with one loudly cheering.

“We dethroned the Pirate King, crushed his armada of forty fifty-gun sloops, and still won the Pirate of the Year award, isn’t that right?!”

“Yeah!” The entire onboard crew shouted in unison.

“Mega hurricanes that devour continents, electric typhoons that give electric eels their deadly stings, fire tornadoes that out-burn the sun, ice volcanos that freeze the clouds above, and all other types of weather. We never have fallen to any unit of nature’s wrath, have we?”

“No!”

“And best of all, we invaded Equestria, one of the most powerful nations of all, stole its most valuable treasure, defeated their military alongside the four alicorn princesses themselves, and took off with little resistance. We did that!”

“Aye!”

“We did the impossible!”

“Aye!”

“And now, as we approach what maybe one of our greatest challenges, possibly worse than even crossing the Ley Lines, are you, my merry crew of immortals, going to fall to such a dare, the dare to become the greatest band of unicorns of all time?”

“Never!”

“Or are we going to enter the Breach, become the first modern explorers to reach Alicorn Island, and achieve its ultimate power?!”

“Enter the Breach!”

“That’s the spirit! Now, to your combat positions! Brace yourselves and your loved ones! And prepare to make history!”

Immediately, the entire on-deck crew rapidly shuffled into the stairways and ladders to below deck. The massive airship reached the edge between the open sea and the black abyss known as the Breach. Within seconds, everypony was set for whatever to come their way. Korsan lowered a lever and activated the full ship controls before latching his front claws tightly on the wheel and his hind claws into the deck below.

The tip of the bowsprit poked over the edge of the ocean and a mighty wave of moisture blasted across the ship, nearly launches Korsan from his hoofing. Juliana, also hit by the vapor wave, squirmed on her master's shoulder.

“Take it easy, Missy. It’s just a slow dece-”

A massive downward jolt smashed into the bow, the force rippling all the way back.

“What in blue blazes is going on?! What’s going on with the anti-magic? What’s going on with the sails?”

Soon, the entire airship started to tilt forward as more and more of the unseen force pushed down. The more the hull poked over the edge, the more violent the gravatonic force became. Korsan looked ahead at the overhanging sails and saw that they were completely motionless.

“Wait… ‘All inside a grand trench, of no magic nor flight, to be called as a leak, to be known as the Breach’… Oh no. Juliana, prepare yourself for an unscheduled joyride!”

The behemoth of wood soon began to accelerate downwards into the darkness as over half of the ship peered over the Breach. In moments, the ship jad turned a full 75 degrees downward. Captain Korsan clutched onto the woodwork with all of his strength as he felt his body grow incredibly heavier upon crossing over the divide. No longer hung to the sea, The Perfection plummeted downwards into the pitch black below. The ship rapidly accelerated in free fall, clocking in at speeds no pegasus could compete with.

The sky above turned to a black fog and the walls of water surrounding the ship turned into an empty void of darkness. The falling water slowly dissipated in the depths, turning into foggy veins along the dark walls.

Screams of terror roared from the crew. The airship snapped and creaked, crying alongside its members. For the first time in years, an air of fear struck the captain as he watched his vessel and crew plummet into the abyss. Terrified, Korsan closed his one eye, and waited for whatever inevitable death that awaited him. He was going down with the ship he made and pilotted, like a true captain.

After a minute of falling however, the ship eventually land onto something soft and straightened up. It immediately rocketed forward, sending the crew onboard backwards in surprise. It was like the ship had landed in another ocean in the midst of a current and survived.

Korsan, having realized he’s survived, still glued to his spot, openned his eye and saw what was going on. The Perfection was sailing in the midst of the void, on floating current of golden sand rapidly flows. Where the sand path was taking them was unknown, but it was going fast. Korsan looked over the edge to see several clusters of the sand breaking from the floating river and falling into the black abyss below. He then turned forward to the bow and saw the winding sand stream ahead, leading to a bright blue dot in the distance, a tiny star in the barely visible water walls of the Breach.

He had no control of the fast speed of his ship, so all he could do was steer the boat along the path of hovering dunes.

Below, Rarity peeked her head from the galley doors and was astonished, gasping out, “Wow.”

She wandered out onto the main deck, looking around in wonder of this new world. Soon, other crew members, also curious of what happened just before, crawled out from below as well and marveled at the sights. Rarity climbed up the quarterdeck stairs and approached the concentrated captain as he steered.

“What is this place?” She asked him.

“I don’t know.” Korsan responded, breaking his intense focus to talk. “Chaos, I guess.”

“Shouldn’t the Diamond Eye have warned us?”

“It did, just cryptically. ’Beyond distorts of space, beyond sand grains of time, past creature of great length, and thinnest of all paths…’”

“Hey, look up.”

“What?”

Korsan looked upwards to what Rarity had now turned her attention to and was immediately overcome with awe. Above them, in the darkness that has overtaken the sky, glows what appeared to be stars, galaxies, and clouds of cosmic energy, dancing and twirling with each other in the empty sky.

“Incredible!”

“It’s so beautiful!”

Everypony became mesmerized by the stunning sights that surpassed in beauty, more than any magic they had ever seen their entire life.

Wait, what did Korsan say? ‘Past creature of great length…’ What does that mean?

“I gotta to write this all down, I want sketch this all down, I need this documented at once.”

“Captain!” A mare yelled out from the main deck below, “I think I saw something!”

“Wait, what?” Korsan asked.

“It was long, sand-coloured, and appeared to be moving very fast right below us.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“Hey!” Yin and Yu called out simultaneously at the bow. “Is that a tail?”

Out of nowhere, the entire boat jumped into the air and slammed back into the sand, causing nearly everypony to lose their hoofing.

“What was that?” Another pirate asked.

“Oh,” Korsan gravely muttered. “We are not alone.”

“What’s the meaning of this?” Isyan yelled out from the deck below.

Korsan replied, “Well, from what it seems we can do at the moment, we’re going to have to sail along this current to reach that blue light at the end of the-”

“Not that, the rumbling!” Isyan snapped.

“Uh… Well, I don’t want to worry anypony, but… We, might need a bigger boat.”

“What do you mean ‘might’?”

Before an answer could be given, a violent rupture rattled the ship, sending the whole thing tilting. It wobbled side to side, over the edges of the sand path. Uproars followed as the ship was about to capsize. Korsan tried to stabilize the ship, grasping the wheel with all of his machine strength.

A kilometre ahead of them, the source of the distress revealed itself. An enormous serpent-like creature bursted from the top of the sand path. Opening its mouth, it revealed its three mega-sized jaws, jammed with giant serrated teeth. It roared into the sky, sending a shockwave rippling across the incoming vessel.

“Scratch that. We are gonna need a bigger boat.” Korsan bluntly stated.

“What the heck was that?!” Isyan exclaimed, rife with panic.

“A sandworm, about fifty metres thick in diameter, and maybe... five-hundred metres long, give or take.”

“Give or take? This ship, the largest ship in the known world, is five-hundred metres long!”

The massive scaled worm slipped back into the thin current and charges towards the incoming ship. Korsan saw that it and his ship will meet at an S-bend ahead.

“Hold tight, we’re going wide!” Korsan declared.

What would follow will perhaps be the greatest risk Korsan had ever taken, putting the lives of his crew, himself, his ship, his legacy, Rarity, and a filly, all on the line in the battle against the leviathan of the Breach.

Chapter 029: Desert Hurricane (Part 2)

The Perfection, confined to a thin trail of hovering sand, was on a collision course with the guardian of the Breach, massive sandworm with a taste for blood. Korsan had only one option for survival.

And he went for it.

With a quick turn of the wheel, the entire vessel sharply turned left. It skimmed the outside of the turn. The crew drifted to the starboard railing, grabbing onto it as the speeding vessel tilted over the black abyss. The worm stuck close to the inside of the opposing curve and accelerated. With the two massive bodies approaching the middle, tension rapidly built inside the bystanding ponies as they watched in fear. Rarity, perhaps the most scared, turned to Korsan, his face showing a bold face of determination.

The sandworm charged at the ship straight ahead. The head pulled from the sand and revealed itself, opening its gaping mouth for the kill. Just as the two are about to collide, the long boat suddenly veered to the other side. The side of the wooden boat scraped against the thick dusty skin of the beast. The ship teetered at whatever was free of the second curve as it squeezed against the sandworm. Korsan held onto the slowly disappearing sand trail, hoping the end of the beast was near. With a third of the boat leaning over the void now, it drifted along the thin bank of sand.

Finally, The Perfection finished the turn. As the enormous sandworm’s tail passed by, Korsan immediately set it straight with the sand current. The galleon continued forward, having barely survived.

“That was too close for comfort!” Rarity gasped out.

“Yeah! ...Well, at least we now have the head start.”

Triumphantly, Korsan and Rarity looked back at the sandworm. The only way for it to catch up with them, it seemed, was to race the fastest ship of the sky and water.

But the sandworm had another way.

It fully removed its front half from the sand and stretched over the back abyss. It moved itself over the hap into a parallel portion of the current that ran right next to them. The crew watched its head poking from the thin layer of golden sand as it charged again This time, they were going to meet at a complete 180 degree turn.

“Oh, this is going to suck.” Korsan groaned.

Meanwhile, far from the Breach, the crystal blue waters of the ocean flowed gracefully under the regular salty sky. In this ordinary ocean, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applebloom, and Scootaloo, were sailing in their new watercraft, searching for their kidnapped friends and archenemy.

“Wow,” Rainbow Dash groaned, looking down at an old biscuit in her hoof. “I’d never thought I’d be saying this, but I’m starting to miss apples.”

“Hey, how’s Applejack doing?” Pinkie asked Dash. “I heard you and her talking last night.”

“It was nothing. We all had to share the same bed, so it was nothing personal.” Rainbow Dash said.

“Really? I thought I heard crying.”

“Hey,” Applebloom interrupted, walking into the hull from outside. “You two talkin’ about my sister?”

“Yep,” Pinkie replied.”

“Do you know what’s up with her? She’s acting really, distant from Twilight a long while.” Applebloom said.

“Don’t worry,” Dash replied. “AJ and Twilight are just going through a small disagreement, nothing to worry about.”

“Are you sure?”

“Do I look unsure to you?” The cyan mare casually swaggered.

“…”

“…Well I’m most certainly sure now. Go, please.” Dash dismissed Applebloom.

“Okay then.”

As the filly walked back up to deck, Rainbow Dash released a heavy sigh, lying back onto the bare bed.

“This is stupid,” She groaned.

Pinkie asks, confused, “What is? The ceiling?”

“No, AJ and Twilight,”

“Yeah, it is a fairly stupid concept when you think about it, putting such opposing forces into a non-platonic correlation.”

“Huh?”

“What?”

“What I’m saying is that AJ’s defensiveness to Korsan and Twilight’s over reaction to it is really tearing them apart, and I don’t like it.” Rainbow stated.

“What’s there to be defensive about?”

“Something about Korsan’s belief that unicorns are better, I mean, who believes that bunch of hoopla?”

“Why would AJ believe it then if it’s just hoopla? Is this a joke?”

“No, no, Pinkie. She worried that she may not be able to protect her family because she can’t counter magic or something like that-it’s pretty ridiculous.”

“Shouldn’t you help her then if she’s worried? That sounds like a serious issue.”

“Well, it’s-uh-it’s-well-uh-It’s complicated.”

“Doesn’t seem like it to me.”

“She’s supporting the villain. We heroes shouldn’t be supporting them. What would the ponies back home think of us?”

“What about Discord?” Fluttershy chimed in.

“Well, he’s different.” Rainbow Dash said.

“Really? He did become one of our best friends after we supported him when he was still a villain.” Pinkie countered.

“Well, yeah, but-” Dash stammered.

“But what?”

“He-he wasn’t some psychopathic killer. Discord was, more of a bully.”

“A bully? I wouldn’t call nearly destroying Equestria a bully thing to do.”

At this point, Rainbow Dash was stunned by the seemingly permanently gleeful nature of the pink mare beside her. She found Pinkie’s innocent demeanor both insightful and annoying.

“Korsan did do a bunch of meanie things, and we are going to stop him from doing those meanie things, but maybe he does have a point, I don’t know.” Pinkie said.

“…”

“But of course, nopony’s better than me at juggling, baking, and throwing parties, except Cheese Sandwich, he’s pretty close-”

“True. Hey, Pinkie, what were you doing on that deserted island two weeks ago?” Dash then asked.

“Oh, doing this and that. Preparing a little surprise for the future,” Pinkie bluntly stated.

“Surprise? Wouldn’t it have burned up with the island?”

“Nope, it’s still there and is waiting for the right moment to be sprung.”

“Huh-”

Before Dash could ask about the surprise, the hull door loudly swung open. In came Scootaloo with the news.

“We’re about to hit the Breach!” She said.

“Well, gotta go, I wanna get a front seat to this!” Pinkie said, immediately running out the room.

“Don’t worry, Rarity!” Spike proclaims at the bow, “I’m-I mean… We are coming to save you! …And Sweetie Belle!”

“Brace yourselves!” Twilight commanded to the ponies onboard Lightning Bolt. “We are about to enter the Breach. We do not know what’s down there, we do not know how we’ll be able to fight Korsan, we do not know how to properly drive this thing, but together, we will find a way. We will save Rarity and Sweetie Belle, we will stop Korsan, and we will save Equestria from his tyranny! And we-”

“Save the speech for Equestria, Twilight!” Rainbow Dash hollered out from the main deck.

“Oh please, let me enjoy the moment of delivering a rousing speech that will undoubtedly make us win this fight.” Twilight replied, holding a proud pose at the wheel.

“Not that! I mean that we’re about to fall!”

“What?”

Twilight looked ahead. She saw the massive black canyon approaching them rapidly. Even with her ship at ease, there wasn’t any sign of it stopping.

“Ah! How did that sneak up on me?!” Twilight exclaimed.

Forgetting the controls, Twilight frantically whipped her horn to the back of the boat. The anti-magic forcing the vessel to speed up even faster.

“Wait-wait-wait-wait-wait!”

The racing longboat charged over the liquid cliff and plummeted into the abyss below. As it fell, Applejack had only one thing to say before screaming.

“Oh, this is gonna suck.”

The Perfection fiercely swerved left and right as the sandworm chased from behind. On the gun deck below, ponies were scrambling all over the place. They frantically moved supplies around and sloppily loaded their cannons. Without their magic, the pirate members found it near impossible to manage the massive weapons. Korsan was practically destroying the paint and hinges of the wheel as he sharply twisted it as quickly as his could. He had to manage both the sandworm rearing up on him and the sand current ahead.

It was pure chaos.

“What’s going on down there?!” The captain screamed into the speaking pipe. “We’ve barely landed a hit on that thing!”

“We can’t!” Maria’s voice echoed back. “It’s too fast and it keeps getting out of range.”

“Well we can’t just turn sideways now, can we?!” Korsan sarcastically retorted.

Rarity yelled out to Korsan, “Look out!”

Korsan looked back. The sandworm was diving in for the kill. Korsan snapped the wheel right and flung the ship to the side. The great beast barely missed. Its gaping mouth hooked onto the port anchor and pulled it with it. The sandworm then burst forward, yanking the chain and the entire ship along the path. The ship doubled in speed, which only doubled the peril.

“Port anchor’s been snagged! Cut it!” Korsan demanded.

“We can’t!” One of the pirates yelled out. “It’s jammed!”

“Unjam it!”

“Can’t at this angle, sir!”

“Oh, come on!”

“Wait,” Yu’s voice faintly reverberated from the pipe. “Did we grapple it or did it grapple us?”

“Hold tight!” Korsan ordered.

The rocketing airship was approaching a sharp series of turns. Korsan frantically prepared himself at the wheel. He steered the insane ship right, then left, then right, then left. There seemed to be no end to these whiplashing curves. They forced Korsan to switch rotations quicker and quicker, burning the wheel’s hinges. The ship begun to drift across the sand banks and lean over the edge as the turns grew more and more violent.

“I’m getting splinters! Gah!” Korsan gasped.

“Go any sharper and we’ll drop!” Rarity exclaimed.

“Can we not catch a break today?!”

As the massive airship was dragged on by the behemoth monster, the sounds of snapping wood and pony screams became deafening. Yet, a pale, yet all too familiar sound entered Rarity’s ears from above.

“Do you hear that?” Rarity asked.

“Hear what?” Korsan asked.

“That screaming? It sounds like…”

Within seconds, the vague sounds grew audible. Whatever the source was, it was approaching at an exponential rate. Rarity then immediately recognized the sound.

“Them?!” She exclaimed.

“Who?!”

They and Isyan looked up at where the now ear-piercing screeches were coming from. A large grey object was dropping from the galactic skies directly onto them.

“It can’t be…” Korsan and Rarity gasped.

The long wooden object of above slammed onto the middle of The Perfection’s deck. Half of a mast dissipated under the crushing power of the object. The entire airship bent and folded to the smash attack, nearly throwing it from the edge and into the voice. Clutching tightly on the wheel, the captain continued to pilot his ship. He looked at what had just destroyed his ship. It was a grey and blue vessel, with large sails tangled in The Perfection’s rigging and torn up quite brutally.

Korsan than saw, Twilight shaking at the wheel of the unusual craft.

“What?!” He hollered.

His eye quickly followed across the length of the invading ship and saw the rest of the heroes piled on top of each other at the bow.

“How are they still alive?!” He exclaimed.

“Twilight! Friends!” Rarity exclaimed with joy.

“Rarity!” Twilight nauseatingly called out, glancing over to the quarterdeck. “We’re here to save you!”

“Oh no you don’t!” Korsan declared.

He turned to the pipe and screamed, “Twilight and her pest friends are onboard, kill them!”

“No!” Rarity immediately protests.

However, her refusal is not listened to by anypony as dozens of crew members burst from below deck. They each were holding their weapons by their teeth, running towards the invading vessel.

“Korsan, call off the attack!” Rarity pleaded.

“No way, this is the last time those ponies are getting in my way!”

“But they’re my friends! You have to reconsider!”

“I don’t give a-”

“Turn!” A crew member at the bow screamed out.

Korsan immediately realized he wasn’t focused on steering for too long. He immediately pulled right, snapping his ship around a corner. It teetered the outer edge of the thin bank of sand. Due to this, Twilight’s ship suddenly slipped and slid across the deck. Her front slammed into the quarterdeck and its sides smashed into the masts. The Perfection brutally jolted, flinging everypony into the air. Rarity flew over the port edge. She screamed as she plummeted down and into the abyss.

“Miss Rarity!” Korsan exclaimed.

“Rarity!” Twilight and the others screamed as well.

“Juliana, Isyan, take the wheel!” Korsan demanded the nearby pony and bird.

Korsan swiftly placed the ice phoenix on the steering wheel. He then grabbed a nearby rope attached to the wheel base and blitzed to the edge.

“Wait, I don’t know how to drive this thing!” Isyan frantically replied.

“That’s why Juliana is, you’re just giving her directions.” Korsan replied back.

He then grabbed to the railing and leapt off of the ship as well. With a firm grip of the rope end, he swung into the abyss below.

“You’re mad!” Isyan yelled out.

“I know!” Korsan’s voice echoed.

Now far below the sand dunes, Rarity knew that she would soon be a goner. The screams of terror echoed in the black. She flailed, knowing it was useless, but still clung to some sort of hope.

This can’t be the end! This can’t be the end! Please, have mercy! Don’t let this be the end! Rarity’s mind pleaded as she fell.

Overwhelmed with terror, eventually, she stopped thinking.

Korsan was quickly gaining up to her as he dived after her. In his metal claw, Korsan could feel the life-line rope getting tighter and tighter. As he descended closer and closer to Rarity, the growing fear of not having enough rope tingled his spine. If the rope came up short or broke, both his and Rarity’s lives will forever be lost.

“Miss Rarity, up here!” Korsan yelled out.

“Korsan!” The frightened mare shrilled out, catching only glimpses of him as she aimlessly tumbled.

“Keep flat! Stretch out your hooves! And just stay calm!” Korsan commanded her.

“I can’t!”

“Rarity, look at me!”

The flailing mare tried to follow his orders, only to flip over herself and fall even faster.

“No!” Rarity screamed.

“Look at me! Look into my eye!”

Rarity tried once more, this time, focusing on Korsan’s ice blue eye. Eventually, she became mesmerized by its power and determination. Rarity slowly straightened out as the captain commanded. Fear started to slowly flow out of her head as Korsan grew closer and closer. His eye was her haven from this dark world, and she drew closer.

Just as Korsan could skim Rarity’s chest with his hoof, a loud crack was suddenly heard. The rope had reached its limit. All that is left to feed Korsan’s fall was whatever elasticity was left in the rope. Thinking on the spot, Korsan released the rope end. With his body now free falling and inching closer to his target, in a split second, Korsan reached for Rarity. Two of his hind claws just barely grabbed Rarity’s dress. The pegasus chomped down on the tip of the line. He could feel his neck begin to snap as his head and body are suddenly wrenched apart.

Immediately yanked back upwards by the rope’s recoil, the two ponies were sent flying upwards for a brief moment. Taking this opportunity, Korsan flung Rarity up to his side. He used his hind claws to grab his black cape and wrapped it Rarity in it as his front hooves grabbed onto the life-line.

“Hoist me up you bag of bones!” He yelled out above.

“Eep!” Rarity squeals as her body loosely shifted around in the cape in their ascent.

Panic set in and tears formed in her eyes. Overwhelmed by what just happened, she begun to hyperventilate. Rarity was going into shock, and if Korsan doesn’t do anything, her organs might fail and die.

“Calm down. Calm down.” He whispered to try and calm her down, but to no avail.

Gently, he then rocked Rarity back and forth on his wrapped cape. He tightened the wrapping with his teeth and further secured Rarity.

“I got you, I got you. You’re safe with me. I’m here for you.” He said to her.

The hyperventilating started to die down, but Rarity was still greatly terrified. So Korsan decided to sing to her. Rather, it was more of a hum, but Korsan put the effort of an opera singer into it. He gracefully hummed to her, trying his best to put her at ease. The stallion closed his eyes, hoping for a response.

Finally, a voice was heard.

“No-no-n-no need f-for th-that,” Rarity sniffled.

“Oh…” Korsan muttered.

“Y-you saved me.”

“You’re worth saving, my dear.”

“T-Twilight, and the others,”

“Oh, them…”

“Please tell me you’re not going to kill them.” Rarity pleaded.

“But I-…”

“Please.”

With Rarity’s soft white fur brushing into his stiff torso, the pirate captain grew more and more unsure of what to do. Would he risk everything he had worked up to this point to keep this mare happy? If Korsan killed her friends, surely she’d die of a heart attack.

“They’ll only be here to get me and Sweetie Belle, and I’ll tell them to go.” Rarity said.

Finally, after a long moment of thinking, Korsan told her, “…Fine. I won’t kill them.”

“Promise?”

With her shivering in his folds and her large blue eyes staring into his one, Korsan found it impossible to say no.

“…I-I promise.” He said.

A loud roar then tore across the Breach. Korsan and Rarity looked up and saw the sandworm heading towards their ship like a fish to a baited hook.

“Oh come on, this?” Korsan groaned.

“What do we do?” Rarity asked.

Korsan thought for a moment, with a cocky smile slowly forming from his lips. He had a crazy idea brewing, one so crazy, it just might work.

“…We’re going to ride it.” He said.

Chapter 030: Déjà Vu (Part 1)

Back on The Perfection’s deck, a vicious battle between Twilight’s crew and Korsan’s crew had unfolded, and was growing more intense by the second. Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Spike, and the foals were trapped on Lightning Rod surrounded on all sides by pirates. They fired the small cannons of the speeder into the incoming hordes of armed pirates. Cannon balls bulleted the floorboards and sent pirates flying across the ship. As they fought, Lightning Rod slid and whipped across The Perfection, smashing into masts and forming craters in the woodworks.

All was at the whim of the giant carnivorous worm, with chaos being all that could bee seen.

Several pirate members eventually reached the deck of the invading vessel. They open to door to below deck, only to be met with Pinkie’s iconic blue party cannon, which blasted them off with a blast of confetti.

The Perfection took a sharp turn to the left. Lightning Rod slid towards the starboard edge and grinded along the withering railing to the bow, bashing into each mast on its way. The pirates caught in the path of the rampaging boat were squished under the thin keel and thrown out the other side.

In the kitchen, Sweetie Belle and the cooks were avoiding falling pots and pans. They heard the blasting noise outside.

Sweetie, fully afraid, asked Ivan, “What’s going out there? Some sort of battle?”

“Aye,” The black pony nauseously replied.

“With what?”

Curious, Sweetie snuck out to the main deck, where she saw the thin grey ship drifting across the deck. She was immediately taken back by the insane sight, but then noticed a familiar pair of mares running from the second ship. They were sneaking along the port side, away from the pirates’ view.

A surge of joy and shock overwhelmed her as she darted towards the two, Applejack and Applebloom.

“Applejack! Applebloom!” She exclaimed.

“Sweetie Belle!” Applebloom yelled back, darting towards her incoming friend.

The two foals greeted each other with a tight, warm hug.

“How did you find us?” Sweetie asked.

“Twilight found Korsan was going to be here, so we got this really, really fast boat and came here. You should’ve been there, there was this exploding island!”

“That sounds so cool!”

“It was! Scootaloo is practic’ly dyin’ to tell you about it.”

“So are you here to save me and Rarity?!”

“You betcha!”

“We first need to take care of something.” Applejack said.

“What is it?” Sweetie asked.

“Eh…” Applejack was hesitant to answer.

Before she could answer, a shockwave tore across the ship. The three mares looked back to see a bunch of pirates on the deck, groaning in pain.

“Yin! Yu! Friends!” Sweetie gasped.

“You’re friends?” Applebloom asked.

“Yin, Yu, Horus, they’re friends I made. Now they’re going to get hurt fighting Twilight and the others. We got to stop them!”

“The pirates?!” Applejack exclaimed.

“You two tell Twilight to stop fighting. I’ll try to convince Captain Korsan to stop as well.” Sweetie commanded desperately.

“Wait, what?! Captain? Stop? What’s going on with ya?” Applejack asked, overwhelmed with what’s going on.

“No time to explain! Where is he?”

As if her question was answered by fate, Korsan appeared. A hundred metres away from them on a parallel sand path, the massive sandworm’s head burst from the golden surface. Everypony on the boats looked over to the roaring monster. Their jaws dropped on sight. There, riding the top of the great beast, was Korsan and Rarity. Their life-line was wrapped around themselves and lassoed over the worm’s upper jaw. They were proudly riding the sandworm like it was a chariot.

“No… way…” Sweetie gaspd.

“I am the master of all beasts!” Korsan triumphantly roars to his crew from afar.

“Very nice!” Isyan yelled back, uninterested with Korsan’s riding skills. “Now set us loose!”

“Got it!” Korsan replied.

Korsan turned to Rarity at his side.

He asked her, excited as ever, “You ready for this?!”

“With you?” Rarity answered, half-confident. “Even when we’re about to do the stupidest things imaginable, you make it sound so easy.”

“Is that a yes?”

“Sure.”

Rarity firmly wrapped her hooves around the pirate captain. Korsan bent down and carried Rarity and himself to the lodged anchor.

The onlooking ponies stopped their fighting and watched Korsan and Rarity climb down the side of the living train.

Spike mumbled in distaste, “You better stay away from Rarity you little p-”

The two ponies then suddenly slipped down a couple of metres, causing all to gasped. Luckily, Korsan quickly recovered and continued to dig his claws into the sandy scales of the beast. The black anchor was just ahead at this point. At this point, everypony watching had dropped their weapons and were now leaning on the ship railings.

Korsan and Rarity eventually reached the anchor, tightly lodged in the worm’s mouth. Korsan removed the life-line rope and ties it the anchor. Rarity secured herself on the iron mass, leaving Korsan to do what he needs to do. Without hesitation, Korsan fired a powerful punch into the flesh wall. The sandworm roared, causing the anchor to loosen.

“Get hoisting the anchor now!” Korsan’s scream echoed across the void.

He then violently pounded the sandworm. Again and again, his metal fists flew in a series of devastating jabs and hooks.

“Is he punching that thing?” Hans, asked out loud.

“He’s insane!” A mare pirate said.

“Even Tempocart’s afraid!” Another pirate cried out.

“It looks to be workin’.” Yin declared.

“Hey!” Yu called out to his fellow members. “Who wants to call bets on whether or not this is going to work?”

“He always makes it out alive. He’s impossible, that stallion.” Yin replied.

“Shhh, don’t tell them that.” Yu whispered.

Upon delivering a final strike right to the jawline, the sandworm finally had enough. It frantically shook around. The anchor immediately dislodged and swung down into the black abyss, taking Rarity and Korsan with it as it faded away from bystander view.

Several seconds passed before the thick chains actually begin to lift. Its slow pace brought forth anxious unrest at the bow.

“Are they dead?” Maria asked.

“Did they slip?” Lilis, the nurse, asked.

“Were they too heavy?” Butch asked.

After a minute of waiting, the anchor emerged from the black haze. There was Korsan and Rarity, hanging on to the black metal. The entire collection of ponies cheered as they watched the two climb up the anchor chain and into the chamber below the forecastle deck.

A peaceful atmosphere came to the ships. Though this was short lived.

“Wait, what about Twilight and the others?” Yu finally asked upon realizing this.

Yin and the others turned shocked at the realization as well.

“Kill ‘em, I guess.” Yin said, a bit hesitant. “That’s what the captain said.”

The pirates looked back at Twilight and her friends. The two sides entered an awkward silence, for the hype of battle had dried out.

“Are we waiting for them to make a move?” Yin asked the others, drawing out his sword. “Let’s get this over with.

“But we agreed back in Gorgonzola to never attack a non-retaliating enemy. They’re not fighting us.” Yu whispered to him.

“That was so many years ago, and things are different.” Yin whispered back.

“This is not the right thing to do.”

“It’s not my choice to make, Yu. It’s them or us!”

“Don’t!” Sweetie Belle screamed out, running towards Lightning Rod. “Don’t hurt my friends!”

“Sweetie Belle!” Twilight and the others onboard the speeder cheered.

“Can’t we sort this out without fighting?” Sweetie asked the crew.

“Sorry,” Yin solemnly stated. “Captain’s orders. If we don’t obey them, we’re pretty much dead.”

Yin slowly revealed his katana and walked towards the heroes, soon followed by the other pirates.

“No!”

“Sweetie Belle,” Twilight commanded. “Stay back!”

Twilight rushed down to the gun deck along with the others. They aimed their cannons at the approaching pirates, ready to continue the battle. The pirates held their weapons at the prime, and sped up their run. The two sides knew a battle was going down, whether they wanted it or not.

“Wait! These guys are my friends!” Sweetie cried to both Twilight and Yin.

“Wait, what? You made friends with the bloodthirsty pirates?!” Twilight exclaimed.

“Wait, should we fire or not?” Dash asked.

“There’s a lot of waiting around here it seems,” Pinkie spoke out.

“Is this a truce or something?” Yu asked.

“No!” Maria Vanshwitz barked, her dagger clenched in her teeth.

“Maybe?” Yin confusingly replied.

“I don’t like this confusion!” Fluttershy squealed.

“Horus?” Yu asked.

The albino pony stammered, unable to answer.

“Isyan,” Yu called back to the boatswain. “Should we attack?”

“How should I know?” Isyan screeched back. “Ask, Horus!”

“We did!”

Korsan then emerged from the trapdoors of the anchor deck with Rarity at his side.

“What’s with all of this shouting?” He asked.

The captain became stunned upon seeing the absence of a battle.

“Hey!” Spike yelled at him. “Get away from her!”

“How about no?” Korsan replied.

“Don’t make me come down there and teach you a thing or two about messing with Rarity!” Spike hissed.

“Oh, and what are you going to do about it?”

“Captain!” Horus called out from the other side of Lightning Rod. “What’s your call at this point? Should we continue the fight?”

Before answering, the captain took a small glance at Rarity. He remembered his promise. Whether it was from desperation or actual thought, he had to follow through with it.

“Well… Detain them, nicely. Throw them in the brig.” Korsan said.

“Nicely?” Horus asked.

“…Yeah. Just capture them. We’ve taken care of the bigger issue-”

“Incoming pinpoint turn!” Isyan screamed. “And the worm’s coming back!”

“Come on!” The crew collectively groaned.

Korsan and the other ponies looked behind them, and were greeted with said turn of sand current. To their calamity, the path made a devastatingly sharp two-hundred and seventy degree turn, too sharp for The Perfection or any ship to handle.

Korsan immediately restated himself.

“Okay, never mind, leave them. Battle positions, quickly now!” He said.

With some hesitation, the pirates followed their leader’s orders and headed back down below.

Korsan turned his attention to Twilight and the others, peering out from the cannon windows back at him. They shared an sharp glare, with a disdained look on their faces.

“I’ll deal with the lot of you later. Right now, we got bigger issue. If you all want to stay alive, then keep out of our way.” He warned them.

Korsan ran across the main deck to the wheel, leaving behind Rarity and Sweetie Belle with their original friends. He climbed up the stairs, and was immediately met by a furious Isyan.

“We aren’t going to be able to make the turn at this speed!” Isyan yelled at him.

“I figured.” Korsan said dismissingly, trying to cope with the ever-rising anxiety.

“What are we going to do? We’re going to drop!”

“We aren’t, just keep your brain inside your head for a wee bit longer. I just gotta figure out something…”

“Like what? The anchors won’t cling to the thin sand, the anti-magic controls are non-existent, and there’s a monstrous sandworm coming right at us!”

Peering over to the parallel track, Korsan analyzed the beast as it sunk down into the sand. It was reaching the end of the turn and coming right at him and his crew. He remembered how tough the worm’s scales were. He then looked back to the returned port anchor, then the cannons.

An idea immediately surfaced.

“We’re going to club haul.” Korsan said.

“Wait, what?!” Isyan exclaimed.

Korsan declared. “Attention sea artists! All hooves to starboard cannons, prepare to drop port anchor on my command.”

“Are you daft?! The sand’s too thin! And the beast is-”

“-going to be what’s getting us out of this mess and give us a free shot at it.”

“You’re-you’re mad!”

“Yes, we’ve been through this. Make yourself useful and get to a cannon.”

Seeing as he had no other option, Isyan grumpily trotted down to the gun deck, muttering inaudible sayings on the way down.

“Alright! Here we go!” Korsan roared. “Five…”

The captain set himself to the wheel, his ice phoenix climbing up his left leg and onto his shoulder.

“Four…”

The sandworm reaches the two-thirds point of the turn.

“Three…”

The behemoth galleon was only a short ways away from hitting the deadly bend.

“Two…”

Korsan’s claws dug into the wood, his muscles tightening.

“One…”

The sandworm reached the underside of the ship. It rose into the keel. Its body was directly under the anchors now.

“Drop!”

The port anchor dropped and sunk below the golden sand. A loud whip sounded out from below. Suddenly, the entire bow started to dip into the sand. The back and middle portions of The Perfection swung around the anchored front and drifted along the sharp bend. Lightning Rod slid across to the starboard side alongside Rarity and Sweetie, having been overtaken by the unexpected maneuver.

As the airship finished the drift, the sandworm’s head was yank above the sand and dragged out into the open void. The crew had clear aim at its head.

Butch roared out as he set his hoof on the trigger string. “Lead’s drop some lead on this f-”

“Fire!”

All fifty cannons on the side of drifting ship fired onto the monster in unison. Metre thick balls of solid metal bashed into the sandworm, causing it to roar in pain. It’s body seized and released the anchor wedged in its side. Korsan straightened the ship on the dunes and sped forward. The sandworm, now furious, dove through the currents and entered another parallel stream alongside them. It was preparing another charge attack to the keel.

Korsan saw another super sharp turn, this time towards the right. He had to perform that club-hauling maneuver again.

“Hoist port anchor! Prepare to deploy starboard anchor! All hooves shift to port side!

As the beast dove underneath once more for another attack on The Perfection, Korsan gave the command.

“Drop!”

The anchor immediately dropped, digging into the scaly skin of the monster once more. The Perfection drifted once more. It slid along to the parallel path and further curve. The sandworm is pulled from hiding and the crew fires onto it once more. The sandworm shrilled and retreated. The anchor dropped from its body was hoisted back. Twilight and the others on the main deck hung on as the boats grinded against each other.

Author's Note

👍 Remember to add this story to Tracking and follow me for updates regarding Ultimate Equestria.

Chapter 031: Déjà Vu (Part 2)

“Who taught this pony how to drive?” Dash yelled out in anger and nausea.

“Himself, really.” Rarity answered.

“You doing okay up there, Rarity?!” Korsan called out.

“I’m fine! I’m just a bit distracted, Captain!” Rarity said.

“Very well then! Take it easy on yourself.”

Fluttershy softly shouted, “I need a barf bag!”

“I’m still trying to figure out if we’re allies with Korsan or not! I need an answer!” Dash angrily groaned.

“Where’s AJ and Applebloom?!” Scootaloo asked, completely scared.

“Loud noises!” Pinkie randomly shrieked. “Also I think I saw them go to the quarterdeck area.”

“Captain?!” Twilight loudly asked in surprise of Rarity’s statement.

“It’s complicated.” Rarity said to her friends above.

“That’s no understatement, I want answers, now! Are you now one of his?” Twilight asked.

“No-yes, I mean, I can’t exactly explain it now.” Rarity said.

“Why?”

“It’s not the best time if you haven’t noticed.”

“Oh really?” Twilight retorted, growing more forceful towards the peculiar pony. “A bit of tension always leaks the truth.”

“Do you even hear yourself? You’re talking to me like I’m the enemy.”

“I don’t know, are you?”

At that moment, Twilight stopped. She was immediatly dumbfounded at herself. She retraced her words. A great pain, even worse than impalement, sliced into her heart. She was, at this moment, walking the thin edge between friendship and enmity.

“Wait! I-I didn’t mean it!” Twilight exclaimed.

“Is that all that runs through your head? Black and white?” Rarity harshly asked.

Rarity brutishly snapped at Twilight, saying, “Maybe you shouldn’t jump to conclusions so quick with me and the captain.”

“Hey!” Spike yelled out from Lightning Rod’s gun deck. “What’s with the ‘captain’ stuff? Korsan! If you pulled some sort of mind control trick on them, I-”

“Save your words,” Korsan yelled out to Spike. “We’re about to do the impossible! Things might be getting tricky!”

Curious of what he meant, Spike, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Scootaloo looked ahead. Their jaws instantly dropped farther than even before.

Ahead of The Perfection was a sharp curved drop with a sudden end to it several stories down a final vertical stretch. Another path formed on the other side of the drop with a mirrored incline. The sand current was split so far, it would be impossible for the ship to travel over it without going down the drop.

“We’re going to fall!” Twilight and the others screamed.

“Pipe down!” Korsan snapped. “Sheesh, you all sound like my cousin, nothing but screaming and chaos.”

He looked behind him and saw the sandworm bolting straight at them from behind.

“You again… Did you have enough?!”

Korsan then looked across the gap to the other sand current. He saw the blue star straight ahead at the end of it.

“Hmmm…”

The gears in his head spun rapidly. He had an idea, but had no clue how to would work, yet he had to follow through with it. It was his only option.

“We’ll talk about this later,” Rarity coldly said to Twilight.

She galloped to Korsan with Sweetie Belle behind her.

“Captain! What are we going to do?” She begged.

“I’m thinking, I’m thinking, I’m thinking,” Korsan rambled.

Rarity replied, “It’s a giant gap in our path, there’s no way we can get over-”

“I got it!”

“What? What is it?”

“…Double club hauling.”

“What in the-”

“No time to explain.” Korsan said.

He then yelled to the crew, “Prepare to drop both anchors at my command, lock at my second, and cut on my third!”

“_What?!_” The entire crew’s collective voices echoed back.

“Five…”

Clutching the wheel and floor tightly, Korsan’s mechanical suit entered Overdrive. It revved up with all of his gears and pistons accelerating rapidly in movement. A loud collection of grinding and screeching noises erupted from the whirring machines.

“How is something like that even going to work?” Rarity asked.

“Trust me, I’ll sound insane if I explain.” Korsan said. “Four…”

The Perfection reaches the downward slope. It began to sink into the darkness, accelerating rapidly.

“The sandworm’s going to hit us!”

“Great! Secure yourself and your sister to the life-lines, now! Three…”

The entire vessel jerked forward a bit at that moment. The beast was right on their tails. Korsan took a split-second glance behind him, taking note of the worm’s position.

“Are you sure we are going to make it?”

“No. No I don’t. Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Juliana, make peace with yourselves now, this may be your final moments in this world that has been all that you’ve known. What lies ahead is beyond me at this point. If we die, we die as explorers. If we fall forever, we fall as adventurers. If we make it, we make it as legends. Two…”

The Perfection was pushed forward once more. It entered free fall. Slowly disconnecting by the vertical sand falls. The sandworm continued to chase its target. It turned more and more vicious as it bumped into the galleon.

“Captain, Korsan, before whatever becomes of us, I want you to know this:” Rarity said. “You are the most fascinating and insane pony I know. And that is saying something.”

“…Thank you. And to you, Miss Rarity. You are as well, and much more, excluding the ‘crazy’ bit… One…”

Both The Perfection and the monstrous worm reached the vertical drop. Rarity and Sweetie are secured on the life-lines. Juliana is tightly clutching in Korsan’s metal shoulder piece. Korsan’s claws are deep into the woodwork of his pride and joy.

As the great boat entered free fall, the anchors lifted up to deck level.

This was it.

“Drop!”

The anchors were immediately released from their locks. They rose alongside the length of the ship and towards the incoming beast. The quarterdeck railing disintegrated on contact with the anchors. The anchors rose and snagged in the sandworm’s giant teeth.

“Lock!”

The weights’ massive chains immediately stiffened. At that moment, Korsan let go of the wheel and ran back to the sandworm. He ran up the side of the erect deck, digging his claws into the floor to climb. With his metal armour at full power, Korsan swung a clutched fist into the tip of the monster’s jaw. The punch sent shockwaves across the entire scaly mass, blowing the sand right off of it.

The worm roared and pulled back from the ship. With the anchors still inside it and the chains still attached, the ship’s bow is pulled back down into the vertical sand current. Thanks the momentum of the fall, the back was flung forward over the gap, turning upside down. Lightning Rod fell from the deck, but was caught in the masts, sails, and rigging.

“Cut!”

The chains were immediately released. They slip out of the ship and fall into the abyss.

The front of the ship, now free, followed the rest of its body across the massive gap. The ship landed perfectly on the opposing sand current and was quickly picked up by its gravity-defying forward flow. However, the ship began to slip downwards.

“Come on, come on, come on!” Korsan begged to his ship.

He punched his hooves into the floor, attempting to force friction between The Perfection and the loose sand flying upward. Just as the entire boat was about to fall, the keel got caught on a sand cluster and was pulled with it. The galleon jolted upwards and slowly made its way up the vertical incline. It climbed the slope to the flat sand current. Finally, after what felt like forever, the ship returned to regular sand, having crossed the gap.

Everypony on board cheered as the ship was now on a straight shot path to the blue star in the distance.

“We, we did it! We made it!” They hoorayed.

“We made it Rarity!” Sweetie Belle squealed, slipping out from her life-line. “I’m going to tell the others!”

As the filly ran down to the main deck and towards the now suspended boat, Rarity silently watched, still upset at how her friend just acted towards her.

Korsan, still zealous over his victory, ran up to Rarity and gave her a hug.

“Whoo! I had no idea it was going to work that well. Ha ha!” Korsan bragged. “Ha, ha, now to sort this Twilight issue out,”

“…” Rarity remained silent.

“Rarity? Are you okay?”

“I don’t know.”

“What’s the matter?”

“I know who you are. You’re an adventurous, joyous, intelligent stallion.”

“I am indeed-”

“But you’re also a murderous psychopath, and this is making you one step closer to wiping out all Earth ponies and pegasi, including my friends.”

“…”

“After seeing, hearing, and experiencing what you’ve been through to be here at this moment, and a recent discussion with Twilight, I’m not sure who’s side I should be on. I’m not even sure if I should be talking to you of all ponies about this, I’ve been your captive for weeks.” Rarity said.

“Huh. It’s a cruel and bizarre world isn’t it? Can’t tell the line of what’s good or bad, that’s my problem as well. I know I’m insane, I know what I’ve done and will do is strip the living from most. However, whatever my choice is, I’m doing what I feel I and what everypony else deserves, a chance to actually do things equal to all others in this wretched and twisted world. I can fix it. Whatever you choose, I’m fine with. Just, keep your distance from me if you choose to be with them, I don’t want to hurt you, nor your sister. From what I’ve seen from you twos on my boat, you two have been some of the best crew members, no, friends, I could ever have.” Korsan said.

“Thanks for your mercy… I guess.”

Rarity looked at the tangled boat and thought about her friends inside. Her mind raced with memories, thoughts, and impacts the souls on that boat have made for her. She remembered her recent two weeks on The Perfection, volunteering as a tailor. She recalled the nightly spars during dinner in the galley and how each time Korsan sparred with her, she’d always come one step closer to beating him. She recalled the teachings Korsan gave her from his books and tales of his adventures. Each time he told a story, it was more interesting than the last.

She recalled the subtle nods of generosity given by the captain, always giving her and her sister small gifts. He always used kinder words while still holding command of his other members. She remembered her and Sweetie Belle’s cabin that they were given. They had add decorations and were even visited by the other crew members.

Most importantly, she recalled about how much she, her sister, Korsan, and the others had slowly changed over time. From hating the captain and desiring to escape at any chance, Rarity now respected Korsan and treated him like a friend. From jumping at the presence of every pirate, Sweetie Belle now enjoyed cooking for and alongside them, excluding Chopin, who is still creepy. From being a cold, mean, and savage hermit, Captain Korsan now was an upbeat, intellectual, childlike friend, now actually trying to gain her heart. From suspicious and reclusive from Rarity and Sweetie Belle, the crew now loved them, and treats them like one of their own.

“Well, with your friends here, it would be in bad taste that I would be the sole authority. What would you do with your friends here?” Korsan asked.

“Well… as soon as we reach open water, I would let them out onto the sea. There, we’d give them a choice, either follow us and resist, in which we’ll fight back, or stay put, and wait until we’ve finished business on Alicorn Island and let them join us back to the surface.” Rarity suggest.

“And if the latter happens, will you join them?”

“…I haven’t figured that out yet. Just please, don’t hurt them, they’re still my friends.”

“…Very well then.”

“Missy, please keep ‘er straight till I return.” Korsan said to Juliana.

He gently set the ice phoenix onto the wheel and walked to Lightning Rod with Rarity trailing behind. Upon reaching the center mast, they are met by Isyan, even more furious than before.

“You lunatic! You daft, insensitive, lunatic!” Isyan screamed.

“Oh boy,” Korsan groaned.

“Do you know how much damage you caused?!” Isyan brutally asked.

“I’m starting to sense a pattern in you whenever I do something.” The captain crudely remarked in a deadpan tone.

“We have lost two anchors,”

“We have spares,”

“Incalculable damage to the hull on all sides,”

“Mostly just sandblasting,”

“A nearly non-existent keel, an absolute terror of tangled rigging, twelve ripped sails, a leak in the anti-magic storage tank, a demolished restroom,”

“I told them to seal it-”

“And heaven knows what else!”

“Super interesting, dear cousin, you can manage all that, right? And don’t be all whiny with me, I saw you kissing the main deck after I landed that double club haul like a champ.” Korsan bragged.

“Of course I would, just like everypony else who’s happily they got lucky. We wouldn’t even have to fear death if you didn’t go on this insane venture. Heck, things would be better off if I was captain.” Isyan hissed.

“Well you aren’t, boo-hoo. Now get to fixing all of the ‘critical’ problems while I deal with the stowaways.”

“No, I’m not going to let you just talk me off and-”

“Do you want to reenact last year?”

Korsan reached behind him and tapped on one of his cutlasses. Isyan instantly backed up a step.

“Do you?” Korsan asked again.

Isyan hesitated before answering. “No.”

Korsan removed his claw from the sword and clapped his metal hands together.

“Very well then, back to your place,” Korsan said.

“…Fine.”

Frustrated, Isyan walked back from his captain and into the quarterdeck.

“Sheesh, drama queen,”

As Lightning Rod was lowered onto the deck by the crew, Korsan and Rarity walked in front of the long hull. At the other side, Sweetie Belle was hopping up and down and shouting to her friends above.

“Captain,” Horus yelled out under the bow of Lightning Rod. “Want us to, nicely, detain them still?”

“No, I have a different idea this time.” Korsan said.

“Okay then.” Horus nodded.

“Twilight Sparkle and company!” Korsan yelled out to the ship.

At first, no response was given from the boat. Eventually though, Korsan and Rarity saw Twilight’s face peering over the edge of her boat.

“What?” Twilight sternly asked, attempting to avoid eye contact with Rarity.

“Instead of capturing you, I have decided to give you a choice.” Korsan said.

“We don’t negotiate with pirates. You especially,”

“Upon reaching open waters, we’ll set your fine little boat off free. Now, you can chase us, in which you will be met with strict resistance. Or, you can simply wait until return and give yous all a lift back up. How does that sound?”

“What about Rarity? And Sweetie Belle?”

“That is to be decided later. But be rest assured, no harm will come to them. What matters now is whether or not you want to put your and your friends’ lives on the line.”

“…”

“You have a few minutes, choose wisely.”

“Is it that Korsan jerk?” Spike’s voice hollered from inside. “If he hasn’t backed off of Rarity, I’m gonna-”

“Sir,” a voice beckoned from the bow of The Perfection. “We’re about to reach the end.”

Korsan replied, “Alright then.”

He and Rarity then rushed around Lightning Rod and headed for the edge of the bow. There, the two saw the blue star now less than hundred metres ahead of them, encompassing their whole vision beyond the boat with light.

“Here we go.” Korsan muttered to himself.

As The Perfection pierced into the blue star at the end of the sandy current, the intense light instantly bathed across the entire vessel, blinding everypony with pure white light.

“Keep her straight!” Korsan commanded.

A few seconds later, the light died as soon as it appears, revealing The Perfection now sailing on normal water. The surrounding sky, once a celestial darkness had turned into a completely blank night blue shade. Only a bright blue moon hung in the center of the blank sky. The endless sea the galleon rode on was a completely still body of black water, being only disrupted by the gentle ripples of the gliding giant. Behind the great ship was the blue star, floating on the still ocean. As the boat continued forward, the hull began to glow its faint tint of green once more. The crew realized they can use magic again.

“Hey! We got our magic back! Where are we?” Rarity asked.

Recalling the poem, Korsan replied, “The second pulse of the dark heart of the Breach... This means…”

“Spyglass,” Korsan commanded.

Near immediately, Juliana flew up to her master with a telescope in her talons. Korsan swiftly grabbed the looking glass and looked through, seeing a small grey dot on the far horizon.

“Means what?” Some of the other pirates asked out loud, having eavesdropped on their captain.

“Alicorn Island, right ahead.”

Chapter 032: The Race is On

As Lightning Rod was lowered into the black clear waters by a small team of pirates, Korsan was pacing around the main deck of his ship, examining his surroundings. Whatever this place was, it was nothing like the known world. The night sky above had very little light to shine onto this unknown sea, requiring the glow from The Perfection to illuminate the shadowy world. The faint sounds of the rippling water and creaking of the wooden ships echoed across the otherwise perfect silence. Even the smell of saltwater was completely vacant.

At the wandering captain’s side, Chopin was holding a scroll, an inked quill, and a lit candle in his magic. As Korsan spoke, the mine wrote.

“The Second Pulse: A mysterious body of water locked inside the bellows of the Breach. An unusual place this is, with barely any sign of natural nocturnal and oceanic activities. No stars to provide light, no motion of the moon that is seen here, no waves or disruptions in the vast water, no clouds in the sky, no smell of saltwater, and no sound whatsoever to be heard. The whereabouts of this location are, as of this moment, currently unknown in terms of geographic or scientific understandings. If my navigation skills are to be believed, the Second Pulse is in fact located either at the bottom or even below the vast oceans of the Old World. Now, how this is possible is still under questioning. However, the main focus of this location, and the only piece of above water land to be see is-”

Amidst his monologue, a sharp pain suddenly struck through Korsan’s body.

“-my back!” He yelped, kneeling to the floor.

He glanced over to Chopin, who was including the exclaimation in his writing.

“Scratch that last bit.” He panted.

“Captain,” one of the stallions at the edge of the deck called out. “Are you okay?”

“I-I’m fine. I just need to recalibrate, that’s all.”

“Need some assistance?”

“No, I’ll be fine.”

Slowly, the captain picked himself up onto his hind hooves, groaning in the process.

“I can make it to the study from here. Just get The Perfection airborne. Go straight for Alicorn Island.” Korsan said.

“What about Twilight?” The pirate asked.

“We’ve given her and her crew fair warning. Follow to what we’ve agreed to.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Chopin, keep that paper secure until I come back. Got it?”

Chopin simply nodded.

“Yeah,” Korsan whimpered.

As Korsan slowly hobbled across the deck, he saw Rarity alongside the unicorns lowering Twilight’s ship. She was staring out towards the thin vessel.

“Miss Rarity,” Korsan called out.

The mare quickly turned her attention to him, replying, “Yes?”

“Meet me up in the study. I could use your help in recalibrating my mechanics.” Korsan said.

“What happened?” She asked, having just now discovered that Korsan’s suit can break.

“Oh yeah, I forgot that this is your first time to see this. Well, basically, my body and my mechanical suit occasionally become out of sync and I have to adjust the gears back. I overclocked my suit a little too far with that last Overdrive. It’s out now.”

“I see. I’ll be right with you in a minute.”

“Take your time.”

Korsan limped onwards to his chambers. Rarity looked back out over to Twilight and the others, now a fair hundred metres away from The Perfection, peacefully sitting in the sea. From the control deck of her ship, Twilight stared back towards her friend. Each mare had one million thoughts of each other dashing through their heads as their eyes focused on each other.

“Twilight…” Rarity uttered under her voice.

As Rarity continued to stare out to sea, her ears picked up on a conversation between a pair of stallions at her right. They had just finished lowering Lightning Rod.

“You know, I think the captain’s off of his rocker.” The younger pirate proclaimed.

“Who wouldn’t?” The older one replied. “He punched a giant monster and club hauled this boat twice in a row, on sand.”

“Wasn’t there a third one?” The younger one asked.

“That was a flip, another item for his crazy list.”

“Well from the look of things, he looks like he’ll be feelin’ it in the morning.”

“Yeah, pity.”

“’Which you pitying? His back or his sanity?”

“Both as far as I’m concerned,”

“Hey, speaking of his back. You know what I’ve heard from Butch?”

“The veteran? What?”

“I heard that when Captain first started this pirate campaign, he stood on all fours.”

“Shut up. We all know he was born like that or something.” The old pirate rolled his eyes. “There’s no way he would have-”

“I’m being legit about this.” The younger pirate interrupted. “And why he’s like that is because of those ‘recalibrations’. Despite what Captain’s been telling us, Butch says that it’s not the metal parts that the captain’s changing, it’s his own structure of his body. Pretty soon, I’m betting that Korsan’s going to be bendin’ backwards.”

“Like he doesn’t already? Look, we can put this all aside. If what Captain rambles about this here island is true, we could become the most powerful ponies in existence. You could also stop worrying your little skull about the captain’s back.”

“True, true, hey, ever hear about Faction?” The younger pirate asked.

“Those bunch of bums? They were just some fake gossip that died off two weeks ago.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, listen to me, aight?”

“Whatever.”

“From what I heard from Clara, Frankie told Maria told Phlox told Lazarus told Ivan told Lilis told Lotus told Yin told Yu told her, that Faction’s going to strike soon.”

“Oh for-”

“Hey, hey, hey, you following me right?”

“Barely,”

“So yeah, from what I hear, Faction is meeting up once again at any time soon and they are going to-”

“Rarity,” Sweetie Belle cried beside Rarity’s side, causing her to jump in surprise.

Rarity jumped and her head snapped to her little sister who had a look of concern on her face.

“Oh, it’s you.” Rarity answered in a gasp.

As The Perfection rose from the black ocean and entered flight once more, the two mares walked away from the railing and headed towards the quarterdeck. They talked to each other along the way.

“What is it?” Rarity asked.

“Why aren’t we with Twilight and the others?” Sweetie asked in response.

“Well… It’s complicated.”

“Are we now enemies with Twilight?”

“No, no, no, we’re still their friends.”

“Are we still going to fight Korsan and the others? I don’t want to.”

“Not that either,”

“Is it because you and Captain Korsan are together?”

“Wai-what-I-I-mea-no-yes… Ahh, no, not that,”

“Aww, that’s too bad. You two seemed really nice together, you were even making the captain a lot nicer than before.”

“…”

“So why are we here?”

“It’s far too complicated for you to understand, just hurry along to your cabin. We had enough adventuring for a day.”

“Can’t you just tell me a simple answer?”

“…I don’t know.”

“…I don’t get it.”

“Please, just, go to bed, or play with somepony, like Yin and Yu.”

“I thought you told me never to play with them.”

“Oh, right, I mean, play with somepony other than Yin and Yu.”

“Okay.”

“Darn loose nut!” Korsan loudly groaned, yanking his large monkey wrench into his back piece. Sprawled out across the main table of his library, his thin body twisted and turned, trying all it can to make this less troublesome. The Diamond Eyes and books that were on the table were now strewn across the floor. Pain circulated through his body as he attempted to work his black tool.

“Need some help?” Rarity asked from the open door. “Sorry I was late.”

“No problem, just slide the jaws around the top nut of the thirty-second gear.” Korsan said.

“Uh, okay.”

Calmly, Rarity approached her captain and grabbed a hold of the wrench with her magic. Looking down into the mess of gears, pistons, nuts, bolts, and cables, she lowered the implement around a loose-looking nut on a gear. She then forcefully turned it inwards. Korsan immediately hollered in agony.

“Thirty-second, not thirty-third! The one above!” Korsan exclaimed in horror.

“Sorry!”

Rarity quickly reset the nut to its loose position. She moved the wrench and tightened a different bolt on the above copper gear as said. A series of loud cracks and clinks erupted from the mechanical suit as well as a hard groan from its user as the lock tightened.

“Gah,” Korsan sighed in relief. “Thank you. It’s always that one nut that gives me trouble during Overdrive.”

Korsan jumped off the table and landed on the floor with grace. His suit had returned to full function.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Rarity asked as she returns the tool onto the empty tabletop. “It didn’t sound good.”

“No, no, I’m fine. Just a simple returning recalibration to the mechanical presets, that is all.”

“You look a bit taller than before, more upright.”

“It’s nothing, it probably fixes itself in time.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.”

“…Okay, don’t want you to hurt yourself. Hey, mind if I ask you something?”

“What?”

“I don’t to get to personal, but, what’s with you and your cousin, Isyan?”

“The boatswain?” Korsan raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised to be asked that. “It’s only a clash in intellectual statuses that’s all. Daft moron can barely keep track of the crew he so ‘desperately’ strives to protect. Speaking of which, I haven’t seen Ms. Gutzoult for the longest time…”

“Slasher? I haven’t seen her in a while either.”

“Probably been busy with her cats, that mare,”

“Actually, her cats have been roaming around the ship a lot more recently.”

“…Odd, they usually stick around in her room. Remind me to do a headcount as soon as we reach Alicorn Island. For now, let’s see, what would interest you the most in here…”

Korsan turned around and examined his book collection. He figured he and Rarity could do with a reading session before reaching the island.

He recited the book titles that appeared on a shelf, “‘The Complete Guide to Walking the Plank’, no, ‘A Super Generic Romance on the Sea’, no, ‘My Little Kitten, The Pirate Doggy’, no idea how I got that, ‘The True Concessions of Charlie David’, ehhh, overrated, ‘Treasure Kingdom’, per-”

The entire room out of nowhere jerked to a side and back. Hundreds of books suddenly fell from their shelves and buried the now fallen ponies.

“What was that?!” Rarity asked.

“Looks like somepony took the latter option.” Korsan muttered.

“Please tell me it isn’t,”

“It is. I can still smell that Northwestern Equestrian Oak, or maybe it’s just a stain on my cape...”

“Should go out there and help the crew?”

“Nah, they have this all under control.”

“We don’t have this under control!” Yu screamed out from the gun deck, frantically aiming his cannon towards its speeding target.

“It just keeps moving everywhere,” Hans angrily replied.

Hans then blindly fired his cannon at from other side of the boat.

“Pip, Yin, I need more powder!” A pirate yelled.

A small pink mare promptly hurries to the open end of the recoiled cannon with a full charge of gunpowder in her grasp.

“Thank you, Pip!”

“How hard can it be to hit them?” Yin casually remarked from beside the gunner pirate.

“How about you try?” Yu furiously asked before backing away from the large weapon.

“Fine, watch and learn, you colourblind jockey, it’ll be as easy as-holy cow, they’re moving fast.” Yin remarked.

Alongside The Perfection, zipping across the black waters of the sea, Lightning Rod raced across the ocean at double the speed of the airship. With Twilight at the controls and Alicorn Island in her sights, she piloted the speeder with all of her focus. Korsan’s ship mercilessly fired at her and her crew, but her ship was too fast. Below deck, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Spike, and Scootaloo were firing their small cannons back at the pursuing pirate ship, merely to deter them.

“Oh yeah!” Rainbow Dash proclaimed. “This is what I’ve wanted to do ever since we left!”

“Just don’t hit any of the ponies on board.” Fluttershy replied.

“What about Korsan?” Spike asked.

“…Except him.”

Lightning Rod swerved around the massive cannon shots while continuing to gain speed. Eventually, it escaped the range of Korsan’s crew and speeded far ahead.

“Ha!” Dash boasted. “That slow-mobile’s got nothing on us.”

Optimistically, Pinkie replied, “True, unless there was some special mode The Perfection can go into that dramatically increases its speed and catches up to us.”

“Oh please, that sounds…” Spike retorted, before actually starting to think about it. “…Somewhat plausible.”

Soon, from being a fading dot behind them, the massive boat returned to its sheer up-close scale as it rapidly sped up to Twilight and the others.

“Called it!” Pinkie exclaimed.

“Oh my skills at gambling!” Yu screamed, tightly clenching the wheel of his ship.

He had activated the alternate levers and was now controlling the racing behemoth. With Korsan readjusting his suit, he saw it as his responsibility to fulfill Korsan’s wishes, regard of how stupid of an idea it is to basically hijack a ship.

“Now I know why this is so awesome for Captain!” He cheered.

“Keep it steady!” Yin’s voice squawked from his brother’s side.

Twilight watched in terror as the rival ship passed over hers and begun to lower onto hers. She quickly veered the vessel right just in time. The Perfection slammed into the cold water below, creating a large wave in its wake. Lightning Rod, picked up by the wave, skimmed into the edge of the port deck of Korsan’s ship.

The Perfection quickly rose back up and attempted to land on the speeder again. Twilight quickly dodged. With Alicorn Island coming closer and closer in view, the two ships’ pilots grew desperate to stop their rivals.

“That’s it, going aquatic!” Yu demanded. “Prepare to fire grappling shots at enemy vessel.”

“Yu Morgan Shou!” Yin exclaimed. “The captain will have our necks if you screw this up!”

With a flick of a lever, Korsan’s ship dropped back down into the ocean water. It chased after Twilight’s on the water surface. The front cannons were quickly loaded and aimed at Lightning Rod. Without a way to sneak under, the heroes found themselves trapped. The cannon fired and the large metal hook pierces the bow of Lightning Rod.

“Bring ‘er in! Hahahahaha!” Yin cheered, jumping up and down and clapping his hooves.

“We’ve been grappled!” Twilight exclaimed to her crew below.

Slowly, her boat was pulled towards the battleship. If she didn’t do something in time, Lightning Rod would be crushed by the massive hull. She attempted to pull her boat away, speed faster than the opposing vessel, and dislodge the grapple by some means from the wheel, all to no avail. The mares and Spike below fired at the thick wall of wood with all of their cannons’ might.

“The hull’s really thick!” Dash exclaimed.

“We’re going to sink!” Fluttershy squealed.

“Not on my watch!” Dash declared before charging out from the gun deck.

She flew upwards from Lightning Rod and went towards The Perfection. The cyan pegasus soared up to the quickly passing main deck of Korsan’s ship and darted her way to the wheel. She slalomed around the masts and maneuvers through the rigging. She avoided the bolts of magic fired at her from the screaming lookouts above, eventually reaching the quarterdeck and wheel. However, she was immediately enveloped in a brown magic aura and brought to a halt.

“Oh come on!” She groaned.

“Ha, ha-” Yu cheered as he revealed himself from behind the wheel, only to stop short upon seeing who he actually caught. “Wait, you’re not Twilight.”

“You’re not Korsan.” Dash retorted.

“Huh, touché. Regardless, I gotcha now!”

Rainbow Dash suddenly gasped in fear and screamed, “Look out! Behind you!”

“You think I’m going to fall for that?” Yu said, cocky as ever.

“No, seriously!” Dash pleaded.

“Well, I’m not.”

“Look out, look out!”

“I know you’re faking.”

“I’m not! Look out!”

“You are-”

“No!”

“Yes.”

“No!”

“Yes.”

“No!”

“Yes.”

“No!”

“Yes.”

“No!”

“Yes.”

“No, no, no, no! I don’t want to die!” Dash cried.

“I-I know you’re faking it…” Yu said, inadvertently less certain.

“Look out! Please! I’m begging you!”

Overcome with paranoia, the yellow stallion quickly glanced behind him.

“What is it?!” He gasped.

Falling for her trick, Yu released his magic grip of Dash. Dash quickly broke herself free from the immediately weakened focus of the telepath. She delivered a powerful kick into the back of the unicorn’s skull as he started to turn back, flinging him across the deck and knocking him out on the rail.

Falling into unconsciousness, the pirate dizzily spoke, “Dem hills are alive, with the sound of gold…”

“Alright, now to find the ‘Remove-the-Grapple thing...” Rainbow Dash confidently said to herself.

Chapter 033: Alicorn Island

“The ‘Remove-the-Grapple’ thing… Where is it?” Rainbow Dash murmured to herself as she stared at the wheel.

Overwhelmed by the number of controls before her, Dash quickly realized that she has no idea what she was doing.

“Uh… Eeny, meeny, miny, moe!”

Without hesitation, Dash randomly grabbed onto a lever near the back and pulled it down. The Perfection instantly came to a sudden halt, sending its new pilot headfirst into the wheel. Lightning Rod was flung up into the air by its momentum and the grappling cable. The grapple snapped from the violent take off, leaving Lightning Rod to fly over Alicorn Island to the other side.

The Perfection violently buckled from the stop, sending everypony and everything every which way. The crew were all on the floor by the end, holding back or releasing their innards onto the recently polished deck.

“That’s it!” Korsan road from below.

He burst out onto the bent deck alongside Rarity and an unnerved ice phoenix.

“What’s the meaning of this?!” He asked.

Furiously, he climbed up to the wheel, discovering Rainbow’s and Yu’s unconscious bodies. The sight surprised him.

“What the hay,” He uttered.

“No mommy,” Dash muttered in her dream-like state. “I wanna ride the pretty cloud…”

“Captain!” One of the lookouts above hollered. “We reached-”

“Hold it! Before you finish that, tell me what happened down here?! The entire deck looks like the slums!” Korsan yelled.

“Well, it’s a bit complicated beyond what you’re seeing.” The lookout explained. “But at least Twilight’s ship’s gone and-”

“Define ‘gone’.”

“It was, it was flung over the island, sir. We have reached Alicorn Island, Captain.”

“Wait, what?”

“We did it. We reached Alicorn Island.”

Slowly, Korsan turned and looked behind him to the bow of his boat. He was immediately overcome with joy at what he saw. Just a few kilometres short of his ship was the island of his dream, Alicorn Island. He frantically dashed down the main deck to get a better look of the island he’s been searching for throughout his entire career. With a solid pale shoreline of fine sand, exotic brush, massive ancient ruins made of carved mountains of granite, and a towering volcano in the center of the perfectly circular isle, Alicorn Island peacefully stood strong and colossal on the still seas that surrounded it, right in front of Korsan.

“Yes. I did it. I finally did it. I have reached Alicorn Island! Yeah!”

A grey haze formed in Rainbow Dash’s vision as the mare came to her senses. After spending an unknown amount of time knocked out into darkness, this was an immediate relief. However, that relief was cut short by a sharp pain running through her forehead and a tight sensation around her barrel and legs. The only sound she could make out as her senses returned were small moans with her dry and tense throat. As she continued to float in the hazy black, several voices begun to echo around her.

“She’s coming to.” One of them said.

“What should we do about it?” Another voice asked.

A stallion’s voice answered faintly, “Let her come to. Just keep her secure.”

Dash’s eyelids slowly opened. She saw what appeared to be ancient ruins. Though, it was hard to tell, as she was swinging upside down. She tried to make sense of her surroundings, but had no memory or senses to depend on.

“Wait, w-what? Where am I?” She stammered, hoping somepony was nearby.

“Vous détendre. Don’t work yourself up. You’re on Alicorn Island.” The stallion’s voice, now turning familiar, said to her.

Looking to her left towards the voice, her sight was immediately met by two pirates. Between them stood Korsan and Rarity, examining a tall stone pillar, covered in engravings.

“Korsan! Rarity?! What’s going on?!”

As Dash attempted to move herself towards the pair, she found that her legs had been tied to a hovering log. Thick rope bounded her torso and wings as well, very tightly to add.

“Shush, I’m reading.” Korsan blankly replied to Dash.

“You better let me go, or else I-”

“Or else what?” Korsan asked his threatening prisoner.

“…”

“…”

“…Something really bad will happen.” Dash finally said.

“Sure it will, to you at least.”

“Rainbow Dash,” Rarity replied, turning to Dash. “Please, just stay calm,”

“Stay calm? What are you doing with him?” Rainbow Dash interrogated Rarity.

“We’re searching for something,” Rarity answered.

“Searching for the thing that’s going to cause a lot of innocent ponies to die? Is that it?”

“Well…”

“Please,” Korsan interrupted, growing irritated of Dash’s voice. “Rarity, if you’re going to continue to talk to our captive, at least keep it close and quiet. I’m about to crack this code.”

“Oh, sorry.” Rarity meekly replied.

Quietly, she darted across the cracked stone floor to her friend.

She whispered to her, “I’m trying to convince him to avoid the whole genocide plot and just continue being a simple pirate at the most. He’s been working hard towards this and I’d hate to see his dreams crushed.”

“His dreams are to crush us,” Dash retorted. “Cut me down from here. You’re probably not going to make any progress persuading this guy.”

“I have made a little progress. At least you’re not starving in the brig or shot. Just stick tight, I’ll get you down when the time is right.”

“Réjouir!” Korsan cheered aloud. “Follow me!”

Closing a large book in his claws, he placed the book down against the foot of the stone tower. Korsan fluffed his cape to the side and walked past the tall pillar into a large area of shrubbery. The rest of the crew members, a fair seventy of them from what Dash saw, follow after their leader and into the verdant thick. Being carried across the vast area with the pirates, Dash looked at her surroundings alongside Rarity. They saw massive dilapidated stone structures at their sides.

It looked to be some sort of a village that had been abandoned ages ago. Mushrooms, vines, and other plant life grew from their enormous cracks and engraved grooves of the buildings. Whatever artifacts and tools remained were simple things, like shovels, hoes, and ceramic pottery. There weren’t many weapons lying around, only a few swords and shields.

The wood and stone buildings towered over the traveling crew, staring them down.

“Where did these buildings come from?” Rarity asked Korsan.

“I don’t know. An ancient civilization, it seems.” Korsan said.

“The ancient ponies of Trihearth?” Rarity proposed.

“No, no, it’s much older than that. Especially with the abnormal conditions of the Second Pulse, this place may be thousands of years old. Overpopulation and hyper-isolation may be the root causes of why this place has been deserted for so long.”

The crew then passed by what would’ve been the town hall or a sacred chapel. Despite its large size, plants had managed to completely overrun the structure. A river ran through the foundation of the building, creating a large pond formed in the center of the floor.

“Look at this. Pity,” Korsan said, feeling almost sorry for the once great building. “This could only be possible with a significant amount of erosion and water damage. Perhaps flooding was also a cause of the island’s abandonment, now that I think about it,”

The massive party traversed the low jungle beyond the village, eventually stoping at a cliff edge. From there, everypony stared in awe of what’s below. There, at the bottom of the cliff, was massive valley of ruins. What they saw before were only the outskirts of an entire kingdom at the bottom of the valley. Towers and castles were dotted across the new land reaching as high as the crew were on the cliff, piercing the high mist. On the opposite side of the valley was a tall volcano, with a massive rock temple built from the side of the volcano.

“Incredible,” The crew members gasped to themselves.

“How many ponies lived here?” Rarity asked.

“I-I don’t know.” Korsan replied. “Hundreds of thousands, at least, maybe millions, it’s amazing!”

As the crew looked over the kingdom, a grim realization slowly came to thought.

“So many lives, practically forgotten, vanished without a second thought...” Rarity said.

“It’s a scary thought to say the least.” Korsan replied.

“Alright, sea artists!” Korsan then announced to the crew. “Our best bet to finding what we’re looking for is probably in that volcano temple on the far side of the valley. The volcano looks like it’s extinct, so that shouldn’t be a problem to worry about.”

“Captain!” A stallion’s voice called out from far behind the group.

“Grevious?” Korsan asked, immediately recognizing the voice.

Soon, a grey stallion in a fancy brown coat appeared from the thick bushes behind the large group.

“What’s going on?” Korsan asked.

“We found these stowaways hiding in the brig.” The stallion, Grevious, replied.

Using his magic, the pirate summoned Applejack and Applebloom from behind the jungle growth, trapped in his iron magic grip.

“If I were to recall sir, as well as what Sweetie Belle claimed, these mares are part of the ‘peace’ compact you made with Princess Twilight.” He said.

“It appears so.”

“Applejack, Applebloom,” Rarity and Rainbow Dash worryingly called out to them. “What are you two doing here?”

“I have the exact same question, plus a few more. How did yous sneak on board?” Korsan asked.

“Hear us out, please,” Applejack frantically answered. “We just snuck into the cargo bay and stayed there ‘till we could find the right time to talk to you or somethin’.”

“Talk to me about what?” Korsan asked.

“Joinin’ you.”

“Wait, what?! You have to be joking.”

“I’m not joking. I mean it! I want to protect my family and make sure nothing happens to them. And the only way I can see myself doing such is by joining you and also gainin’ some magic powers.”

Korsan remained silent for a moment. Applejack had the same resolve as he did, to rise above her non-magical roots and become a unicorn. With such love for her family and an understanding in Korsan’s ideaology, Korsan found himself unable to say “no” to Applejack.

“…I see.” He plainly said.

“Please, I mean no harm to y’all.” Applejack pleaded.

“AJ,” Dash yelled out, trying to force herself to laugh and ease the tension. “You don’t really mean it right?”

“I so mean it! Unicorns and alicorns clearly got some upper hoof.”

Both Rainbow Dash and Rarity gasped upon hearing their friend’s confession. Even Applebloom appeared shocked by this.

“Indeed,” Korsan replied, clapping his claws in pride. “I understand where you’re coming from. However, I must warn you, sometimes family isn’t always as, loyal, as you intend for them to be, especially after a turn like this.”

“Please, let me join you. I’ll help if needed.” Applejack said.

“…” Korsan thought for a moment, silently.

“Please.”

“…Very well then. Alexander Grevious, release them.”

With the flick of a horn, Applejack and Applebloom were freed and dropped onto the ground.

Korsan continued, “Before we press onwards, I want to establish two things. One, when we reach our goal, I will be first to undergo transformation into an alicorn. Get it?”

“Yes.”

“Second, if you show one speck of a scheme against me, I’ll dice you into a million pieces and hold your sister for ransom. Get the picture?”

“…Understood, Captain.”

“Very well then, onwards my crew, to the heart of Alicorn Island,”

Meanwhile, on the other side of Alicorn Island, Lightning Rod was flipped over on the sandy shoreline. The ship was heavily destroyed after a brutal landing in the previous chase, practically unusable for water travel. A grassy plain was just beyond the beach. It was decorated with plant-overrun ruins. Twilight, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Spike, and Scootaloo, were gathered around a small fire in the middle of these ruins. The fireplace providing them with heat and light amongst the eternal darkness of the mysterious area.

“So, it’s only us five remaining?” Pinkie asked.

“Against a hundred pirates and Korsan,” Spike noted. “How are we going to stop them now?”

“Spike?” Fluttershy troublingly asked.

“Not that I’m saying that we have no chance, just curious if there is a plan. Twilight?” Spike asked.

“I have no idea.” Twilight answered in a defeated tone.

“Come on, you always find a way.” Pinkie cheered.

“We have no boat, we have no weapons or defenses, we have no magic, half of our team is gone, and Korsan’s about to become the most powerful pony in existence.” Twilight replied.

“…Yeah, we got this.” Pinkie said.

“Is that it, we’re just giving up?” Spike asked.

“…” Twilight remained quiet for a moment.

“Twilight?”

“…No. We still have Applejack and Applebloom hiding on The Perfection. They can hijack the ship and we could probably fly out of here, leaving Korsan and the others trapped here.” Twilight said.

“What about Rarity and Sweetie Belle? And are you sure that Korsan won’t escape?” Spike asked.

“I don’t know about those two, I’m still sorting them out. As for Korsan, at least it’ll hopefully keep him here long enough for us to warn Celestia.” Twilight replied.

“Are you sure AJ will find us?” Fluttershy asked. “If , dare I say, she even wants to?”

“What does that mean?” Twilight asked, raising an eyebrow.

“You and her have been arguing a lot recently, and, don’t think too harshly, but what if she, you know,”

“That’s not possible. Applejack would never betray us. She would die if she ever joined Korsan’s side. At least I hope she doesn’t join him.”

“What was that-?” Spike asked.

“Nothing! We may need to stall Korsan for a while so Applejack can take over The Perfection.”

“I’m coming with you,” Scootaloo declared.

“No!” Twilight snapped.

“Aww, cmon,” Scootaloo moaned.

“We don’t want you to get hurt. Just stick around Lightning Rod until we get back.”

“…Fine.”

“Good.”

“Take care of yourself,” Spike said.

“Hey, Spike, you need to go to. Somepony needs to supervise her.” Twilight said.

“What?! Why me?” Spike exclaimed.

“Would you rather fight Korsan?” Twilight asked.

Fluttershy spoke out, “I don’t want to fight Korsan.”

“You’re coming to help out with injuries and act innocent so they’ll try to avoid you, Fluttershy.” Twilight said.

“Now that I think about it,” Spike then anxiously replied. “Scootaloo will need a guardian against crabs or something like that.”

“Good. Pinkie, Fluttershy, onward,” Twilight commanded.

Promptly, the three mares entered the verdant forest and ancient ruins, leaving behind Spike and Scootaloo by the beach.

An hour of silence followed between the two at the fire until Scootaloo finally spoke.

“Spike, let’s follow them. We can help them out. Rainbow Dash might need me to save her and help her beat up Korsan.” Scootaloo said.

“Nope,” Spike retorted. “Nope, nope, nope, nope, nope. Twilight said for you to stay.”

“Please?”

“No.”

“Come on, please?”

“No.”

“Please?!”

Finally, Scootaloo resorted to her cheap tactics. The orange filly walked up to Spike and stared into his eyes. Her purple eyes slowly grew, her mouth slowly forms into a whimper, and the blacks of her pupils eventually consumed the baby dragon’s sight. A growing guilt started to consume Spike’s inside.

“Oh, no,” Spike groaned.

Chapter 034: Enter the Temple

“Hiya!” Korsan roared, chopping through a section of thick vines with his sword.

The green wall of vines flopped onto the rocky slope, revealing the volcano temple behind them. The crew gasped, overtaken by the sheer height of the temple structure. Massive spiral pillars extended from the ground into the black heavens above. The temple had millions of details and etchings sprawled across its massive height, mostly now coated in a radiant cyan moss.

“Do you think this is where it’s at?” Isyan asked, dumbfounded.

“…” Korsan was too shocked to respond.

“Korsan?”

“Look,” the captain quietly commanded in his long moment of awe. “Look at the details of this wondrous piece of architecture. The angles, the scales, the arches, the balances, the-the everything. Everything fits together so wondrously for such a giant building, built by ancients with little more than a hammer and chisel. It’s perfect. I have so many questions, so many theories, it may require a lifetime just to study this alone.”

The captain then glanced ahead of them and saw the front wall of the temple. He noticed how it had a large set of circular symbols around the center of a section between two pillars.

“This way!” Korsan commanded.

He giddily ran over to the peculiar wall. Ha ran his claws across the large symbols, trying to find something.

“Where are we going? It’s a wall.” Isyan said.

“It’s the front entrance, tightly sealed.”

“And how do you know?”

Carefully, Korsan started to push against the circles of the wall. Much to the crew’s surprise, the circular stones in the wall begun to move.

“I recognize this gimmick. They’re like tumblers to safe.” Korsan stated.

He pressed one of his ears to the overgrown door and listens intently while he turned the massive stone rings around each other.

“It appears that all ten of these things have to align at once for this to even sound out. But there may be a loophole if I can feel the right frequency in my hooves. Now, come on, wall…”

As Korsan continued to work the wall, small talk took place between the onlooking ponies.

“I wonder what those ponies that lived here ate.” Applejack asked one of the nearby pirates.

“Judging by the pots, plates, and whatever’s left of those crops we saw on the way, I’d say they ate corn, grains, fruits, smaller vegetables, and honey.” Yin replied.

“Notable thing about the honey,” Korsan loudly added. “If you’re hungry, you can heat it up and eat it right out of the pot.”

“Ewww, that doesn’t sound good at all,” Applebloom groaned.

“Actually, it should still be pretty fresh.” Korsan said.

“I’ll pass.” Applebloom said.

“Applejack?!” Rainbow Dash called out from behind.

Applejack responded, “What is it, Rainbow?”

“What are you doing joining his side?” Dash hissed.

“I’m becomin’ an alicorn.”

“Did you drink seawater?”

“Look, if Korsan’s findin’ a way to make himself an alicorn to use magic, I might as well join along and get some benefit from this losin’ fight.”

“Really, you’ll turn your back to Equestria and let this villain destroy us all?”

“I’m trying to convince him out of it,” Rarity quietly countered.

“That sounds fine enough with me.” Applejack said.

Dash merely scoffed in response to Applejack’s reply. She tried turning herself way from them, only to move an inch around.

“…Wait,” Applebloom nervously asked her older sister. “So, are we teaming up with the villains?”

“No lil’ sis. We aren’t.” Applejack said.

“Then why are we with Korsan? Isn’t he a bad pony?” Applebloom asked.

“No, well, yes, it’s, it’s complicated.”

“I’m confused.”

“How about you play with somepony, except the two similar yellow stallions?” Rarity suggested to Applebloom.

“They all look pretty scary,”

“They’re not too bad once you get to know them.” Rarity reassured her.

“I’ll… try...”

Cautiously, the filly wandered into the herd of pirates, looking around for the least threatening face to talk to.

“So, Applejack, what convinced you to join?” Rarity asked.

Applejack answered, “I thought about what Korsan said, and he’s… got a point. Unicorns and alicorns are better at doing what they do. I figure I could better protect my folk with this venture.”

“That’s not entirely true, I mean, you’re a pretty good pony,” Rarity replied.

“Not good enough though.”

“Well, that’s a very crude way of putting it. I mean, you shouldn’t be putting yourself down like that.”

“What caused you to join?”

Rarity hesitantly answered, “To be honest, I’m not really sure. I guess the main reason is that I sort of want to see Korsan get to this goal of his, without any negative repercussions of course. I’ve seen him work so hard for it after so many struggles-”

“And murders!” Dash interrupted.

“-An issue that’s being worked on, Dash, relax. But anyways, I do pity him.” Rarity replied.

“Pity my flank! Let me down!” Dash demanded, wriggling around in her spot.

“We can’t now.”

“Bah!”

“Huh,” Applejack quietly sighed.

Back at the front of the temple, Isyan approached his cousin, Korsan. He had something on his mind, and spoke with Korsan.

“Excuse me,” Isyan said.

“No please,” Korsan mockingly responded. “Just start yelling at me. You’re clearly far above that and not minding that I’m busy.”

“Oh please, I don’t just scream.”

“Even Juliana knows that you constantly scream. Isn’t that right, Missy?”

Juliana responded with a chipper screech.

“Exactly,” Korsan nodded.

“Besides that, there are more important matters at hoof.” Isyan said.

“In a minute,” Korsan dismissed him.

“I don’t like how you’re keeping the mares’ from Twilight’s team together and unmonitored.”

“Pop quiz, define ‘in-a-minute’,”

“Really, they could attack you at any moment.”

“Hey, hey, I’m the captain, you’re the boatswain. I’ll take care of bodies, you take care of wood,-”

A loud rupture then sounded off. The large stone rings retreated back into the structure. The wall was then pulled to the side by an unseen set of pulleys and rope, exposing the interior to the outside world.

“There we go.” Korsan declared.

“You are so full of yourself at times.”

“And you aren’t? Onward, fellow boucaniers!”

Sharp on command and lead by Korsan, the crew promptly walked into the dark entrance of the temple, entering a hallway with an unseen end. Mindful not to trip on anything, the pirates made slow progress as they travel inward. The further they traveled, the further they retreated from the moon’s light. After just three minutes of walking, the long hallway turned pitch black.

“Are we they yet?” Maria asked.

“This might be a trap.” Yin said.

“Quit shoving!” Yu barked to his unseen hustlers.

“I can’t see, Jack.” One of the pirates grumbled as he aimlessly stumbles in the void. “Oh wait, there he is.”

“Hey, that’s my private part!” The aforementioned Jack immediately yelled.

“We need a light.” Rarity said to Korsan.

“Quite,” Korsan replied. “I’m getting sick of this whining. There should be a torch somewhere,”

Reaching a hoof upwards, Korsan grabbed what felt like a wooden stick and pulled it down. A small cloud of dust and ash poured on the others. Rarity sneezed.

“Excuse me.” Rarity said.

“My apologies,”

Korsan held the upward end of the wood to his nose, sniffing it.

“It still has some fuel in it.” Korsan said.

Carefully, Korsan moved his front hooves away from his face with the torch in his left claw. He held his free claw over the top end and snapped his metal fingers. A small spark hopped from the grinding metal and into the torch. It ignited the torch immediately, burning Korsan’s hoof a little. He yelped and pull his burnt hoof back.

“Are you okay?”

“It’s just a burn. At least we have light.” Korsan declared. “Carry on.”

With the burning torch now illuminating the walls of the corridor, the crew pressed onwards, having stopped their previous complaining. With their forward pace unhindered, Korsan and the rest looked at their surroundings freely. To their sides were massive paintings and etchings on the stone and pillars that stood along the walls. It surprised the travelers especially as to how well preserved the art was and the amount of detail in each one.

“It truly is interesting, these walls. Despite probably the worst water damage, this temple stays perfectly pristine. That gate had to be pretty tight in order for this to still be around for thousands of years.” Korsan said.

“Good thing,” Rarity added. “These all look so beautiful.”

“I could try my hoof and interpret some of these. I memorized that translator book front to back now.”

“Sure.”

“Let’s see…”

Korsan looked over to the right wall and analyzed the painting. The mural showed six ponies, three stallions and three mares, all finely dressed in royal garments, sitting at a round wooden table with symbols surrounding the background.

He read the text, “To thy great kings of queens, we blessed thou many, for keeping order and strength throughout our lands three. With your children be blessed thou four, as they take the mantle and secure thy thrones three. May love fall either between them, or by us noble citizens. Yet rumours be told, told by the many, that struggle for harmony and power has corrupted thee six. Have thou turned all into shadows of themselves, bickering to each other and planning schemes of dark forces. We pray not. Let these rumours be nothing else but gossip, and give prosperity to all the same thy fathering generations as centuries ago.”

“What does that mean?” Applebloom asked out loud.

“Yeah, I’m a bit lost.” Yu added.

Korsan explained, “That mural right there is probably a tribute to a generation of kings and queens that ruled this island. Sounds like they were having a bit of a scuffle though anyways while their children were going to be coronated at a relatively similar time.”

“Why?” Applejack questioned the captain, curious as well.

“Who knows? Conflict of interests, desire for power, wealth, greater fame, tough times, could be multiple reasons.” Korsan said.

“Hey, what about that one up ahead?” Rarity asked, pointing to another mural.

“Huh?”

As the group walked past the first fresco, they came across a solid, bright red wall with black writing and glyphs all over it.

“That’s a bit off-putting.” Korsan commented.

“What does it say?” Rarity asked.

“Well, let’s see, one sec…”

“…” The group turned deadly silent, waiting for their guide to read.

“Be warned by all who hath intruded this sacred temple. For many an ill heart and mind seek the Fountain of Balance’s power to bring envy and wrath upon thy neighbor and countries, it has been secured in the heart of this temple of earth, metal, magic, might, Take heed to thy mind, for the winds of death and destruction of the soul. To heed to thy body, for toothed spikes and impenetrable liquid and boiling stone and iron, all to pierce and melt and destroy thee. And most important, for what portion of thou shalt be altered and bent, be your fate and destiny. For you may avoid these defenses and tricks, once you reach the Fountain, you’ll never go back. Turn back now, or suffer a grim turn, sooner is better, later is never.”

“That doesn’t sound good.”

“The Fountain of Balance? Is that where the power of Alicorn Island is?” Korsan asked.

“Are you sure we should be doing this?” Rarity asked back.

“Don’t worry. I’ve dealt with much worse than anything simple tools can build. Hold my torch.”

Rarity grabbed the lit wand from Korsan with her magic and hovered it a bit further ahead. Korsan pulled out his two cutlasses and crosses them over his chest in a defensive position.

“Lentement, onwards,” He suavely said.

Slowly, the crew continued on forward, looking out for any traps on the floors, walls, or ceiling.

“What was it that we were looking out for again? Just a reminder,” Yu asked.

“Spikes, thick water, lava, poisonous gas, some sort of gas, and one more thing, what was it…”

Suddenly, the stone floor beneath Korsan, Rarity, Applejack, and Applebloom was swept out from under them. The four ponies immediately dropped down into a massive dark hole. They grabbed onto each other as they plummeted down. Korsan acted quickly and stabbed his swords into the hallway floor, anchoring himself as well as the rest of the mares attached to him.

“Trap tiles! That was it!” Korsan groaned.

The stone floor slowly returned back from slightly ahead in the hallway. Korsan tried to pull himself and the others up, but as hard as he tries, the heavy floor was too fast. It shifted back and covered the hole, crushing the captain’s hooves. The stallion roared in pain as he released swords above and fell down into the black with the mares, all screaming in terror of what awaited them.

Chapter 035: A Slow Seperation

In the thick jungles of Alicorn Island surrounding the mountain volcano, Twilight, Fluttershy, and Pinkie are trudging through the grown-over ruins. They were searching for a clue or some means to reach Korsan. With the black of night overhead and the thick green completely covering the stone remains, searching for anything special among the ruins was nearly impossible.

“What are we looking for again?” Pinkie asked, poking her head under an uprooted tree.

Twilight answered, pawing at the floor, “We’re looking for some sort of tunnel, or a passage into the temple this island’s supposed to have.”

“Do you think Rarity and Sweetie Belle are safe right now?” Fluttershy asked.

“I can’t really say. They’re with Korsan, a murderous pirate, but at the same time, they’re with Korsan. Korsan seems to know what he’s doing about these things. They’re probably just flying past all the traps and obstacles the temple’s throwing at them.”

Korsan, Rarity, Applejack, and Applebloom continued to scream in panic as they fell straight down into the darkness. It felt like an eternity, just plummeting into the unknown. Soon though, a small green light shone from far below, signifying the bottom from appearances. Korsan saw they were falling too fast towards the bottom of the hole.

“We gotta slow this train down!” He panted.

Korsan stabbed his claws into the caverns walls beside him. However, as soon as they latched onto the wall, they immediately slid out from an unseen flow along the walls. Korsan tried again, only to lose his grip again.

“Come on!” He groaned in frustration.

He tried one more time, putting all of his might and metal into the force of his claws. The metal tips etched themselves deep into thick rock and violently grinded against it. Molten sparks and icy water poured out from the metal fingers and over the chain of ponies, with Korsan receiving the full brunt of the damage.

“Hot-and-cold-hot-and-cold-hot-and-cold-hot-and-cold-hot-and-cold-hot-and-cold-ho-”

The ponies brutally slammed onto the metal floor. Shouting in pain and discombobulation, the pile, slowly separated and rose. A small moment of silence soon followed as the four recollected themselves and breathed out the pain.

They were on top of some circular platform, surrounded on all sides by absolute darkness. The floor shone a faint lime colour and a yellow-like reflection of some sort.

“Is everypony okay?” Rarity asked.

“A loosened bolt and gear, but I’m good here.” Korsan replied.

The Earth ponies simply gave a groan in response, a sign they were at least alive.

Thunder and snapping wood then blared out from under the four. Without warning, the floor began to move. The circular platform slowly tipped over towards the ponies. Panic immediately set in as the ponies tried to balance.

“What’s going on?!” Rarity exclaimed.

“The floor’s tilting over!”

The ponies scrambled over to the rising half of the metal disk. It immediately stopped, only to instead fall in the other direction where they’re at. It didn’t take long for them to realize what’s going on.

“It’s a pivot at the origin, everypony, take to a corner of the platform and balance this thing! Now! Filly, stay here and hang on tight!” Korsan demanded.

Quickly, Rarity, Korsan, and Applejack climbed up the rising slope to the sides and top of the stage. They tightly latched onto to the etching of the rocking metal floor. The platform slowly returned to being flat, now balance on all corners.

“Okay, I think we’re stable.” Korsan panted.

The four ponies sighed in relief, but remain uneasy as the sounds of loud wood creaking still echoed from below their standing.

“How do we get out of this mess?” Applejack rapidly asked.

“Well,” Korsan sighed, examining his surroundings. “We’re on a large platform made of what appears to solid gold. It is balanced on a central pillar in the middle, an ironic way to kill off any intruders. I assume whatever’s at the bottom will be death. Not sure how the floor is glowing, not important. The walls are too slippery for me and my crossbow. There’s too much water being poured down them. Finally, there appears to be no ladder or doorway in sight.”

“So, we’re just stuck here forever?” Applebloom worryingly asked.

“I never said there was an exit. Miss Rarity, give us a light.”

Rarity complied immediately and lit her horn. The bright blue light illuminated the chamber far more than the green tint of the disc. As Korsan predicted, they were in a large, bottomless chamber of sorts. The chamber was encased in huge stone walls that have been incredibly eroded. Thick falls of water veiled the walls, gushing massive amounts at high speeds.

Behind the water, Korsan could see a black hole in the stone wall just above Applebloom’s head.

“Up there, Rarity. Could you possibly lift this platform up to it?” Korsan asked, pointing to it.

“Let me try.”

Cutting her light off for a moment, Rarity aimed her horn to the gold floor. She attempted to levitate it. However, no aura appeared around the disc, and Rarity found herself unable to grasp it. It was dangerously similar to how her captain’s anti-magic behaved.

“I can’t.” Rarity said.

“Too heavy?” Korsan asked.

“No, I just can’t get a hold of it. It’s like it’s lined with anti-magic or something.”

“What? That shouldn’t be…”

Korsan crouched down and better examined the engraved disc of gold. He noticed a solid green substance deep within the grooves. He instantly recognized it. He gasped.

“It can’t be… Mares, it looks like we’re playing by new rules.”

“What do you mean?” Rarity asked, turning nervous.

“I’ve given these ancients credit for their advanced infrastructure, but I would’ve never expected something this advance. They knew about the secrets of creating physical anti-magic, and have probably lined every pebble of this temple with it.”

“What now what?” Applejack asked, now beginning to panic.

“Don’t worry yourself.” Korsan reassured her. “This temple may be untouchable, but we aren’t. Now, I’m going to need everypony’s cooperation if we’re going to get out of this trap. Now, Rarity, when I give the signal, you-”

Before Korsan could calmly finish, the wooden stilt holding the platform up suddenly snapped from the weight. The whole structure was about to collapse. Panic returned as they frantically balanced.

“Okay! We gotta go fast!” Korsan declared, his voice now frantic. “Rarity, do you know how to teleport or self-levitate?”

“Only once before exhausting!” Rarity immediately answered.

“Good! On my command, you will get yourself to the exit. When you go, Applejack, you will go to the middle, while I and the filly balance it. Got it?”

“Yes!” The mares replied.

“Ready, set, go!”

With a flick of her horn, Rarity disappeared from her corner in a flash of light and reappears on the edge of the exit alcove. The gold disk started to tilt. Applejack ran to the center while Korsan and Applebloom held the tilt back. The balance was restored once more, with the three remaining ponies now standing in a line.

“Alright, this is the next part. Rarity, levitate Applejack to you. Ready?” Korsan asked.

“Yeah,” Rarity answered.

The crumbling pivot snapped again, shaking the gold platform and offsetting Korsan and the Earth ponies.

“Now!” Korsan roared.

Applejack was promptly lifted from the center and into the air by Rarity.

“Come to me, little filly!” Korsan commanded to Applebloom.

Hastily, the two darted towards the center in place of Applejack. Applejack was lifted into the black cavern alongside her carrier and was gently placed now next to her.

“Now this ankle biter last!” Korsan announced.

“Wait, what about you?” Rarity asked.

The support beam released another earth-shattering crack.

“Don’t worry about me.” Korsan replied.

“But I won’t be able to grab you.”

“Just get the kid!”

Seeing as she had no other option, Rarity obeyed and picked up Applebloom. She set her down next to her and Applejack. Korsan was now the only one left as the gold platform started to slowly sink down.

“Let me get you out of there! Drain your anti-magic or something!” Rarity cried out.

“It’ll take too long! Just back up!”

“I’m not leaving you!”

“Back!”

“There must be some way, we can figure this out!”

“As your captain, I command that you and the others go on!”

“No-”

“Now! Now! Now! Now! Now!”

Overwhelmed by Korsan’s screaming, the mares slowly backed away from the edge of the cavern entrance.

“Hopefully this ends well…” Korsan told himself, tightening his muscles and gears.

“What?”

Rarity looked over the lip of the cave to see Korsan slowly back away from her and towards the edge. The giant platform tilted back to him, causing the other end to rise up to her.

Rarity gasped, “You aren’t-”

Korsan interrupted with a fierce battle roar and charged up the sloped disk to the alcove and Rarity. His claws dug into the gold floor to boost his. Halfway up, the pivot finally shattered. The entire stage stated to plummet down with him on it. Korsan reached the edge of the platform and jumped. He leapt high into the air, using all the power of his machinery and might.

Time seemed to slow to a halt as Korsan flew, his cape being the only thing to freely move in frozen time.

Rarity saw that Korsan didn’t have enough height to grab the edge. He was going to just miss it, and be taken down into the abyss by the water. Without hesitation, she reached her hoof out for her captain’s outstretched claws.

Korsan, knowing what this would do, yelled out to her, “No!”

But was too late.

Korsan’s razor sharp claws dug into Rarity’s flesh and latched into her muscle. The mare to screamed in pain, but held herself firm. Applejack and her sister watched in horror as Rarity’s white hoof quickly turned into a bright shade of red and pink.

“Help me!” Rarity squealed.

Quick to respond, Applejack bit down on Rarity’s swirly tail and pulled her back into the cave. The mares slowly pulled up Korsan where he was able reach the flat stone floor. The pirate captain jumped into the alcove and immediately fell to his lower knees.

“You idiot,” Korsan angrily grumbled, like a mentor scolding his student. “Look at this.”

He pointed to Rarity’s massive wound, his claws still dug into her. Korsan carefully drew out his metal parts from the whimpering mare, one long claw at a time.

Rarity sobbed, “Y-you were g-going-g to f-fall.”

“…I probably was. As stupid as that was, I thank you for that. Stay still for a tick,”

As Korsan pulled out the final claw, he examined Rarity’s hoof.

“I’m sorry for doing this to you.” Korsan apologized. “First that rapier, and now this. It’s like you want to wreck your hooves.”

“D-don’t be ridiculous.”

“Let me just wrap this up here,”

Swiftly, Korsan flung his black cape around Rarity’s hoof, tightening it upon contact.

“Ow,” Rarity gasped.

“Sorry.”

“How do you do that, make your cape snap like that?”

“Prehensile micro-cables inside the cape fabric, they tense into specific forms and bends based on my muscle commands, just like the rest of my mechanical suit. It can be flaccid in public gatherings for appearance and imposition, but can be restrained in its movements when I’m fighting and need open space.”

“Interesting, what’s it made of?”

“A titanium alloy over a Kevlar structure-”

“No, the cape fabric,”

“Oh, Darwing Bark Spider silk dyed with crushed Ancient Pingwin Mollusk shells.”

“Beautiful.”

Korsan then turned to Applejack and Applebloom.

“Applejack, and eh…” He said, trying to figure out the filly’s name.

“Applebloom.” Rarity said.

“Right, her, go ahead until you reach the main path. I’m sure my stallions will find you. Redirect them over here with a surgeon ready.” Korsan commanded.

The two Earth ponies nodded and scampered into the exit. Gently, Korsan caressed the wrapped leg with his claws retracted into the boots. His partner sighed in liberation of the pain and the tingling of pleasure from Korsan’s massage. As Korsan treated the wounded leg, Rarity looked to his now exposed back. With the cape gone, she could clearly see the wings he had hidden.

A wave of disgust and pity washed over her as she saw Korsan’s wings. They were mangled, covered in bald spots which reveal his pale flesh. Black and red bruises dotting his fur and deep scars ran along every inch of his skin. Worst of all, large hunks of metal parts, large and small, bars and complex mechanicals, pierced his wings and tangled with everything in contact.

It was a nightmarish sight.

“Your wings,” Rarity gasped. “They’re, they’re,”

“It’s nothing.” Korsan quietly dismissed her.

It was his attempt to keep her relaxed. However, a sense of shame turned present in his tone.

“That is not nothing. What did you do to them?” Rarity asked.

“A few experiments in the mechanical arts went sour. I was seeing if I could perhaps fix my wings after an… unfortunate happening.”

“Does it still hurt?”

“Not as much as it did before, at least I can sleep.”

“Have you gotten this checked out?”

“No, no, there’s no need for that. I’d rather deal with it myself.”

“Okay… Captain, can I ask you something?”

“Anything,”

“Have you considered, I don’t know, being less, violent, when becoming an alicorn?”

“…”

“Korsan?”

“I had a feeling you’d be asking me about that sooner or later. Look, I-I’m not the most usual of ponies, neither am I the most sane. You know that, right?”

“…Yes.”

“But what I am, is a thinker. Somepony that understands a lot and can draw some conclusions with a lot of fair reason. I have also firsthoof felt what it means to be on the bottom. And really, I don’t want anypony else to experience that same pain I felt for so many years. So, my ultimate plans after this venture, is more of a means to fix everything.”

“By killing millions?”

“It’s an unpleasant thought, I understand. But genetics have a very dangerous role to play in the creation of these terrible lives and-”

“Please, you don’t have to kill. You could still create change and get your point across by simply talking.”

“That’ll never work. I know it already.”

“Are you sure?”

“Mostly,”

“But are you absolutely sure?”

“…”

“Captain!” Voices echoed from the large cavern, ringing loud and clear in the captain’s ears.

“…” Korsan remained silent, deep in contemplation.

A low growl bellowed from the far bottom of a tight stairway, deep underground and long. Needle-like stalactites reached down from the uncarved ceiling, barely touching the damp, mossy steps. Twilight, Pinkie, and Fluttershy, near the top of the stairs, stared down at the stairs, thinking about what awaited them.

It was a miracle they found these stairs. Now walking down them though, that miracle felt more like a curse to the trio. Walking down the ceaseless flight, natural chitchat was held between them to pass the time.

“I am so happy I found that trapdoor leading to here!” Pinkie cheered as she hopped down the wide steps. “I almost never lose a scavenger hunt!”

“And so are we,” Twilight calmly replied.

She had already heard the pink pony’s unintentional gloating about the subject several times at this point.

“This should lead us to the thing that Korsan’s after.” Twilight announced.

“And even closer to Rarity, and Sweetie Belle! We’re going to bring them home and throw a huge party!” Pinkie announced.

“Yeah…”

It happened almost instantly. Korsan and the mares reunited with the other pirates, some talking took place, and before they knew it, they were walking down the halls and passageways of the temple like nothing happened. While the injuries and shock still lingered, their goal and the company of others helped to move on from that incident with the trap.

Rarity’s hoof was now firmly wrapped in soft, white bandages. She gently hoppled alongside her captain, leaning on him at times for support.

They walked down the slowly descending hall, directed by a leading torch carried by Chopin in the far back. The walls were lined with murals, many more than earlier in the temple.

“So I assume the rest of yous have already figured it out this temple is lined with anti-magic.” Korsan said.

“The spear chamber was the real kicker, sir,” Horus answered from directly behind. “Luckily, no pony was injured… greatly anyways.”

“I see, so I and the others missed a trap. Darn. Sounds like a fun one too.”

“I wouldn’t recommend it.”

“Understandable.”

As the crew continued to pace onwards, a light green mist started to blanket the slanted corridor.

“Careful. Looks like we’ve reached the gas area. Poisonous or hallucinogenic, either way, don’t breathe it in. Just hold your breath and hustle.” Korsan announced.

“What’s the difference?” Isyan asked from the back alongside Chopin.

“One kills you on the spot, the other makes you wish you were killed on the spot.” Korsan answered.

As Twilight and the others walked down the stairs, a yellow colour, a mist of sorts, began to powder the air.

Chapter 036: The Nightmare's Power

“…wait, wait, wait. It gets better. When the patient woke up, his skeleton was missing, and the doctor was never heard from again!” Pinkie exclaimed before breaking out into maniacal laughter, finishing her long ramble.

A small beat of silence followed as Twilight, Fluttershy, and Pinkie continued to walk down the stairs. The other two slowly processed what the hyperactive mare was saying. Unbeknownst to them, a faint yellow mist floated in on their decent.

A confused Fluttershy then asked, “What were we talking about again?”

“How I lost my medical license.” Pinkie answered.

“Wait, wha-”

“Hey,” Twilight interrupted. “Do you hear something?” She asked.

“Where?” Fluttershy asked.

“I don’t know…” Twilight replied.

In the corners of Twilight’s twitching ears, a small metallic clinking sounded out from an unknown location. She looked around for the sound she heard, only to see Pinkie and Fluttershy walking down with her, blankly looking forward. She then looked back ahead of her.

With a clearer view of the bottom of the stairs, Twilight noticed an orange dot in the distance.

“Hey, do you see that?” Twilight asked her friends.

She returned her glance to her friends. Much to her surprise, they’re gone.

“Hey, where did you two go?”

Stopping her walk, Twilight circled around herself and looked everywhere to the vanished ponies. She thought she saw them higher up the staircase, perhaps the result of taking a unannounced break. But as the yellow mist thickened, the harder it was to identify anything.

“Do you have a point?” A mare’s voice echoed all around the confused loner.

Twilight looked around for the source of the voice, but to no avail.

“Who’s there? Where are you? Where are my friends?” Twilight asked to the mustard fog.

She then looked back to the orange dot. It had grown into a blurry figure, standing on the stairs near the bottom. It was growing closer. Curious, Twilight walked towards the mysterious being, one step at a time.

Minutes of walking passed, but Twilight felt like she hadn’t even moved a step down. The stairwell grew longer and longer as she descended. What seemed like roughly 300 steps at the top of the flight turned into 1000 steps not even midway down.

Not only that, but the stairs no longer seemed to be going straight. Some steps were slanted, leaning towards on wall. Pebbles danced across the steps, jumping from one wall to the other. As Twilight descended, the steps spiraled onto the walls. Soon, gravity no longer became an object, as a few steps started to dance across the ceiling. As she drew closer to the bottom, the dark and grey stone surrounding her slowly changed colours and textures.

“Of course I have a point!” A male voice then echoed.

“There’s two of you?” Twilight asked the orange spec.

“What? Don’t you recognize me?” The female voice asked.

“Who are you?” Twilight asked.

“It’s because we’re villains isn’t it?” The male voice asked.

“Villains?”

“Or is it you, who is the villain?” The mare’s voice questioned Twilight.

“Me? The villain? No!”

“Quite, so many lives, suffering, just waiting to meet their end and have better ones replace them.” The stallion added.

At this point, the walled were solid white. It still felt like stone through. Perhaps it was a soft thick quartz or ivory granite. It felt like padding if you’d put your face on it.

“Don’t you see the obvious?”

“What?”

“The point?”

“Who-”

“The sanity?”

“I don’t-”

“Surely at this point, you would have figured this out. Why don’t you see what everypony is seeing?”

“What am I not seeing?!”

Furious, Twilight ran down the long sheet of metal, twisting and bending beyond comfort. The hallway narrowed to a point to where her body could barely squeeze through. After each step, Twilight loss a bit of feeling in her legs, to a point where she could only wriggle like a vegetable.

“She must be insane.” The unseen mare replied to the invisible stallion.

“I’m not insane!”

“Quite frankly,” Another mare’s voice suddenly spoke.

The voice was right behind Twilight.

“You appear to be.” It said.

Twilight looked back and saw Rarity’s face. However, this was not Rarity at all. Her body was contorted, standing on her hind hooves. Machine parts made of bone surrounded her torso. It was a monster, a mimic of Rarity in the shape of Korsan.

Twilight yelped in fright and stumbles back, nearly slipping from the impossible stairs.

“Rarity?!” Twilight exclaimed.

“Hello, Twilight Sparkle.”

“What happened to you? Why are you in Korsan’s suit?”

Slowly, the Rarity and Korsan hybrid walked around the baffled pony. As Twilight examines the figure, the path faded away from the corner of her eyes. Now she was only surrounded in dark metal and white wadding.

“Poor, poor, Twilight. Korsan is our king. He is worthy of the throne to all life.” The monster replied.

“What are you even saying?”

Twilight was given no answer. She was instead grabbed by the shoulders by bony claws and turned around to have her face pressed up against another body. It was a monstrous version of Korsan, this time sporting an eyepatch.

“Applejack?!”

The orange being screamed, “The electrolytes!”

“The what?!”

“You still don’t get it do you?!” It yelled.

The two bipedal mares circled around the shriveling pony, constantly barking at her with no breaks or a moment to breathe. Their speech degraded from banter to non-cohesive ramblings that Twilight barely made sense of.

“It’s complicated.” Rarity stated.

“He has a point.” Applejack declared.

“He interests me.” Rarity said.

“It’s not all black and white.” Applejack said.

“I love him.”

“I must protect my family.”

“There’s no going back now.”

“You’re fighting a lost cause.”

“We should’ve tossed you into the brig.”

“The crazy house,”

“The asylum, toss her in!”

“You don’t have a single point!”

“Twilight.”

“Twilight.”

“Twilight.”

“Twilight.”

“Twilight!”

“Twilight!”

Twilight snapped under the screaming and started to sob uncontrollably. The walls of the padded hallway begin to shrunk all around her, tighter than ever before. Darkness enraptured her vision, leaving only a crack of light to stab her sealed eyelids.

Twilight woefully cried, “Stop it! Stop it!”

The two beings didn’t stop and continued to angrily scream her name together, “Twilight! Twilight! Twilight! Twilight! Twilight! Twilight! Twilight! Twilight! Twilight! Twilight!”

“Please stop!”

“Twilight! Twilight! Twilight!”

“I’m begging you!”

“Twilight! Twilight! Twilight!”

“No more! Please! I’m begging! Stop it! I can’t breathe!”

“Twilight!”

“I want my mommy!”

“Twilight!”

“I want my daddy!”

“Twilight!”

“I want my brother!”

“Twilight!”

“Just make it end!”

The two hybrid monsters continued to spiral and harass the fallen princess. A brown shadow appeared in the distance, walking to her. Teary eyed and having her eyelids almost entirely shut, Twilight barely recognized the approaching third being. However, as it entered a metre’s distance and the crack of light, it becomes clear who it was.

It was Korsan as a hideous alicorn. With a smiling set of razor sharp red teeth, it grinned ear-to-ear. With solid black eyes and red pinpoint pupils, he stared down at her. Korsan reached down and grabbed the mare by the throat, stabbing the soft flesh with his long, barbed, talon-like needles. All the air immediately exited Twilight’s lungs leaving only the sensation of chocking and sharp pain.

Korsan than reaches into his back and pulls out an enormous version of his cutlass, emitting a black aura in the air.

He slowly raised the blade high above and readied to strike.

He roared in a most demonic cackle, “Pegasi and Earth ponies are inferior, we must shape the world to what it should be, all unicorns, no more suffering…”

The heinous alicorn swings down his weapon. A final scream tore from the surrounding ponies.

“Twilight!”

“No!” Twilight gasps.

She opened her eyes from the expected sensation of being chopped in two by the massive cutlass, only to find herself back on the stairway, lying in her own sweat and tears. Fluttershy stood over her, concerned of her friend’s condition.

“Wait, wh-wha-what?” Twilight stammered, whipping her head around.

“Are you okay?” Fluttershy asked, tightly clutching onto Twilight’s head with her soft hooves in an effort to keep it stable.

“What happened to Rarity? Applejack? Korsan?!”

“Calm down Twilight, you were only hallucinating.”

“Wait, what?”

“There was some gas we walked into that was coming from the walls. When we saw you rambling and going into a spasm, Pinkie and I soon realized that we were going crazy. We held our breaths, grabbed you, and carried you down and out of the gassed area. Hopefully, it wears off.”

“So it-it was all a dream?”

“Yeah.”

“Hey, where’s Pinkie?”

“Huh?”

Fluttershy looked back up the stairs. Only a few steps above the two were Pinkie, head deep in the yellow mist, giggling happily.

“Oh my Celestia!” Pinkie screamed out from up the stairs, “I see everything!”

“Oh, she’s doing it again.” Fluttershy groaned.

“Those shoes are awesome trains!” Pinkie yelled into the abyss.

“Doing what?” Twilight asked.

“Cucumbers are just beds with alien technology!” Pinkie yelled.

Fluttershy answers, “She’s poking her head into the gas for fun. Pinkie, please pull out.”

“It’s so beautiful!” Pinkie cried.

“Pinkie, come on out, Twilight’s back.”

“You betrayed the law!”

“Pink-”

“Lawwwww!”

“Pinkie!”

“I am the law!”

Now agitated, Fluttershy walked up to Pinkie and pulled her down to Twilight by the ear.

“Hehe, it tickes!” Pinkie giggled.

“When you’re ready Twilight,” Fluttershy said.

Twilight stammers for a moment before replying, “Yeah… yeah, yeah-yeah I’m fine. Let’s go.”

After a solid minute of wading through a thick green fog with their breath held, Korsan, the pirate crew, and the mares reached a clearing beyond the haze. Being the first to escape the deadly air, Korsan gasped out for clean air. Everypony else followed in the captain’s steps, crying out for air.

“D-did-did anypony inhale the gas?” Korsan asked, pressing a hoof to the wall to support his failing body.

“No.” The others replied in a greatly unsynchronized moan.

“Juliana?”

The ice phoenix soared over from the back of the group to on top of Korsan shoulder. She rubbed her cold head on her master’s deflated cheek.

“There you are. Who’s a sweet little lady?” Korsan asked, tying to sound playful with deflated lungs.

Juliana cooed in response.

“Yes, yes you are.”

“Aww,” Rarity giggled at the sight.

With the gas gone, the murals on the wall returned to sight, displaying their gorgeous frescos once more.

The team continued down to the end of the long path, their eyes glancing at the paintings. As they walked, they discovered something strange about the art. Most of the paintings portrayed an alicorn of some kind, rising from what seemed to be a golden fountain. Each alicorn was paired with a different background and text engraved at the top.

“What could this all mean?” One of the pirates asked out loud.

“Hey, Korsan,” Dash called out from the back of the herd. “How about you read some of these?”

“I guess so.” Korsan said.

He then took a moment to clear his throat.

He examined one of the murals and read, “’Lady Joan, the Mare of Justice, twas a brave mare of beauty and chivalry. When the royals’ corruption befell upon her kingdom loyal to the forest, she bathed in the holy waters to achieve thy power necessary to overthrow. Queen she then became, and her descendants still rule fair to this day.’”

“She does look pretty.” Applebloom remarked, entranced by the detailed portrait of the young white alicorn.

Behind the fair alicorn and the fountain was a starry blue sky with a golden light pouring from the sides.

The crew moved on to next painting. This time, the wall showed a black stallion against a bright red sky, with dark clouds and volcanoes in the background. The fountain in this piece looked slightly damaged, with a moat of red liquid around it.

“This guy looks like a piece of work.” Korsan commented before reading. “‘Sir Cystic, the First of Fury, twas an angry, yet powerful stallion. Cousin to the younger heir to the throne of iron and steel, he sought out the fountain to make himself more formidable to be king. War broke between the soldiers of the cousin and the single alicorn for one hundred years. In time, the cousin died of age, and Cystic took the throne, which he held to with the clench of unwavering strength. To these times, his descendants uphold his power in the heart of fire, but fear his cost in a terrible end.’”

“What end?” Applejack asked.

“No idea.”

“Maybe it was the fall of this island, whatever it was.” Grevious suggested.

“It’s a pity that all of this amounted to nothing in the end.” Korsan said.

He moved on.

“It’s almost as if their lives were pointless…” Maria said.

“Don’t be such a downer, Maria,” Yu replied behind her. “That’s my brother’s job.”

“Hey!” Yin barked while most of the others silently chuckled.

“Still,” Maria replied. “Seeing these tales of such great ponies, forgotten. It might as well be the same fate as for us.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll always remember you.” Hands replied, comforting his mare-friend.

“Thanks, Hans. That’s so sweet.” Maria replied with a faint smile.

“Anything for you, m’lady.”

Upon hearing this from Hans, the Shou Brothers make silent barfing noises in reflex. Applejack rolled her eyes at the two immature stallions behind her.

“What a butt kisser,” Yu silently remarked to his brother.

“Don’t even bother.” Yin whispered back. “You couldn’t even hold one night with a mare.”

“I did.” Yu retorted.

“Uh-huh, sure,”

“It’s true, you just never saw it.”

“Hey, if I know that those two lovebirds are sneaking out of their cabins every night to do who-knows-what, then I would tell if my brother’s ever spent the night with a mare.”

“Wait, Hans and Maria sneak around at night?”

“Exactly,”

“What would they be doing?”

“I don’t know, they always head down the back into the farm and kitchen.”

“Maybe they’re getting a drink from the cellar.”

“Nah, Butch would’ve caught them, he always checks the barrels at night. You know how protective he is about the cellar.” Yin replied.

“True, true,” Yu nodded.

“Who’s Butch?” Applejack accidently asked to the two stallions.

“Hey, were you listening in on us?” Yu asked.

“Uh…” Applejack didn’t know how to respond.

“Take it easy,” Yin told Yu. “She’s on our side, I think.”

The calmer brother turned to the Earth pony and explained, “Butch Taylor’s our cook. He’s also the one who’s looking after your friend, Sweetie Belle.”

“I saw her in the kitchen with him. Saved our skins, she did.” Applejack replied.

“Good for her.” Yin said, deadpan as ever.

“Hey, if you don’t mind me asking, how did you twos end up here?” Applejack asked.

“My brother and I were arrested for supposedly stashing cards in our clothing.”

“Wait, wasn’t it that we were bribing the dealer?” Yu asked.

“That was Las Pegasus, not Monte Canter, supposedly.” Yin restated.

“But I remember that prison at Gorgonzola.” Yu insisted. “You were getting flirty with one of the mares that was arrested alongside us that worked as a show-”

“We don’t speak of her.”

“Yeah, yeah, that one time when she dropped the-”

“Shut it! There’s a foal with us.”

“Oh! And then there was that moment with Bubbles and Pablo-”

“Captain Korsan! Want to read another wall?!” Yin yelled out, desperately trying to change the subject.

“I’m looking, I’m deciding,” Korsan yelled back.

His eye glossed over the murals. Each painting had a story to tell and a vibe to set the mood.

“Fascinating, these things are, all dedications to ponies that became alicorns with the Fountain of Balance.” Korsan commented.

Soon, the group came across a portrait of a purple stallion with two heads. The background was a warped pattern of black, white, and grey tiles. The golden fountain now looked very simplistic compared to the previous iterations, and very unfinished.

Korsan, interested by it, read the writing, “’Sir Dolum, the Serpent of Lies, a selfish stallion that abused his generosities. Despite his raise to be kind and thoughtful, he grew himself spoiled and greedy. Sowed lies upon the earth and used the power of the fateful waters to grow them to his throne. May the golden heart of the fountain treat upon him and his followers as he hath treated others.’ Well, maybe ‘dedication’ doesn’t apply to that one.”

“Hey, do you think there are any funny ones?” Yu asked.

“Why would there be ‘funny’ ones?” Korsan asked, confused.

“I don’t know.”

“…”

“Idiot,” Yin not-so-subtly coughed.

“Keep moving forward, we’ll reach that fountain at any moment now.” Korsan declared.

“Come on!” Isyan loudly moaned to the crew.

“Oh boy, maybe we should backtrack into the poison gas again. I liked the quiet.” Korsan crudely remarked.

“We’ve been walking for an hour. Can’t we take a break?” Applebloom complained.

“No! We are reaching that fountain as soon as possible.” Korsan barked.

“Bah…” Isyan moaned, having the exact same thought as Applebloom.

Eventually, the sounds of gentle splashing echoed in the darkness straight ahead.

“Is that it?!” Isyan asked.

“Hallelujah,” Korsan simply responded.

“Go, go, go!” He exclaimed to the crew.

This was it, he thought. This is where the Fountain of Balance had to be!

Quickly, a second wind burst across the crowd. They blindly charged forward.

“This has to be it, this has to be it, this has to-Ah!”

Korsan shrieked as the floor suddenly disappeared from under. He and the others plummeted into a large pool of water. The lit torch stayed alit with Chopin and Rainbow Dash, having not fallen in with the others. They had stopped at the edge of the stone floor before the pool. The light eventually revealed that Korsan and everypony else merely slipped off an unseen end of the corridor.

Korsan swam back up to the surface with an agitated ice phoenix on his shoulder. He paddled across the surface of the water, finding it surprisingly easy to do so. The other fallen members soon followed suit as they floated up to the top of the water.

“Well, that happened.” Korsan said.

“My suit!” Yu cried in terror.

“Speak for yourself.” Isyan grumbled.

“Where do we go now?” Maria asked.

“Oh no!” Rarity exclaimed. “Korsan, your dress, I’m sorry-”

“Relax,” the captain interrupted. “that can be easily cleaned and dried back onboard. Now the real issue is where’s forward?”

“The place might have caved in,” Horus suggested. “We could just use The Perfection and drill our way-”

“Absolutely not. We want to preserve every millimeter of this place for future study. I don’t think we’re caved in. See the walls here, they’re carved, this is clearly intentional.”

“But for what?” Yin asked.

“…How deep do you think this water is?” Korsan asked.

“I’m not sure. Let me check.” Horus replied.

With a flick of his horn, the albino pony’s horn shone a bright red. The second light revealed the flat bottom and walls of the pool of water.

“They’re about equal to the dimensions of the hallway we’ve been in,” Korsan stated. “Search around for a tunnel.”

Horus moved his horn around the deep water, soon coming across an underwater section of the path. It lead to a point where the tunnel returned to air.

“Aha! There’s a tunnel ahead, about 100 metres. There we go.” Horus declared.

“Are you expecting us to go in there?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Do you even know how long that is? We’ll drown.”

Korsan retorted, “Not on my watch.”

“Attention all unicorns!” He yelled out to the crew. “Use your magic to create a large air bubble around your head and set your horn glow to its brightest. Your bubble will be your only means of oxygen, so I suggest you swim easily and take easy breaths. The water probably mixed with anti-magic, making it so thick, so don’t try anything fancy with your already weak magic. If you mess up, remember, you are swimming in dense water, so you’ll only be able to move a little to reach a partner’s air bubble. Isyan, supply air to Juliana. Horus and the Shou Brothers, supply air for Applejack and Applebloom. Chopin, supply air to the loud thing on the stick.”

Juliana swiftly leapt from her master’s shoulder and landed on Isyan’s head.

“Hey! No way I’m trusting that clown with my life.” Rainbow protested.

“He’s a mime. Now let’s move out!” Korsan roared.

“Wait, what about you?” Rarity asked.

“I got tough enough pegasus-lungs, I can keep myself alive.”

Chapter 037: Deeper In

Dozens of colourful magic bubbles formed in the air as the crew readied to swim. They carefully casted the air bubbles over the nozzles, with Dash, Applejack, Applebloom, and Juliana sharing a larger bubble with their designated unicorns. Korsan led the way by taking a deep breath and diving down into the water.

One by one, the ponies joined and dove under, following their captain as he swum in the dimly lit underwater tunnel. They paddled through the hall, their kicks silent in the dense water. It took fair bits of their strength to push the thick liquid behind them and propel forward. The warm water flowed through the ponies’ fur coats and cleaned their clothing.

Eventually, the struggle to swim turned relaxing, as the team found themselves cruising through the water with little worry for air. Even Rainbow Dash found the experience pleasant as the liquid eases the tension in her stiff and tied regions. Korsan slowly drifted to the back of the group over time. He had to keep himself from over-exhorting and losing air. He didn’t mind.

A couple of minutes passed, and a faint golden glow could be seen in the distance straight ahead. Excited, the crew started to speed up, especially Rarity. Isyan, just a bit ahead of her, remained awfully stoic. As Rarity drew closer and closer to the light at the end from this submerged hall, the more and more reckless she became with her air bubble.

Rarity took another deep breath from her air pocket, not knowing it was her last.

The bubble suddenly burst, and Rarity was hurled into the terrifying deep.

Immediately, water poured into her open mouth and nose. She attempted to swim to a nearby pony, but she was too far from anypony else in the thick water. She reached her hooves out, screaming in the water. Her hooves tired and dropped helplessly under, next to her burning body. It felt as though her lungs were filled with acid, ever ripe and ready to burst. She attempted to call for help, crying for help, but her voice was muffled. Her hooves were clenched. Her fading blue eyes widened in terror. Her mouth slowly came to a still shut.

Rarity pushed once more, reaching for anything. It fails. She tried to relax, but the burning inside kept her frantic. She gulped as much as she could, begging for this nightmare to be over. It exited her mouth and bloated her other parts, looking for any pathway it can find to finish her. More water soon came and refilled her mouth and throat, making the agony even more intense. Soon, the water rushed through her head and into the last crevices of her snout.

At this point, Rarity had tried everything. She reached out for help with all of her might, as if a last resort, trying to grasp the dancing light, but she couldn’t reach it. The last bubbles of life escaped her mouth as she frantically reached for any form of oxygen. She felt, she expected, she knew she’s going to die. It seemed inevitable by now. She was out of air and too tired to fight anymore. She soon felt like crying, and she was sure she would have if she was above water. She reached one last time, a futile attempt in her mind, for the shimmering lights.

Everything started to turn black as the golden heavens faded away. One last bubble lost its perch in her mouth and floated to the stone top. Random singular thoughts ran through the mare’s head as she watched the images of her hope fade.

However, as darkness consumed her final visions, a bright light flashed in front of her eyes. A sudden relief pulsated across her entire body. Rarity felt fresh air flow through her, yet her skin still felt the thick water crushing her body. Her eyelids shot open, her pupils saturated with life. She was Korsan right in front of her. A realization hit her as she stiffly examined the position of the stallion right in front of her and her senses flaring up.

His lips are locked with hers, as the captain pumped water from her and replaced it with his air. Rarity tried to gasp and pull away from the surprise, but Korsan held her close and tight. He was set to restore her life.

Up close, Rarity could see the determination and passion in the stallion as barely any bubbles of air escaped the transfer. After giving her a fair share of air, Korsan pulled away and tightly shut her lips closed. He then frantically swam to the golden lights ahead, holding Rarity close to his chest with his front hooves. With all of his might, Korsan kicked his hind hooves and snapped his cape up and down through the dense liquid as he slowly sped to the exit.

A solid minute of furious thrashing ticked on as the two ponies drew tantalizingly close to the surface. Both of the ponies’ internal air supply dropped more and more on each paddle. The burning unleashed itself inside both Korsan and Rarity. Now, only a metre away, vision started to fade away. With one final heave, Korsan lunged himself and Rarity towards the golden glow above before blacking out.

As everything turned to black, the sounds of splashing water and fainted voices rung in their ears.

Reaching the bottom of the staircase, Twilight and her followers took a moment to find relief and rest themselves against the stone walls. Ahead of the trio was a long golden corridor that was dimly lighted with small torches hanging from the wall. At the end of the maybe-kilometre-long stretch was a golden glow.

The light was as welcoming as the sun. It had to be the heart of the temple.

“There it is,” Twilight murmured in her heavy breaths. “We got this.”

“Do you think Korsan and the others are already there?” Fluttershy asked.

“I don’t know.”

“What if it’s a trap?”

“Then we better get ready for it.”

Twilight rubbed her hoof across her mane and up to her horn, feeling the black strap still wrapped around it.

“How is this thing still so tight after all this time? I should have found something to at least break the-” Twilight said.

A idea immediately burst in her head. Twilight snapped her head back to the stairs. She saw a thin stalactite up a few steps, a solid metre above the floor. She quickly ran up to the spike and positioned the anti-magic strap right below the tip.

Carefully, she thrusted the glowing device into the stalactite, piercing the strap. The green liquid spewed from the crack upon retracting her horn. Twilight wiped off the liquid matter from her forehead and turned back to her friends, both watching her in bliss of her success.

“I got it!” Twilight cheered.

“You sure did!” Pinkie exclaimed. “Can you do magic once again?”

“Not now, it’s still leaking out. It may take a while. But right now, let’s go fight some pirates!”

With the strength of pride and confidence on their side, the three mares galloped into the golden hall and charged for the golden aura that awaited them. An unheard choir sung for them in the hall, the voice of Equestria and the world cheered for their champions.

“Korsan! We’re coming for you!” Twilight declared.

As Twilight bolted down the long hall with her team, she recalled what has built up to this confrontation.

Twilight’s inner voice spoke to her mind’s eye, Invading the Grand Galloping Gala, stealing the Diamond Eye, throwing us into a trap, attacking us at Thieves’ Hold, destroying Celestia’s ship, kidnapping Rarity and Sweetie Belle, tempting them into joining your crew, attempting to crush us, kidnapping Rainbow Dash, and now attempting to use the power of this island to cause global genocide of millions of innocent lives. No, I will not stand for this. You’re going down this time, Korsan. Prepare for justice!

“We’re coming to save you, Rarity and Sweetie Belle!” Pinkie and Fluttershy proclaimed.

What about those two, Rarity, Sweetie Belle… I’ve been avoiding thinking about them all this time. But now, I’m going to have to make a decision if they’re on Korsan’s side. Should I fight them? I have to, I must, no matter how much I don’t want to. I’ll try my best to convince them first. And what about Applejack? Is she still going to help us after the fighting we’ve been through? What if she joined Korsan’s crew as well? No, that couldn’t be. Korsan would never let an Earth pony join him, he’s too cruel. Right?

“We’re almost there!”

The mares galloped into the blinding golden glow. At the end of the hall, they found themselves in a massive underground grotto. It was a round cavern chamber about one hundred metres in diameter and fifty metres in height. A pitch black ceiling of darkness hung over the explorers’ heads, with small stalactites poking from the darkness. Small twinkles of an unknown moonlight shone in the dark ceiling. At the edge of this chamber was a moat of glistening water, only rising up to the mares’ knees. Past the water was a small hill of golden sand with an unseen flat top. Large boulders of pure, shimmering iron strutted out from the beach.

Curious, the trio silently waded across the clear water and fluid sand. They ducked behind the iron stones in case if Korsan or any of his crew members were also here. As they climbed higher and higher, the mares started to see a tall, slightly decayed gazebo of stone peak out from over the flat top’s edge. It was covered in thousands of strands of thick moss, nearly covering the finely detailed carvings and designs the gazebo structure was made off. A small golden aura emanated from the center of the large structure.

“What is this place?” Twilight whispered to the others as she neared the flat top of the sandy hill.

Upon climbing onto the rock porch, the mare’s eyes snapped onto the source of the glow as if by instinct. At the center of the chamber was a large golden fountain, encrusted with millions of gemstones of various shapes and colours. The three tiers of the towering center pillar had pure blue water gently flowing from them and into the shallow basin below.

Slowly, Twilight approached the great fountain, tracing her eyes along its height. She saw the night sky above the fountain via a small hole in the black ceiling.

“Is this it? Is this the artifact that Korsan wants to use to make himself into an alicorn?”

Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy joined by their friend’s sides and gazed upon the magnificent treasure.

“Shiny.” Pinkie commented.

“It most certainly is.” Twilight nodded.

“What do you think will happen if you touch the water?” Fluttershy asked. “It looks weird.”

“I’m not sure. I don’t think we should try touching it, something bad might happ-”

Twilight immediately cut herself off as the sounds of distant voices echoed across the paddling of the fountain water and into her ears.

“Shhh, I hear somepony,” Twilight whispered.

Stealthily, Twilight hovered over to the other side of the flat with her wings. She peaked over a boulder and saw the origin of the noises. Her jaw dropped as her eyes looked over the seventy pirate ponies that came with Korsan to Alicorn Island, all gathered around an unseen event going on at the water’s edge. Twilight’s eyes darted across most of the visible swashbucklers. She got a good look at their gleaming weapons strapped to them, ranging from swords, to crossbows, to axes, to maces, to daggers, to more abnormal weapons that the spying alicorn had only read about in books.

She turned around to her approaching friends and frantically whispered, “It’s them! It’s Korsan!”

“What?” Pinkie quietly exclaimed. “Let me see!”

Pinkie poked her head above the hiding boulder and saw the mass gathering.

“I don’t see Korsan.” She said.

“Shhh, I think I hear them talking.”

The three ponies lowered themselves firm onto the iron chunk and silently watched as the pirates talked amongst another.

“Hey!” Grevious yelled at the center of the mob. “Make some room! Make a hole! They’re coming back!”

The crowd quickly backed away and parted to make a clear path of view between the spies and the activity that was going on. There, at the edge of the calm waters, stiffly lied Korsan and Rarity. Rarity was being tightly held to the captain’s exposed chest.

“Rarity!” Twilight silently screamed out.

The two stayed motionless for several seconds before a faint pair of groans can be heard. The Korsan started to move first, sliding off of Rarity and collapsing onto the sand. He released a horrific cough from his throat, spewing water out from his lungs. Rarity soon followed as she began to roll in her place, coughing small gags and spitting drops of water from deep inside her systems. Korsan cemented his hooves into the moist floor and pushed himself upward, opening his icy-blue eye to examine his blurry surroundings.

The stallion then said in a scratchy voice, “This is certainly not Heaven if you are all here.”

“Captain!” The crew cheered, jumping up and down in place.

They were glad to see their leader was back with his sense of humour still intact.

His ears caught Rarity’s soft coughing. Korsan turned his attention towards the white mare, reaching out his hoof and gently grabbing her shoulder.

“Miss Rarity?” He called to her.

Upon unleashing a powerful bark to finishing clearing her throat, Rarity’s bright eyes opened and saw him.

“Y-yes Captain?” She softly answered.

“Thank goodness you’re still alive. Rest here,”

“Ye-Yeah,”

Slowly, Korsan unsteadily picked himself up onto his hind legs and took a brief moment to check the current situation.

“So, where are we?” He asked.

“Unsure, Captain,” Horus explained. “We’ve been busy taking care of you and Rarity.”

“And how is the crew?”

“All well and accounted for.”

“Well, wherever we are, we made it without too much trouble. And you wanted me to blow up this place, how ridiculous.”

“Ridiculous? You and Rarity nearly died.” Horus replied, a bit surprised.

“We weren’t going to die. Seeing our lives flash before our eyes? Probably,” Korsan dismissed his concerns.

“Do you think this is a game?!” Isyan yelled out.

Juliana was aggressively pecking and screeching at her holder, Isyan. She was clearly mad at the stallion and had no qualms in expressing her anger.

“You must be going absolutely mad if you’re really trying to blow this off with your cockiness.” Isyan berated Korsan. “Ow!”

“No, I just prefer to see everything in a better light, unlike you. And what the hay did you do to Juliana? She’s going nuts on ya,” Korsan replied.

“I didn’t do-Jack!”

“What can I do?” The stallion known as Jack asked from the back.

“Get this parrot off of me!” Isyan begged.

Korsan rolled his eye and scoffed his cousin, “Sheesh. Come, Juliana.”

Promptly, Juliana flew onto her master’s shoulder, chittering into his ear.

“Take it easy, take it easy.” He whispered to her, stroking her damp feathers.

Korsan then paced up the hill. He walked towards and around to the other side of the boulder Twilight and the others were hiding behind.

“Quite an interesting cave,” he said, oblivious of them. “A bit rough around the edges, but nothing a bit of dusting and a decent chisel can’t fix.”

His one eye peered over the sand hill to the gazebo in its whole. He stopped on the spot. His jaws turned into mush and dropped and his mechanical systems locked out. His eye grew into a size relative to that of a child’s wish come true.

“…” He silently gasped.

“What is it?” Isyan asked.

“I-I-I-I found it. There it is. There it is! There! It! Is!”

Quickly, the other crew members hustled up the sand dune. They saw the fountain and immediately froze next to their captain.

“The Fountain of Balance! I found it! We found it! We all found it! After over five years, it has finally payed off! Ha, ha, ha!” Korsan cackled.

“You found it?!”

A familiar voice echoed over the iron boulder. The trio of mares looked over to the right side of the rock and saw Applejack and Applebloom, walking right alongside the others to look at the legendary fountain.

Overcome with rage, surprise, confusion, and a million other emotions, Twilight screamed out without any regards to secrecy, “Applejack?!”

Applejack, as well as everypony else, looked back and saw Twilight, Pinkie, and Fluttershy.

“Twilight?!” Applejack exclaimed.

“Twilight?!” Korsan gasped.

“Twilight?!” The rest of the crew roared.

“Twilight?!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed from her hovering log.

Twilight looked over to saw the trapped Rainbow Dash. She instantly used her magic to shred the ropes to pieces. Now freed, Dash kicked Chopin in the back of the head and flew down alongside her friends.

“Twilight?!” Korsan bellowed in rage, reaching for his cutlasses.

“You’re darn right!” Twilight exclaimed with fury.

“I will not be stopped now! Attack!”

Chapter 038: The Showdown (Part 1)

In an instant, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie were lifted into the air by ten unicorn pirates at once.

“Don’t try breaking out of this one. I have ten unicorns trained on you. That means you have to break all ten magic grips at once. Now, prepare for your demise.” Korsan declared.

Twilight merely returned the threat with a small grin. Korsan was confused the sight.

“What, you some trick up your sleeve?” Korsan asked. “Whatever it is, you aren’t hindering my progress this time, Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight replied, “Let’s see about that.”

Her horn immediately then started glow a blinding light. She was charging a powerful spell.

“Get your weapons!” Korsan yelled at his followers.

Twilight fired her spell. A bright green flash of light encapsulated the entire chamber in a blinding glow for a full second. The light died down quickly, revealing the mares were free from the magic. They stood strong, ready to fight. The pirate army attempted to lift their weapons and the mares once more with their magic, only for their horns to stay dimmed.

“An AMP?! Impossible! Where did you learn such a pulse spell?!” Korsan exclaimed.

“Same place where we learned this!”

Twilight lunged forward into the enemy mob and hit the leading pirate in the face with a powerful punch, sending him back into the sand. The other pirates surround her and attempt to beat her down. Twilight ducked the wave of hooks and jabs. She then flapped her wings onto the ground, launching her upwards into the air. The force of the launched the pirates back into the others and blasted them with sand.

Rainbow Dash tagged into the fray and flew into the fallen mass, brutally ramming them.

“Fight them, you idiots! The AMP will last only for a minute or two.” Korsan roared.

A pirate stallion ran at Rainbow Dash from behind and grabbed her. She flew up and slammed down her grabber into the dirt. The pirate immediately let go. Another stallion came with a dagger in his hoof. He threw it forcefully at her. Dash leapt over it. The pirate then threw a punch as she landed. She grabs the hoof and head-butted the pirate, knocking him off.

Yin and Yu then rushed at her sides in a combined flank attack. They grabbed onto her outstretched wings. The three dropped onto the floor. Rainbow Dash recovered and rapidly spun her body on the sand. The brothers lost their grip and were flung to the opposite ends of the grotto.

She taunted the four fallen pirates, “Is that the best you-”

She was interrupted by Juliana. The ice phoenix bashed into the mare’s exposed stomach. The two fliers back away from each other and took to the air. They chased each other around the room, clashing at every opportunity they had. The stone walls of the cave turned into glaciers and arctic wind spirals. A sandstorm slowly formed and consumed the grotto.

With a pursuing army of fifteen pirates behind her, Pinkie Pie was growing short on options. She had running around the sandy isle for as long as she could to avoid them, but her breath was growing sparse.

“I feel like we got our magic back. Grab her!” Maria, one of the leading pirates, commanded.

“We can’t!” Grevious replied at her side. “The sand’s too thick. It’s getting into my eyes even, I can’t think straight! We need a ranged attack.”

“Then use it!” Maria demanded.

“Ryan!” Grevious called out to the pack.

The pirate named Ryan galloped to Grevious’s side. On his back was a large, wooden crossbow, fully loaded.

“Got it!” The sniper pirate replied.

Swiftly, the sniper pirate grabbed his crossbow in his magic and aimed it at the mare. However, before he could take the shot, a large gust of sand blanketed his sight. The stallion fired blind. The storm wave parted in the wake of the arrow. To the pirates’ surprise, Pinkie was nowhere to be seen.

“What the?!” Maria gasped.

Pinkie had vanished with only a second of time behind a sand veil. It was impossible to get far with that amount of time in this storm. Quickly, the pirates panned out across the area. Sounds of distant fighting and the sand blowing about echoed through the storm. Frozen sand pellets bulleted the area, destroying any hoof prints or specific craters in the sand.

The pirates were baffled. How could Pinkie evade them in these conditions?

“Where is she?” Maria demanded.

No response was heard behind her. Only the current of sandstorm could be heard now. Something was wrong. Maria looked behind her, counting five others. They were loosely scattered in the storm, unable to hear her. But what happened to the rest of the pirates?

Maria glanced over to Grevious, sifting through the beach below him.

“Alexander, what are you doing?” Maria asked. “Our crew is disappearing for some reason!”

Grevious replied, “I’m figuring that out.”

“And?”

“I think I have an idea where they and Pinkie went.”

“Where?!”

A mysterious force suddenly pulled Grevious under the sand. Barely a scream escape before he was buried. The only proof of his being was poof of dust in his wake.

Maria jumped back in horror. She drew out her knives, ready to turn the nearest insight into a pincushion. She looked back to the other pirates. One by one, the stallions and mares slipped under the sand, each releasing only a yelp upon disappearing. Only Maria remained.

A soft rumble was felt right below Maria’s hoof. She instinctively threw her knives into the loose sand. She then pulled out another knife and furiously stabbed the ground for a good number of seconds.

“I know you’re down there!” She yelled into the sand.

“Who?” A bubbly voice asked from behind.

Maria was only able to see a pink hoof grab her face from behind before being dragged under in one swift motion.

Twilight returned to the ground and was instantly surrounded by thirty pirates. All had their weapons at the ready. Three pirates charged their cutlasses at her. Twilight, in turn, raised magic brick walls from the ground. The bricks jammed the weapons between them as they formed. Twilight then kicked over the walls, crushing nine pirates in the process.

A small pirate dropped from above and landed on Twilight’s back. The pirate raised a small knife up to Twilight’s throat. Five more pirates crawled over the wall rubble and approached Twilight with their weapons. Twilight chomped onto the small blade. She then snapped her neck around, twirling the small pirate around her head and into the incoming enemies in a spiral motion, knocking them down.

She positions the pirate on her back and bucked him off. Another pirate ran up behind her and sliced her weapon into Twilight’s cheek. Twilight shrieked in pain, the corner of her eye spotting the bladed polearm slicing into her flesh. She retaliated by wrapping her wing around the wooden staff and smashing its hilt back into the pirate’s chest.

Twilight, now armed with a new weapon, slung the polearm around herself with her magic. A large pirate stallion leapt over at her, only to be smacked back by the blunt side of the metal head. The metal head dislodged from the pole and flew off into the sandstorm. The thirteen remaining pirates watched as Twilight held the now staff in a defensive position. Twilight motioned for them to come and take her on.

“Twilight,” a familiar mare’s voice called out to her. “Please stop.”

It was Rarity

The white unicorn squeezed her way through the pirate horde and slowly approached Twilight.

“Rarity, are you with them?” Twilight asked.

“It doesn’t matter. Back down now, I don’t want you to get hurt.” Rarity warned.

“This is your one and only chance Rarity. Prove yourself a friend or foe. Get out of my way,”

“This is your one and only chance Twilight. Keep out of this. Get out of our way,”

“You traitor, you did join him.”

“For the right reasons,”

Rarity’s strong voice slowly turned into a plea.

“Please. As your friend, just get out of here.” Rarity begged.

Twilight remains silent for a second, only to then slowly raise her weapon at Rarity’s chin.

“Never.” Twilight triumphantly said.

“Very well then, I tried to be merciful.” Rarity coldly replies.

She pulled out a long rapier from a sheath belted around her waist.

“If I am your enemy, then you might as well be my enemy.” Rarity threatened.

The two mares, once friends, aimed their weapons at each other. The slowly circled each other. The remaining pirates backed away in respect of this upcoming duel.

A small mare pirate, unbeknownst to Rarity, charged at Twilight with her claymore blade swinging left to right. Twilight knocked aside the large sword and tossed up the pirate by the pole end high into the air.

“Rainbow, take care of this one!” Twilight yelled out before returning her attention to Rarity.

“I got it!” Rainbow Dash replied from high above.

The high-flung pirate was grabbed by Rainbow Dash at the top of the grotto. With Juliana still in pursuit, Dash had to make quick work of the pirate. The filly pirate squealed and bucked around inside the pegasus’ grip as they spiraled about the chamber.

“Quit squirming!” Dash demanded.

“Make me!” The feisty pony barked before disappearing in a flash of light.

She reappeared right above Dash and grabbed onto her rainbow mane.

“Ow! Not cool, not lady-like, not fair!” Dash rapidly exclaimed.

“I have the power, you weakling. You will listen to-”

Dash suddenly stopped herself and ducked. The speeding ice phoenix couldn’t stop in time and slammed into the pirate. The impact encased her and Juliana in a block of thick ice. Juliana and the pirate dropped down into the moat, leaving Dash alone in the air.

“Ha! Suck it! Talk about icing two birds with one stone, I didn’t even need the stone.” Dash taunted at the ice block far below her.

She decided to cement her victory by performing a little dance in the air, shaking her rear at the ground.

Her victory was cut short as a metal bolt whizzed right past her mane. It stabbed the ice wall behind, leaving behind a trail of loose hairs. Rainbow looked down to the cave floor and saw Korsan on an iron boulder with his crossbow aimed at her. Dash dodged the next four shots and soared directly for him.

“Is that the best you go-”

Korsan’s metal elbow joint smashed into Rainbow Dash’s incoming face. The mare’s senses shut down for a second as she crashed into the golden sand below. Korsan gently slid down the large hunk of metal and pulled out his serrated cutlasses.

“You’ll pay for that!” Dash yelled upon regaining herself.

Korsan merely chuckled and responded, “And you’ll pay for rusting my gears with your sweaty head. These were custom made, just so you know.”

“Enough talk, more fight. I’ve been waiting for this moment a long time!”

“Same here, pest!”

The two pegasi lunged at each other and promptly started fighting. Dash soared around the stallion and pecked at him with dive attacks. Korsan deflected the dives with his blades and occasionally swung back at her. Dash avoided the slashes with her speed. The two continued to fight each other like this, putting each other closer and closer to the limit of their speed. Each of their motions were sharpened to their fastest. Each swing was forced to their strongest. The sounds of metal banging into hooves and sand being kicked around rattled the arena in a rapid beat faster than a grand military’s drumroll.

Rainbow landed and bucked her legs in Korsan’s gut, knocking him back into an iron boulder. As the pirate captain slowly got up, Rainbow Dash bolted at him once more.

“So, it’s going to be like this.” Korsan groaned, wiping the spit and blood from his mouth.

Chapter 039: The Showdown (Part 2)

At the edge of the grotto, Fluttershy was sneaking away from any pirates. She hid behind a boulder, not daring to peek out. Hearing the roaring of battle behind her, Fluttershy curled into a ball as she feared for both herself and her friends’ safety. Her moment of alone is cut short as she saw the pirates Yin and Yu slowly approaching her from each side of the rock. Both of the brothers had a wide grin on their face, eager to finally beat somepony in battle.

Fluttershy instinctively backed away and into the shallow water, only to be stopped by the cave wall behind. The two pirates unveiled their katanas and held them at the ready. They stopped at breathing distance from her. Fluttershy shrieked and covered her eyes. She waits a few moments for the inevitable to come. But much to her disbelief and minor disappointment, the two stallions haven’t stuck her down yet.

A muffled chitter instead was heard from the two. Curious, Fluttershy opened her vision to see the stallions had backed up a small distance from her. They were whispering to each other, oblivious of Fluttershy.

“Are you going to do it?” Yin asked.

“No, I’m not going to hit her, you do it!” Yu silently barked.

“No, you, it isn’t chivalrous for a stallion like me to hit a mare who’s probably peed herself out of fear.” Yin explained.

“You don’t think I know that? Why do we even need to beat her up?”

“To show the others that we aren’t complete wimps,”

“And hitting a mare in her current position will show them?” Yu asked, embarrassed of this whole situation.

“Look, I got a lot of lip from Ivan from our moment in the Breach. I’m not saying that we should break our code. We’re just, roughing her up a little.” Yin said, equally embarrassed.

“Well I’m not going to do it.”

“Earth-wings-horn?”

“Loser hits.”

Quickly, the duo faced each other. They stretched their right hooves forward.

“Earth…” They two said in unison.

They stretched their head back like they’re displaying their non-existent wings.

“Wings…”

The two then aimed their horns at each other’s, nearly touching them,

“Horn…”

Fluttershy’s face turned red. She couldn’t believe she got scared over these two.

“Shoot!”

Instantly, the left kept his horn in place while the other reached out his hoof.

“Ha!” Yin cheered. “Earth buries horn.”

“No, horn beats Earth.” Yu retorted.

“Horn grabs wings, wings ruffle Earth, and Earth buries horn, that’s how it works.”

“What are you talking about? Horn always wins in our case.” Yu smugly stated.

“Go! You lost.”

“I’m not-I’m not going to punch her.”

“Just shove her or something, give her a quick hustle and then we’ll grab her.” Yin replied.

“Fine, fine,” Yu moaned.

Defeated, the losing pony walked up to the onlooking mare. He raised his hooves towards her, but was immediately caught off-guard by a direct left hook to the cheek by her. Yu immediately collapsed into the water, howling in pain. His hooves barely muffled the full intensity of the shout.

“Holy gods!” Yin exclaimed.

“Sorry!” Fluttershy frantically, yet gently apologized to the now petrified pony.

She then turned to the remaining pirate, Yin. Yin immediately then charged at her in a frenzy.

“You’ll regret tha-” Yin exclaimed.

Fluttershy moved out of the way and guided the charging stallion into the wall. He fell into the water in almost as quickly as his brother.

“Sorry! I only meant it in self-defense!” Fluttershy explained to the two.

Fluttershy walked away from the groaning stallions, only to be met by a band of five more pirates. Fluttershy prepared herself as she faced the mob of unicorns.

“This is going to hurt me more that it’s going to hurt you…” She warned them.

Rainbow Dash and Korsan continued to trade blows upo the sandy duns of the grotto island. The two fighters eventually began to grow weary. If something didn’t happen, this battle of endurance will fall in Korsan’s favour.

Thinking fast, Dash broke the cycle and flew around the pirate at rapid speeds. A blinding whirlwind formed in her wake and surrounded Korsan. Dash then flew a fair distance away and took a break. With Korsan effectively trapped, Dash could catch her breath, however little it may be. The small tornado died down and Korsan burst from the veils of sand. He spat our whatever sand in his mouth and took a small breather.

Panting, the two pegasi stared at each other. They were several metres apart, but it felt like they were right in each other’s faces. The two thought about strategies in how to beat the other.

Dash was refreshed first and began walking towards him. Korsan dropped his swords and massaged his hooves as Dash walked.

Korsan’s bodily gears began to accelerate. His suit entered a toned-down version of Overdrive. The quickly turning wheels massaged his nerves, and furthermore, his mind. Korsan’s mental gears shifted at a rapid pace. His perception of time slowed to a crawl as his mind transcended.

This mustn’t register to an emotional level. He told himself.

As Korsan slowly walked to Dash, his lower left hoof-claws extended. They sifted around in the sand below, just shy of Dash’s attention.

First, blind her.

His claw grabbed a fistful of sand and kicked it into Dash. The golden sand sprayed all over Dash.

She’ll now attempt blind jab. Deflect.

Blindly, Dash threw her hoof forward at the captain’s stomach. Korsan responsibly knocked the hoof aside.

Double back onto her chin.

Korsan swung his outstretched hoof into Dash’s chin, kicking her back a half-metre with a powerful hook punch.

Make presence known with a flap of the cape and a chuckle.

With a grin planted on his face, Korsan swished his black cape in front of Dash. He gave a light, mocking laugh between his pearly white teeth. Intimidation and anger surged in the mare’s head. Dash charged forward in the air to deliver a head-butt.

Counter aerial attack with cape whip.

Korsan flicked his long cape at Rainbow Dash and smacked her across the chest with a powerful snap of the cape. Dash plummeted straight towards him.

Compliment with uppercut.

Korsan then struck his clenched claws into the bottom of Rainbow Dash’s chin. The colliding force of Dash’s fall and Korsan’s hood rattled Dash’s brain. The mare fell back and smacked headfirst into the sandy floor.

Intimidate target.

Korsan drew his cutlasses from the ground. He aimlessly swung the blades at Dash, intentionally barely missing. Already pulsing in pain, Dash backed away from the fake attacks in alarm.

She’ll now attempt a sneak-around. Grab tail.

Dash sensed a battle in Korsan’s movements. Thinking quickly, she darted around the hurling blades. Before she could far, Korsan tossed his swords aside. Dash dashed to Korsan’s back, but was grabbed by the rainbow tail.

Deploy Triple Hulk-Bust.

His grip on her tail tightened. Korsan swung his arm around him, smashing his pray into the sand three times, each hit more powerful that before. He then threw her at the boulder ahead, creating a loud crack upon collision.

She will try to recover. Cancel with kick to barrel.

Rainbow Dash thrusted herself forward from the iron rock, but Korsan stopped her with a kick in the gut. He smashed her back against the boulder and pinned her there.

Weaken with Rabbit Kick to ribs.

Korsan followed up his previous attack with a series of kicks to Dash. Each time she bounced from the metal, another kick was delivered to get chest. Everytime the mare felt as if she could escape, a powerful metal strike was given to her melting heart and was knocked back. She could feel her spine liquefy each time it impacted the boulder.

She will attempt to break the cycle with a sweeping dive. Counter with axe kick to the nape.

As Dash bounced back from the iron boulder, she dove under Korsan’s legs. Korsan raised a lower hoof into the air and slammed it down into the back of the mare’s neck, pinning her in place. A pain-struck squeal barely escaped her crushed throat.

And finally, finish her with upward lift and right hook.

The bottom claws grabbed Rainbow’s neck and threw her up. Her floating body stopped at his eye level. Korsan finished off Dash by smashing her in the jaw with a devastating swinging punch. Her body was launched into the shallow moat headfirst. Her body remained there, bubbles flowed from the unseen face.

In summary: Four cracked ribs, a mild concussion, a dislocated jaw, a crick to the nape, several stomach ulcers, three broken spine segments, a weakened skull, and a destroyed ego, all within sixty seconds and no full-Overdrive required. Korsan mentally concluded.

Slowly, Korsan walked over to his fallen foe. He lifted her head up by the rainbow coloured mane. A large red bruise could be seen on Dash’s cheek while the rest of her face remained limp and practically lifeless.

“You’ll live,” Korsan coldly taunted at his foe. “For a second, that is,”

He changed his grip to grab her neck and carried her nearby to his dropped weapons. He grab a serrated cutlass and positions the blade to Dash’s neck. The sharp edge gently rubbed the bruising skin. A deep moan escaped from Dash’s fractured vocals as Korsan prepared to finish her off.

“Captain Korsan! Don’t!” A voice hollered from afar.

Korsan turned and saw it was Applejack and Applebloom running towards him. Knowing their close relationship with Rarity, Korsan reluctantly released Rainbow Dash, letting her drop to the ground.

“Apologies, I got carried away.” Korsan explained.

Out of nowhere, a pirate plummeted him from the air. Korsan quickly grabbed the mare pirate with his free arm and set her down.

“What the hay happened to you?” Korsan asked her.

The two pirates looked towards where the mare was tossed and Rarity and Twilight. They were fighting in a wide circle of approaching pirates on the top of the hill. Korsan ran pass Applejack and Applebloom and towards the top of the hill.

“I can’t believe you!” Twilight exclaimed as she swung down her wooden pole at Rarity’s head.

Rarity caught the staff in hovering rapier.

She then replied, “Can’t believe me? I can’t believe you! Trying to hurt me, your friend!”

“Friend?! Your support Korsan’s plans to wipe out almost all of ponykind!” Twilight retorted.

“No! I’ve been trying to talk him out of it!”

“Why should I believe you? After weeks of being with him, how should I know you’re still loyal to us?”

“That’s the thing I always hated about you, Twilight. You’re so insistent on taking down the ‘villain’, you jump to putting everypony on a black and white scale.”

“Look who’s calling the kettle black? You practically hurdled yourself on his side when he probably gave you that fancy getup!”

“He’s worked hard for this!”

“So have we!”

Rarity grabbed Twilight’s pole and stabbed it into the thick sand. She then swung her sword, but Twilight dodged it. Twilight jumped to and grabbed onto the embedded staff and swung herself around on it. Twilight kicked her legs as she spun. Several of the pirates were kicked back or backed away from the flailing mare. Rarity ducked below spins and caught Twilight with a swift, yet gentle punch in the stomach.

Twilight slipped from her pole and fell into the sand headfirst beside Rarity. Rarity raised the rapier’s tip behind Twilight’s neck.

“I’d rather live a happy life as a pirate than live a shameful life with you, Twilight.”

“Shame?” Twilight sputtered with a mouthful of cold sand. “Where’s the shame with stealing from the innocent? Where’s the shame of abandoning your home, your family, your career? Where’s the shame in devoting yourself to a murdered? Where’s the shame in all of that?”

“…” Rarity didn’t respond at first.

“Exactly,”

“…I want to sort things out. I want to help Korsan. But the only way I’m going to get my words, our words of peace, through to him is when he wants to hear. You know as well as I do that Korsan’s stubborn from all of this trauma he went through as a colt. We could change him if I can get him to hear me.”

“And what happens when he hears you? What if he doesn’t like it? You’ve seen it. He won’t hesitate to kill a crew member of his. So what say you now?” Twilight asked.

“I can try. I will take a risk.” Rarity replied.

“…”

“Trust me.”

“…I can’t. I won’t let you risk your life. It’s best that I end his reign of terror now before he even touches that fountain.”

Chapter 040: The Showdown (Part 3)

Twilight swiped her hooves under Rarity and knocked her to the ground. She grabbed a cutlass lying next to her and held it to Rarity.

“Stay put.” Twilight warned her.

A shock suddenly struck Twilight. In the corner of her eye, she sensed the toothed tip of a large cutlass aimed right at the vitals of her throat.

“Quite.” The blade’s owner strongly stated. “Stay put.”

“Korsan Maden,” Twilight hissed.

“Twilight Sparkle, after only coming across each other for the second time in weeks, and you’re already trying to spill her guts out.” Korsan slyly berated her.

“I’m not, I’m keeping her safe from you.”

“I have kept her safe over the past weeks for much longer than you have, and under more perilous conditions, may I add.”

“Because you kidnapped her. This isn’t about Rarity though. It’s between you and me. I’m here to put an end your nefarious schemes Korsan and put you to justice.”

“I prefer to call my goals, ‘revolutionary’.”

“You can call them whatever you want, I’ll still stop them before you hurt anypony else from this point on.”

“Very well then, let us see you try, ma’am.”

With a flicker of light, Twilight teleported away from Korsan. She faced him, her sword aimed at his sword. Rarity backed away from the two sword-wielders.

Twilight and Korsan continued to stare at each other and waited for the perfect moment to strike. The air turned silent, with only the gentle breezes of kicked-up sand making a sound. Korsan made the first step. Before continuing, he heard his crew roaring from behind him. He looked to his back, seeing remaining able-bodied pirates chasing Fluttershy around the grotto.

He had a trick.

“Sea artists,” He yelled out to them.

The stampede promptly halted and turned to their captain.

“Firing squad on Twilight!” Korsan commanded.

Upon given the command, the thirty unicorns lined up side by side. They took aim at Twilight and charged. Thirty unique colours illuminated the room. Twilight and Korsan shifted their attention between the lineup of pirates and each other.

“This is completely unfair.” Twilight hissed.

“Said the alicorn.” Korsan teased before declaring, “Fire!”

Korsan sprinted forward at Twilight. His blade was poised to strike. Twilight lunged at Korsan. Her sword was also at the ready. The grotto was immediately filled by sparks and bolts of magic fired from the pirates. The cutlasses crashed together with a great clang. The two immediately backed away and avoided a volley of magic fired at them.

Twilight and Korsan rejoined and entered a fierce battle with their blades. They maneuvered their physical bodies to dodge shining blades and bolts of magic. The battlefield turned into a technicolour lightshow. Streaks of deadly light danced across the air. Silver shards from the swords bulleted the walls.

Korsan sped around Twilight. He attempted to slash her legs. Twilight leapt over the swipes and kicked sand at the pirate. Korsan blew the sand away with his cape. He then deflected several bolts of magic towards Twilight. She released an array of tiny magic shields and blocked the bolts. However, this opened herself up to Korsan.

Korsan snapped his cape at Twilight’s chest. Like a whip, Twilight’s flesh immediately burned on impact. She slowly turned overwhelmed by the powerful pirate and his distant crew. The shower of magic spells and Korsan’s cutting speed didn’t Twilight a moment to breathe. Not even a moan of pain could escape her as her lungs and muscles stiffened to their tightest.

The swords and bodies of Twilight and Korsan continued to slam into each other repeatedly. This battle required of their might and they were certain to use it.

From behind an iron boulder, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie, watched in absolute dumbfound as the two fighters darted across the arena. Korsan and Twilight fought each other with the finest of precision and grace. If Twilight couldn’t beat him, surely, it would be impossible for those three to stand a chance.

“Impossible!” Korsan choked from his collapsing lungs. “How are you able to keep up with me?!”

Twilight croaked in response, “Because I fight for what is right!”

“Fate is right, fate is always right. And fate is on my side!” Korsan declared.

The pirates tired from their continuous barrage of magic and slowed down. Twilight and Korsan saw this as an opportunity and took it. The two charged into each other. They locked their blades together and pressing their bodies against each other. They held their lifted weapons up to each other’s neck. White sparks poured out from the grinding metal tools like a waterfall. The sharp edges of the swords slowly drew closer and closer to the flesh.

“You know, you could easily teleport away and kill me from afar. I can see that strap around your horn is all empty of anti-magic. I can’t do anything if you were to cast some magic spell on yourself. I have to stay her and keep my weapon at your throat and keep myself alive. You want this to end, don’t you?” Korsan asked.

“Why are you telling me this?” Twilight asked back.

“Prove my point, Twilight. Prove that you magic-users are superior to us inferiors. Try me! Do it! Prove it!” Korsan taunted her.

At that moment, Twilight’s fighting spirit was enraged with spite. She remained to hold herself close to Korsan and the blade lock.

“Unicorns, pegasi, and Earth ponies are equal!” Twilight declared.

“You think you’ve caught onto some sort of trick of mine? I’m handing victory to you on a golden platter! Finish me!” Korsan hissed.

“I will not teleport!”

“Then you will die!”

“Never!”

“Twilight!” Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity exclaimed.

The three galloped towards Korsan’s back, with Pinkie and Fluttershy taking the lead.

“No! Don’t! Stay back!” Twilight yelled out to them, immediately losing focus.

Korsan sprang into action at that moment. He leapt up into the air. He reached his hind claws out at the Pinkie’s and Fluttershy’s throats. His free hoof wrapped around Twilight’s neck as Korsan rises. Within an instant, the three heroes were lifted into the air by their throats and slammed onto the hard golden sand.

Upon landing, Korsan kicked the two rear ponies square in the chest. The sheer force launched them several metres back. Korsan then pulled his rival to his chest. He held the front of the neck to the edge of his prepared sword. His claws slithered up the side of Twilight’s sweat covered face and constricted themselves around her horn.

With a wide, panting grin on his face, Korsan leaned his head towards Twilight’s flopping ear.

He whispered, “Touché… Well, close enough to a hit.”

Twilight, exhausted, only panted heavily in response. Her eyelids grew heavy as every inch of her body burned. Her vision of Korsan’s sword blurred and began to fade into a dark blob. The presence of Korsan slowly faded from Twilight’s senses.

“...You…” Twilight breathed out, her lungs folding in on themselves.

“You what?” Korsan asked.

“…Y-you are g-going to k-k-kill so many innocent l-li-lives-s. You-you know t-th-t-that…”

Twilight succumbed to the exhaustion of her body. She slumped over towards Korsan’s sword. The stallion pulled away the blade though and let the mare drop. She fell onto the sandy ground with a graceful thud.

“I do.” Korsan solemnly told the lifeless body.

“K-Korsan,” Rarity whimpered, slowly approaching from behind.

“Don’t worry, she isn’t dead, just in a short-lived state of unconsciousness.” Korsan calmly replied. “Pity, really, for such a beautiful creature to be just as equally vile.”

“Were you really instigating her to kill you?” Rarity asked, concered.

“…I was.”

“Why? How would that type of a bluff help you?”

“It... It wasn’t exactly a bluff. Though, I appreciate still being alive.”

“Then why? Why were you so willing to throw your life away? It scares me,”

Korsan paused for a minute. The look on Korsan’s face was confusing, like he wasn’t sure how to word it. Should he lie? Should he say the absurd truth? Korsan was stumped by himself.

“…It should, Ms. Rarity. There are still so many things you don’t know about me, things that you should not know about.” Korsan finally said.

“…” Rarity stayed silent, almost as if not accepting that answer.

“Don’t worry.” Korsan assured her. “I hope that that side of me never shows itself again. For now, let’s return to our quest. Somepony, give me a status report on the crew?”

“A few of them are incapacity, and fifteen are missing.” One of the firing squad pirates panted.

“Where are they?”

A bunch of hooves then burst from the sand, soon followed by their bodies. The fifteen mares and stallions that pursued Pinkie burst out of the ground. They weren’t greatly harmed, but significantly shaken from being buried.

“Oh, there they are.” Korsan said.

“That pink demon,” Maria gasped, spitting out a small stream of sand out of her dry mouth. “Is she-”

“She’s been taken care of.” Korsan responded.

“She dragged us… She dragged us deep under the floor, into some, admittedly-roomy chamber made of sand!” Alexander Grevious frantically spoke.

“We had to dig ourselves out through a metre of thick sand above us.” Maria added.

Korsan replied, “Well, it’s a good thing yous all got out. Go capture the resistors and tend to the injured. Same goes with the rest of you thirty, move out.”

“Yes, Captain.” The pirates nodded.

As the large group parted away into separate sections of the grotto, Korsan returned his attention to the Fountain of Balance. A warm wave of victory pulsed through his tired form.

“Yes, there you are.”

Slowly, Korsan walked into the stone pavilion and examined the golden fountain right in front of him. Without a single grain of sand spilled into the pure, blue water, Korsan saw his reflection in the liquid. He stared into it for a while as his mind trailed off. He thought about everything that has built up to this moment.

“The battles, the struggles, the adventures, the depression, the bouts of insanity, the fear, the rage, the abuse, the neglect, the isolation the teasing, the pushing, the work, the pain, all of it put together for over twenty years. All of it has led me here.” Korsan declared to himself.

Rarity slowly approached his side. Korsan noticed this and kneeled down to the rim of the golden shower. He noticed encryptions carved into the spring.

“Interesting…” He commented.

“What do they say?” Rarity asked.

Korsan took a moment to translate most of the writing.

He then answered, “’Behold this spring, the Fountain of Balance, to bless thee with thy magic of thy horn, thy flight of thy wings, and thy might of thy size. It waters remain pure for the vastness of eternity and furthermore. Yet, before thou shall bathe or even take beverage of these waters, let thou be known this. If thy sky is not faultless, thou shall not take. If thy self-temple is not aged well, thou shall not take. If thy acceptance is unwilled, thou shall not take. If thy fate be blackened with greed and sin, thou shall not take. This is the utmost of thy warnings. May only the pure of core, soul, figure, and mind take from this spring, and may thou use thy power for good will to all. The Law of Equivalence reigns above all, no matter what form or fate.’”

“Are you sure you want to go through with this? There were a lot of warnings.” Rarity said.

“…” Korsan thought for a moment.

“Please, think about it. Think about what you have done and what you will do after this.”

“…I know what I’m doing. This will change my fate for the better. Equivalence, my boot, I’ve spent enough of my sanity on getting here, I deserve payment.”

“Okay.”

Gently, Korsan reached under his cape and pulled out a small grail made of gold and lined with clear diamonds. He set the drinking cup into the blue waters of the fountain. As he did this, the top of the fountain lit up. A bright blue beam of light surged from the fountain and traveled through the hole in the ceiling.

Everypony turned to see the magnificent magic glow bathe the entire grotto in illuminance.

Korsan filled the goblet and pulled it out from the waters. The light beam remained, perhaps as a beacon to all that a new alicorn has arisen. Korsan tightly held onto the grail without letting a single drop hop out. Triumphantly, Korsan held the cup up into the air as if toasting to the fountain.

“On this day forward, let the entire known world know of me, the terror of earth, sea, and air, the ultimate pirate captain, Captain Korsan Maden!”

With his lips puckered and his throat set to drink, Korsan lifted the golden chalice to his mouth and slowly drunk the blue liquid. The pure water quickly flowed through Korsan’s body. He could feel a rush of energy and power pumping into every aspect of his body. He and the onlookers waited in patience and fear to see their leader transform into an alicorn.

Everything turned silent for a solid minute. However, after waiting for a long while, the rejuvenating feeling came to an end. Korsan was thunderstruck.

His body had not changed at all.

“What?”

Author's Note

👍 Remember to add this story to Tracking and follow me for updates regarding Ultimate Equestria.

Chapter 041: It Doesn't Work!

“W-what?” Korsan stammered.

He examined the rippling water of the Fountain of Balance and its surprisingly non-anomalous traits. With the golden goblet still held in his iron grip, Korsan scooped another cupful of water and drank it down in a single chug. He shook his body around a bit for safe measure and waited a moment. Surely, the legendary effects the water bestows has to show on his body at some point. After a minute of waiting and anticipation, nothing happened still.

“It doesn’t work!” He gasped.

“What do you mean it doesn’t work?” Isyan asked, confused.

“I mean it doesn’t work! I’m not an alicorn!” Korsan yelled back.

“Is there something wrong with the fountain?”

“Is it that anti-magic you have on your suit?” Maria asked.

“Have you tried turning it off and on again?” Yu syggested.

Korsan exclaimed, “Wait, the suit!”

He frantically clawed out his metal parts. Grunts of pain and strain escaped from his throat as the tight mechanisms across his body snapped and buckled. Yet they still held firm onto him. Korsan then resorted to bashing himself against the fountain edge to get the suit off.

“Korsan!” Rarity exclaimed, watching in horror as her captain ripped himself apart.

“Gotta get this thing off!” Korsan angrilly gasped.

Applejack and Applebloom climbed up to the edge of the pavilion, fearful of what’s going on.

“Are you okay?” Applebloom nervously asked Korsan.

She slowly extended a hoof to Korsan, only for him is violently hiss in response.

“Don’t you touch that fountain! I’m becoming an alicorn first!” Korsan yelled at the filly.

Korsan examined his attire. He noticed the large anti-magic container in the center of his harness. Quickly, he scratched at his chest with his long claws and scraped into the center piece. The liquid anti-magic rapidly poured out of his harness and the rest of his suit. The green fluid sprayed all over the stone floor, filling the cracks with its green glow.

“I’ll have to refill at the ship after this.” Korsan told himself.

Gallons of liquid anti-magic flowed from Korsan’s system as he paced around the golden spring. He waited for a long minute, impatiently awaiting for every last drop to pour out and make himself pure.

“Please,” He begged to everything that had brought him here.

He panted as he hung his head over the basin of holy water.

“Don’t fail me. Not after all of what I’ve done to get here.”

Seeing her friend’s distress, Rarity gently placed her bandaged hoof onto Korsan’s hunched shoulder. He gave an aside glance to her before shrugging off the comforting hoof.

“Just so you know, Captain,” Rarity calmly spoke to the stressed stallion. “Even if this doesn’t work, I’ll still be here for you.”

The captain hesitated before solemnly replying, “…No, this has to work. It must work. It will work.”

The final droplet of anti-magic fell to the damp rock bottom. Korsan returned his glance at the fountain. He slowly scooped the water up into his grail. He drank from it once more. A few loose drips escaped from his quivering lips and soaked into his heaving chest.

Korsan once again waited in silence, holding back his impatience for as long as he could. Everypony watched in stiffness, not daring to twitch a muscle.

Twilight eventually came back to her senses amidst the quiet, softly moaning and barely opening her eyes to see the statue that was Korsan. Korsan continued to wait and keep his cool.

But to no avail.

Eventually, his claws began to twitch. His eye started to rapidly blink. The gears in his suit jumped in place. His pistons whirred into speed. One by one, the brain stems in Korsan’s head popped. Rage and humiliation pumped into his steaming blood. His dark brown coat of fur saturated into a burning red brown mat. His breathing sped up from long and slow lungsful into rapid and shallow hyperventilation.

A small tickle of a twisted giggle escaped from his gritting teeth.

“Korsan? Are you well?” Rarity uneasily asked.

“Hehe,” Korsan giggled. “This has to be some cruel joke right? Perhaps some delayed effect? That could be it, yeah, yeah. Perhaps I need to actually bathe in it!”

Without warning, the deranged pony leapt into the fountain basin. He pulled himself below the water in rapid dives, almost causing him to choke.

“Come on. Come on. Come on! Work!” He demanded.

“Korsan, please calm down!” Rarity cried out.

“I will not! Applejack! Get over here! Now!” Korsan roared.

Slowly, Applejack approached the edge of the fountain, keeping a fair distance from Korsan.

Seeing the goblet Korsan dropped in his rage now floating towards her, Applejack turned to the frantic stallion and asked him, “Do you want me to-”

“Just do it!” Korsan yelled.

Carefully, the mare picked up the half-filled chalice with her hooves and helds it up to her mouth. Slowly, Applejack drank the pure blue water from the cup, only to experience no changes to her body.

“It isn’t working.” Applejack said.

“No!”

Korsan angrily smashed his metal fists into the rim of the fountain, denting the golden metal. He laid his body over the edge of the pool and collapsed. The feeling of utter sadness and defeat replaced his fury. His body winced and twitched as he lied there, with the sounds of sniffling and sobbing echoing across the walls of the grotto. His cheeks turned bright red and trails of tears ran down them from both of his eyes.

“No-no, no, no… No, this can’t be… This can’t be… This can’t be!” Korsan cried.

Rarity couldn’t help herself but fell sniffles escape her nose. The sight of such a powerful stallion now turned into a helpless foal was utterly devastating.

“You mean, this was all for nothin’?” Applejack asked.

“…” Korsan didn’t answer.

“I’m so sorry.” Rarity quietly said to him.

She gently rested her trembling chin on the pegasus’ head. Korsan responded by slowly wrapping his arms around her upper back.

“…Why? Why does it always have to be me?” Korsan asked, to either Rarity or himself, no pony knew.

“I don’t know.” Rarity replied anyways.

“…I-I want to go home…” Korsan said.

The surrounding crew members slowly advanced towards the fountain as well, most of them showing sorrow for their leader. Isyan coldly watched over his weeping cousin. Je can’t help but to feel a single tear swell up in his right eye.

“…That’s it. That was my only shot at being able to harness magic. And all it was… was a blank volley over the edge of the world.” Korsan said.

“I’m so, so sorry. Is there another way?” Rarity asked.

“No, the only other way is ascension. But that’s impossible. Only the most powerful of magic users can do it. No unicorn on the face of this world, Tartarus, or Heaven, can match the magical supremacy required. And alicorns are almost myth at this… point…”

Korsan’s head turned with a snap to the neck. He turned to face Twilight, who was now stumbling to get up onto her hooves.

“Alicorn…” He hissed below his breath.

Rarity looked over to Twilight as well. A bad feeling in her gut immediately arose. She knew what Korsan was thinking.

“Korsan,” Rarity said.

“Twilight Sparkle…” Korsan said.

“Korsan, please don’t hurt her.” Rarity said.

The pirate pegasus didn’t acknowledge Rarity’s request as he got out from the fountain and walked towards Twilight. A cutlass was still between his claws, tightly clenched. He flipped the sword into an icepick grip with a wide smile growing on his face.

“Korsan, don’t!” Rarity yelled.

“Come here, ya pretty little pony,”

Twilight saw Korsan approaching her in a menacing fashion and fearfully backed away. He rear hit a giant iron bounder and stopped her retreat. With her senses still returning, the confused mare frantically sputtered in panic as Korsan raised his blade high above his head.

“Stop it!” Rarity yelled.

She grabbed Korsan’s tail with her magic and yanked him away from Twilight.

“No!” Korsan immediately howled.

With a quick burst of rage, Korsan swiped his open hoof at Rarity. She backed away and released him in shock. Korsan returned to Twilight and thrusted his sword downward.

“No!”

An ear-piercing shriek of grinding metal echoed across the grotto.

The pirates and heroes were in absolute horror of what they saw. Their joints locked up, unable to move.

Twilight, panting in absolute shock, saw the long weapon deeply stabbed into the boulder. It was only an inch away from gouging out left eye.

Words finally came to Twilight.

She whimpered, “K-K-Korsan.”

Korsan replied in a classy, yet incredibly frustrated, tone, “Princess Twilight Sparkle. I’ve entered a bit of a predicament. You see, the fountain isn’t working, and I’m not an alicorn. And well, the only way I can become one now is if you, an alicorn yourself, casts an ascension spell onto me. So, how about it? Just cast the spell on me.”

Twilight stayed silent. She recollected herself from the startling experiences of her wake-up. What felt like an hour passed as Twilight watched Korsan stare into her soul. Her mind quickly retraced what had happened to lead up to this. A spiteful slowly appeared on her face. Anger swelled in Twilight’s mind. She was utterly bewildered and offended by Korsan’s audacity to ask such a thing.

“No.” She sternly said.

“No?” Korsan asked. “No-no-no-no-no-no-no? Do you see that cutlass right next to your eye? I can very easily pull that thing out at this moment from that rock you lean on and stab you through the heart! And I will do it. I will so willingly do it if you don’t turn me into an alicorn.”

“Never. And besides, I could never do such a thing.” Twilight replied.

“Oh? Really? You are an alicorn aren’t you?”

“Not a naturally born one. You should know that. The ones that are born naturally as alicorns are incredibly stronger than an ascended pony like me.”

“Of course, I know. I also know that Princess Celestia, you’re leading princess of Equestria, likes to keep a few secrets. You could be very well a naturally born unicorn and are just lying.”

“Well either way, I’m not going to do it. You can kill me-No! You can torture me all you want, and I still won’t do your bidding. You hear me, you monster? I will never turn you into an alicorn even if I had the power. What say you now?”

“…”

“What say you now?” Twilight asked again, pride bursting from her voice.

“…”

A light snicker escaped from Korsan. He backed away from Twilight and began to pace back and forth.

“What’s so funny?” Twilight asked.

“Do you honestly think I would simply give you a death threat only towards you without some sort of backup plan?” Korsan asked, snickering.

“What are you saying?”

“Crew! Bring me the yellow pegasus.”

With a small moment of hesitation, the pirates brought forth a large potato bag. They dropped it at the captain’s hooves. The cloth bag shifted around a little upon being dropped. The sound of a muffled grunt echoed throughout the pavilion.

“Fluttershy?” Twilight gasped.

Korsan walked up to the exhausted Twilight, still pinned to the iron boulder. He pulled out his sword and gave a snide glance at her.

“Oh, is that her name?” Korsan asked Twilight. “Fluttershy? A cute name, don’t get me wrong. Just a shame that it’ll be a name that’ll haunt the rest of your life,”

With one swift slash of his sword, the bag ripped open and revealed who was inside. Inside the bag was Fluttershy, tied from neck to hoof in thick rope and had a large bandana tightly covering her mouth. She screamed Twilight’s name in inaudible mumbles as she’s tumbled from the torn bag.

“Fluttershy!” Twilight exclaimed. “Let her go!” She demanded Korsan.

“Let her go? No. It’s a pirate tradition for this sort of thing to happen once in a while during a loot. Ransoms are some of the easiest ways to score some treasure out there.” Korsan informed her.

Slowly, Korsan slid the edge of his curved sword around Fluttershy’s neck. Her eyes bloated in terror and her voice ripped itself apart in its attempts to scream.

“No! Don’t! I’ll do anything you want, just don’t hurt her!” Twilight begged Korsan.

“Oh? Even turn me into an alicorn?” Korsan asked.

“I can’t! Anything else?!”

“Ooh, either you start working your ascension magic on me now, or this place is about to get a whole lot messy. I’ll give you a minute to decide. What do you have to say about that, Ms. Fluttershy?”

Korsan gently sliced the bandana off from Fluttershy’s mouth with his claw. Fluttershy loudly screamed with her free mouth. She tried to kick herself out of the ropes, only to be pulled closer to the sword.

“Twilight!” Fluttershy screamed. “Help me!”

“Tick tock, Ms. Sparkle, your minute has begun.” Korsan taunted.

Chapter 042: His Leverage

“Save me!” Fluttershy begged.

“I’m trying!” Twilight frantically replied.

Korsan had a blade aimed at Fluttershy’s throat. His psyche was a mess. If he sensed something was amiss or didn’t get what he wanted, he’d surely murder the innocent mare with no second thoughts.

Twilight bravely leapt from the iron chunk and charged towards Korsan. However, she was cut off by a magically-projected shield between her and Korsan. It was a physical shield, only magic was able to go through it. Korsan’s maddened grin grew wider as he silently congratulated the crew member that projected the shield.

“Let me in!” Twilight demanded.

“Turn me into an alicorn from out there. Perform teleportation or any stunt like that, and this mare goes bye-bye.” Korsan warned. “Do it!”

Seeing no other option, Twilight attempted to turn Korsan into an alicorn. A faint purple aura surrounded him and her horn. Twilight focused her mind with all of her might. Fear and terror quickly set as the squeals of her friend and the crackling of Korsan’s gritted teeth roared in her ears.

“I don’t have an eternity! Just do it!” Korsan demanded.

“Captain,” Maria called out to Korsan. “Isn’t this taking things a little too far?”

“What do you mean, Maria? We’re pirates, we’ve always done this!” Korsan answered.

“Don’t hurt Fluttershy!” Rarity screamed.

She ran up the sandy hill galloped to Korsan. Maria jumped in front of her and tackled Rarity to the floor.

“Don’t be an idiot! This is a hostage situation!” Maria warned Rarity.

“Keep her in her place!” Korsan told Maria.

“No! Korsan! You promised!” Rarity cried.

“Running out of patience, Twilight!” Korsan hissed.

“Applejack! Stop him!” Rarity pleaded.

She looked up from the stone flat and saw Applejack watching over the ordeal with a horrified glance. In her hooves and pressed up against her chest was Applebloom, too scared to look. The two were frozen just like what Rarity was a second ago, overcome with the immediate terror before them.

“Fluttershy!” Rarity yelled out.

“Only a few seconds left, you wench!” Korsan yelled.

“I can’t!” Twilight cried out, still trying to cast that one spell.

“It really looks like she can’t, Captain!” Maria said. “You’re scaring half of the crew, sir, I think it’s best that you stop this!”

Korsan retorted, “No, Maria! Ten…”

“You’re just upset, Captain! “Please! Spare Fluttershy!” Rarity screamed out as Maria held her down in the sand.

“Nine…”

“You’re insane!” Twilight cried, her tightly sealed eyes pouring rivers of tears. “I’m giving it all I got!”

Her horn sparked vigorously as her magic output reached its limit.

“Eight…”

“Just finish her off already! This tension is doing nothing!” Isyan yelled out.

“Seven…”

“This is beyond cruel, sir,” Yin spoke up, speedily galloping to his captain.

Yu joined his brother and yelled out, “Stop this now-”

“Why are you all suddenly pansies?!” Korsan asked. “What do you think you signed up for when you all joined me? Six… Besides, you never had that much trouble three years ago when you destroyed that sky kingdom. Five…”

“You don’t think I regret that? Every night, I’m haunted by the screams of all of those ponies who posed no threat to us! My brother, Yu, can’t even get five hours before waking to that nightmare!” Yin declared.

“Four… Then why didn’t you leave me? Just like the Gales,”

“…” The pirate crew remained silent.

“My point exactly, you want to live the good life. And the only way you’re getting to that good life is by paying the price of blood. Hear me fellow stallions and mares?! If you don’t want to spend your days scraping the dust from the floor just to get a decent meal, then you all stick with me!”

“…”

“Three!”

“Twilight!” Fluttershy screamed.

“Fluttershy!” Twilight screamed.

“No!” Rarity screamed.

With her horn buried in the dirt, Rarity could only watch as the seemingly inevitable came.

“Get off of me!” Rarity pleaded to Maria.

“The captain has given his orders!” Maria replied, shakiness present in her voice.

“You can’t let him do this!” Rarity retorted.

“I can and I will, whether I like it or not!”

Korsan then loudly roared, “Two!”

He pressed the sword deeper into Fluttershy’s neck, almost cutting the weak flesh. As Yin reached the pirate captain’s shoulder, he stopped dead in his tracks. A sudden realization came to the pirate lackey’s head. What was he about to do for not only the mare, but for him and the rest of his pirate family?

“Don’t just let him do this!” Rarity yelled out to Yin. “Stop him!”

“…I-I-I can’t.” Yin said in defeat.

He slowly backed away from Korsan, and allowed the crisis to continue.

“One!” Korsan roared.

“Korsan! Think about what you’re doing!” Rarity yelled out.

“I know what I’m doing! And I’m doing it now!” Korsan declared.

“No!”

“Time’s up!”

Rarity and Applejack ducked their heads into her shoulder to avoid looking. Twilight and Fluttershy screamed out to each other as the end came.

However, a few seconds of screaming passed and nothing had yet happened. Korsan had not moved his sword a centimetre. The long shocked onlookers were immediately shocked.

Korsan didn’t follow through.

Carefully, Korsan drew his weapon away from Fluttershy’s throat. His maddened expression quickly degrades into a saddened grimace. He walked away from Fluttershy and Twilight, returning his cutlass into his back piece.

“Alexander Grevious, lower the shield.” Korsan plainly said.

“S-Sir?” The dark blue pirate stammered. Did he misunderstand his leader’s command, or was it some sudden change of heart?

“Lower the shield between Twilight and Fluttershy.” Korsan repeated.

“Okay…” Grevious said.

With a flick of his long horn, the magic barrier disappeared between the two mares.

Twilight and Fluttershy quickly lunged into each other and gave each other a tight, embracing hug. Waterfalls of tears coated the two mares as they held each other.

“I-I thought he was going to-” Fluttershy exclaimed.

“I-I did to!” Twilight exclaimed.

Korsan looked over at Maria, still holding Rarity to the floor. He snapped his claws, prompting her to release Rarity. Rarity instantly rushed towards her friends and joined in the warm embrace.

“Rarity!” Twilight and Fluttershy cheered.

“I’m so happy you’re all okay!” Rarity cried, nestleing herself deep within the circle.

Yin and Yu were frozen, absolutely dumbfounded of what just happened. To two looked to Korsan to see a rather indifferent face on him.

Yin hesitantly asked, “C-Captain, why didn’t you-”

“If she was an actual natural alicorn, she would’ve done it.” Korsan stiffly replied.

“You mean it was all a test?!” Isyan exclaimed.

“A bluff, yes,” Korsan said.

“So, what now?” Yu asked from behind his brother.

“Honestly, I don’t know.” Korsan stated before chuckling. “Heh, I got no ideas, no plans, nothing. For some reason, it feels a bit nice, amidst all of the sentiments I’m going through at this moment. Perhaps we can just, go back to our old ways as normal pirates.”

“Really?” Yu asked. “You were so-”

“I know, I know. But I know when I am beat, as any honourable ship captain is. This quest was a lost cause, I admit it.” Korsan dismissed Yu’s, as well as the other pirates’, concerns.

“What do we do with the rebels, sir?” Yin asked.

Korsan turned towards Applejack and Applebloom, who were looking back at him in a most startled manner.

“Hold them for ransom, including Applejack and Applebloom, like we usually do. But please, be gentle with them, they’ve been through a lot.” Korsan said.

“You’ve been awfully generous,” Isyan replied, leaning over his cousin’s shoulder. “It’s very unbecoming coming from you…”

“Just do as I say. The rest of you hurry along, it’s going to be a long way back to our ship.”

Eventually, the rest of the pirates got over the incident followed orders. They walked over to cuddling mares and collected them. As Korsan looked over the unhurried capture, he sensed Maria right beside him, staring out over the deed as well.

“Maria Vanshwitz,” He said.

“Captain,” the pale mare quietly replied.

“Are you okay?” Korsan asked.

“…I’m fine.”

“You’ve been acting a lot different lately. What for?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Two weeks ago, you were so joyous, so optimistic. You even asked me about my love to Miss Rarity. Now, you’ve taken a dark turn. You’re so glum and tense. What happened?”

“…”

“I’m fine if it’s merely a change of heart. I just want to know why in case this may be hurting you.”

“Recently, a lot has been on my mind. Ever since Rarity showed up, Hans and I have been thinking about our relationship. Let’s just say that he and I aren’t really doing that well.”

“I see.”

“Am I…-never mind…”

“What?”

“No, it was a stupid question and I knew it.”

“No, go on. It can’t be that bad.”

“Am I… Am I a good crew member?”

“What do you mean?”

“Am I a truly loyal mare to you, Captain? Do you believe I am a worthy member of your team?”

“Of course you are.”

One of the pirates from the larger group called out, “Captain, we’ve captured the rebels, we’ve taken care of the fellow pirates who’ve fallen, and we’re waiting for your order for us to head back to the entrance.”

“Really? That easy?” Korsan asked.

“Yeah, they were too exhausted and couldn’t put up much of a fight. I’m not sure they even did put up a fight. We separated Rarity and put the rest in bags.” The pirate said.

“Let me see.”

Korsan walked to where the mares were captured. There, he saw a large potato bag containing Twilight and Fluttershy. Hovering next to it were three other bags, one containing an incapacitated Pinkie Pie, another holding Rainbow Dash’s unconscious body, and the last holding Applejack and Applebloom.

Next to the bags was Rarity, quietly sitting on the sandy floor, facing away from Korsan. Although he could see her face, the stallion knew what was going on inside her head.

“Rarity, I-” He began, only to be cut off with a quick response.

“I heard, it was all a bluff.” Rarity replied, deadpan in tone.

Korsan attempted to tell her, “Look, I’m sorry for scaring you. But I had to convince-”

“Had to convince what? That you’re a monster?”

“That I was going to do it. I had to apply some leverage.”

“…It’s always leverage with you isn’t it? No just convincing, generousness, or persuading, no, you just strike fear and death into whatever stands in your way to get what you want. Isn’t it?”

“…”

“It only gets you so far, doesn’t it? And to think I thought there was some good in you.”

“Rarity, I’m sorry, I can change-”

“Please, just leave me alone. Let’s just go back to the ship.”

“…Very well then.”

Korsan slowly walked away from Rarity and the pirates and went to the Fountain of Balance. During his private walk from his crew, Juliana appeared from behind an iron boulder and flew up to her master’s shoulder. She rubbed her head against Korsan’s cheek, causing him to sigh in relief.

“Hey there, Juliana, hopefully you’re doing well. Today’s been a pretty poor day for me, though. My dreams of being able to use magic are crushed, my crew will probably distrust me for a good while, and I just lost my special somepony. Figures for that latter one, I thought I could overcome the obvious fact that she’s with them and make her fall in love with me. Boy, was I blind and stupid. I’ve been reading too many books. That’s it. Actually, speaking of ‘them’, where did Twilight and those two mares come from?”

Spike’s voice then echoed from the walls of the grotto.

“Twilight!” He cried.

“What the,” Korsan gasped.

Rushing to the source of the noise, Korsan found Spike, yelling out of the unseen exit of the grotto. From there, he could see a hallway leading to stairs bound to go to the surface.

“Speak of the devil…”

“We heard a lot of screaming!” Scootaloo’s voice echoed from the end of the hall. “We’re coming to help you!”

“Over here! I found an exit!” Korsan yelled out to the crew.

Quickly, Korsan slid down the sandy slope and leapt into the hallway, coming face to face with the ill-prepared Spike.

“Uh oh…” Spike gasped.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” Korsan asked.

His words were threatening, but his voice was apathetic for some reason. After the grand battle against Twilight, the failure of the fountain, and the hostage situation, Korsan was completely drained. He was drained of the will to fight. He was drained of purpose or ambition. He was drained of putting any effort into his pirate ways.

But, Korsan still had it in him to at least humour himself in this confrontation with the last of Twilight’s crew.

“You better watch yourself Korsan!” Spike snapped at the towering figure before him. “If you did anything to Rarity I don’t like, I’m gonna knock your block off.”

“Spike?!” Rarity’s voice echoed from behind Korsan.

“Rarity!” Spike exclaimed.

“So, you wanna play rough huh? Yeah, I could fancy a bit of fun to lighten my mood.” Korsan replied.

Slowly, he reached his hooves behind his back to grabbed his cutlasses, only to feel one of them.

He turned his head back into the grotto and yelled out to the crew, “Can somepony get my other sword? I think I left it on the sand!”

He revealed his only sword to Spike, immediately intimidating him.

“Now, where were we? Seems you’ve gotten a little nervous. Psyching yourself out maybe?” Korsan asked Spike.

“Me? Uh… No!” Spike proclaimed.

“Uh huh, sure.”

Before Korsan could take another step, Scootaloo jumped between him and Spike.

“We aren’t scared of you!” She declared.

“Even if I don’t have magic, you still should have every right to fear me ya little filly. I just bagged your friends, so what are you going to do about it?”

“Either let my friends go now or you will get hurt!” Scootaloo said.

Korsan let out a menacing, yet defeated chuckle before replying, “You remind me of me when I was just a little colt.”

Scootaloo didn’t pay mind to the pirate’s comment and charged right at his chest. Her rival calmly reacted by grabbing her by the nape of the neck with his free hoof. He held the now flailing body up to eye level.

“Scootaloo!” Spike exclaimed.

He jumped up and grabbed onto Scootaloo’s bottom hooves, holding himself up above the ground. Korsan didn’t budge from this sudden increase in weight however, clearly more focused on other things in mind.

“Running around in the streets, going headfirst into trouble with little chances of me escaping, always ready for a fight, I was.” Korsan stated. “Actually, that pretty much sums up me now…”

As he examined the squirming and kicking foal, an odd feeling tingled inside of him. His heart hardened and cramped itself into a ball. His head began to swell and heat up to temperatures that rivaled the sun. His eye’s vision contorted to see things beyond his immediate comprehension. He lost track of his own words as he began to ramble to himself.

“…I am still an inferior pony. I have so little power, but at the same time, I have so much. It’s like a little game. An almost fun game it is, feeling this, this pain, and then giving your enemies the same feeling, and laughing at them. And I’ve been through a lot of pain, of-of suffering, of sickness of this pathetic struggle. Surely, I can vent this all into something with so much power. I-I, I can still do something. Yes, I’ve done it before, I can surely do it again, and again, and again, and again. Ha, ha, who said I needed magic? Me, of course, plain old inferior me, yeah, and why should I take his ideas instead of the obvious path? Yes, yes, I’ve always had the magic. I may not be a part of it, but I will surely lead the way as an unseen hero, yes...”

“What are you saying?!” Scootaloo asked, continuing to struggle in his iron grip.

“Hm-what? Oh, nothing,” Korsan replied, returning to the now rather dull moment.

“Scootaloo, Spike, what are you two doing here?!” Rarity yelled out as she reached the exit.

“Don’t worry, Miss Rarity, I won’t hurt a hair on either head.” Korsan said. “Also, can you please lead the rest of our crew to this exit path?”

“…” Rarity was hesitant.

“Would you rather risk drowning your friends?” Korsan than asked.

Silently, Rarity walked away from Korsan and towards the others gathered at the entrance of the grotto.

“Well, I’m going have to be careful and pick the right hair to pull out…” Korsan muttered to himself.

Chapter 043: Prisoners of "The Perfection"

Korsan and his crew escorted their now prisoners out of the temple and on board The Perfection. After a few vital repairs, The Perfection was able to take off and left Alicorn Island. The blue beam from the fountain had pierced the sky and revealed an exit to The Second Pulse. It was a portal, high above the volcano, that led to the evening sky of the surface world.

With Korsan at the wheel once more, the airship rose from the mysterious island and waters and through the portal in the dark sky. A bright light flashed as the ship passed through. After which, the crew found themselves and The Perfection floating on sea in the normal realm. The Breach was far behind them on the horizon, destined to never be visited by The Perfection after what just happened.

Everything was back to normal.

At the front of the now idle ship, Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Spike, Applejack, Applebloom, and Scootaloo were tied to the front mast in thick ropes. Rarity and Sweetie Belle sat by the bound group. A long-needed rest was needed from the heroes, practically unable to put up any sort of fight now.

Taking a gulp of breath before facing her once-friends, Rarity turned to Twilight. Twilight had a new anti-magic strap on her horn. The sight plagued Rarity with guilt.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean for this to happen to you all.” Rarity humbly stated.

Twilight stayed silent for a moment. She looked away from Rarity, but eventually looked back.

“…Are you serious?” Twilight asked, neither accusatory nor pleased, only stern and stoic.

“Of course I am.” Rarity replied. “Twilight, during those two weeks when we were separated, I always wanted to come back to you. You’ve been my friend since you came to Ponyville, and I could never imagine you and I actually hurting each other.”

“Then what was with you trying to defend Korsan?” Twilight asked.

“It was the thing I could do to keep everypony safe, all of you girls, Spike, the pirates, and Korsan. I was an idiot for not thinking Korsan was going to pull something like that.”

“You saw what he did at Thieves’ Hold, he murdered that bounty hunter.” Rainbow Dash replied.

“I know, I know, and I thought I could change that when I joined his crew. Turns out I was wrong. Look, if you’re still upset at me, I understand. I might as well just leave you all be after the disaster I caused.” Rarity said.

“You didn’t cause anything.” Fluttershy spoke up. “It was Korsan who held me hostage. If anything, we should be glad for you. You tried to stop him.”

“But-” Rarity tried to interject.

“But what?” Pinkie asked.

“I, I don’t know. I feel like I’m still on Korsan’s side, and that I’m supposed to be enemies with you.” Rarity said.

“Are you?” Applejack asked.

Sweetie Belle answered for Rarity, “After hearing what he did to Rarity? No way!”

Rarity hesitated before confirming.

“No. If being with that fiend means being having to be enemies with all of you. Never!” Rarity declared.

“You know what? I’d rather depend on my friends to protect me and my kin than just some magic spells. What was I thinkin’? Betraying my friends and family? Ridiculous.” Applejack added.

“So are we fighting back?” Spike asked.

“No!” Rarity immediately replied.

Rarity knew Korsan and his crew were too strong against the ten of them. If he still trusted her and Sweetie Belle, perhaps the two could try to distract him and the others and get their friends out of this mess.

Rarity explained her plan to the others. They agreed to it, putting their trust into Rarity.

“Shhh. Here comes Korsan.” Applebloom muttered to the others.

Immediately, the mares and Spike turned towards the back of the deck. They saw Korsan walking to them, equipped with a fresh new cape and machine parts. Alongside him was Alexander Grevious, the same stallion that with them during the hostage scene.

Oddly, Korsan wasn’t boasting any stride. His mind was in another place or something. He looked rather stern.

He stoically said to them, “Hello, everypony. Welcome aboard The Perfection. I apologize for this rather, obscure, imprisonment. I’ve received word from the boatswain that the brig is currently waterlogged. But don’t fret, as soon as that is taken care off, all of you will be resting more comfortably in the cells below. This here stallion is going to be keeping an eye on all of you. Ms. Rarity, please report to one of the surgeons to take care of you. Ms. Belle, please assist Ivan with supper.”

Quietly, Rarity and Sweetie walked past the Korsan, glaring at him from the corner of their eye until he got out of their sights. They entered the quarterdeck area, leaving Korsan and his pirate partner with Twilight and her team.

“You know what to do?” Korsan asked Grevious.

“Yes, Captain. Report any conversation and secure the rope.” Grevious stated.

“Well said. I’ll be in my chambers trying to find out where we are. That portal’s zapped all of my instruments.”

“Yes, sir.”

As Korsan went to the back of the ship, his ears keep glued to the mares behind him, just in case they want to sneaked an insult behind his back. Much to his expectation, chatter immediately rose between the mares. He overheard Twilight’s voice talking to the pirate.

“Alexander?” She asked.

“Yes, ma’am.” The pirate stiffly replied.

Korsan slowed down his pace in order to hear the faint discussion.

“As in, Alexander Maden?”

Maden?!

Upon hearing that last word, Korsan stopped dead in his tracks. His mind immediately kicked into high gear. Long abandoned memories surged through his mind’s eye, memories of his family past. Twilight’s knowledge was beyond what he initially thought.

“No, Grevious. Alexander Grevious.” The pirate, Grevious, told her. “Need anything?”

“Oh, sorry. That was it.” Twilight said.

“Okay… I guess.” Grevious said.

Korsan restarted his walk to the quarterdeck. However, this time, his mind was in total flux.

How does she know that? Uncle Alex left my family years before I left? I’m going to need to get some answers out of that wench. He thought.

As Korsan reached the first steps of quarterdeck, he looked back to the front of the boat. Aside of damages during the battle in the Breach, everything seemed normal.

Aside of the scars of battle and new cargo for ransom, absolutely nothing was gained.

“Waterlogged?” Applejack whispered to herself. “Sounds fishy. Pun not intended.”

“Hm?” Twilight asked Applejack, overhearing her think.

“Shhh. Not so loud, that pirate’s listening to us.” Applejack whispered.

“He can’t hear us.” Twilight assured her.

“Hey!” Pinkie screamed out to the stallion, startling him instantly. “Can you hear us?!”

“Only you. Though at this moment, I might be able not hear anything but ringin’ for a while. Ow…” Alexander groaned.

Applejack ignored the stallion and continued, “Well anyways, Applebloom and I were hiding in the brig after that whole scene in the Breach right? And while we were down there for a good while, we didn’t see a drip of water get in. There was even a mare sleeping in one of the cells.”

“So what? Korsan could just be being mean to us.” Rainbow Dash said, hung from the other side of the mast.

“That could very well be.” Applejack replied.

“Hey!” Alexander barked at the mares. “I can see your lips moving. Don’t you think that I won’t find out what you’re all talking about.”

“Wasn’t it some boat-swine that told him about the brig?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Boatswain.” Twilight corrected her. “He keeps track of the condition of the ship.”

“Why would that kind of pony lie to his leader?” Dash asked.

“I don’t know.” Twilight replied.

After The Perfection returned to the surface world, Isyan decided to run an examination of the ship in its current state. He started from the bow of the ship and had been slowly making his way to the top of the quarterdeck.

As he entered his cousin’s chambers, he was greeted by the heat of the nearby fireplace. Music echoed from the automatic organ on the other side of the room. Isyan walked around the large chamber in search for Korsan, but to no avail. He decided to take this moment of absence as a chance to more thoroughly examine his cousin’s living quarters. The furniture was slightly torn and withered, but still retained its high-end quality. Isyan peeked into the library behind the bedroom and saw a mountain of fallen books.

As Isyan closed the door to the library, the sound of a series of small explosions blasted throughout the entire quarterdeck. Isyan shrieked and ducked into the sheets of Korsan’s bed. After a few seconds of following silence, he poked his head out of the bed. He saw the room hasn’t changed a bit, only shaken from shockwaves that came from the explosions.

Isyan examined the wall of solid iron at the corner of the room. It was the wall that separated Korsan’s bedroom from his sealed room for building contraptions. Slowly, Isyan walked up to the pair of metal doors at the wall. He peaked his head through the ajar doors.

There, he saw Korsan. Korsan was using his wrench on something hidden under a large blanket, something three times its inventor’s hefty size. Upon closer inspection, Isyan saw that the large contraption wasn’t even touching the iron padded floors below. Instead, the contraption was being held up by cables connected to some sort of rigging on the ceiling.

“What is that?” Isyan gasped.

Korsan was immediately startled by Isyan and leapt back in surprise.

“Isyan! Don’t do that to me!” Korsan barked.

“What were those explosions that went off? Did they come from this… this thing?” Isyan asked.

“It is not just some ‘thing’.”

“…A cannon?”

“It’s a brand new type of weaponry, one that’ll change the art of war.”

“How?”

Korsan took a small breath too cool his nerves. He then continued in his usually eccentric tone of voice, with only a small sliver of aggression is still present.

“So, you know how my crossbow fires metal bolts and how it’s faster and more powerful than conventional bows?” He asked his cousin, Isyan.

“Yeah, only you have a terrible shot when it comes to moving targets. Heck, you don’t even count your shots.” Isyan stated.

“Well this is going to solve those two problems for me, by removing the limitations of the pony body.”

“How?” Isyan asked.

“Well, using bits and pieces from my organ, this weapon will emit a unique frequency that bounces off of what’s in front of it and reflects those frequencies back to the weapon, which will read those frequencies like my mechanical suit to my muscles. By continuously doing this, the weapon will know what’s moving in front of it, and shoot it to bits without missing a shot or running out of metal bolts.” Korsan explained.

Isyan was confused.

“...Huh?” He asked.

“Oh, you’ll see. So, why do you barge in here once again, dear cousin?”

“First off,”

“Oh boy, another list…” Korsan moaned.

“Do you even know where we are? Or have you been too busy playing with your toys?” Isyan bluntly asked, not putting up with Korsan’s shenanigans.

“Of course I know where we are. We’re just outside the Breach, I checked my devices and maps just after we got through the portal. It was a decent idea of the makers of the fountain to create an escape route that doesn’t have travelers dealing with that sandworm again.”

“Yes-yes, praise to them or whatever. Second off, you need to check something out back at the bow. Our new prisoners are acting strange.”

“You were just in the cellar the last time I checked, how did you know they were acting up and get to me so quickly?”

“...Ivan told me.”

“Bah, fine, give me a second. I put too much gunpowder in the barrels. I need to fix the input filters.”

“Wait, barrels?”

“Just get out of here.”

“You know, you could be handling your priorities a lot better than this.”

“I know what I’m doing. Do I really have to say it three times in one day? It’s like everypony thinks I am a foal.”

“Well, you do act like one.”

“Bah, I don’t.”

“Yes, you most certainly do.”

“No I’m not a child.”

“Korsan, You are a child. An ignorant, bratty child, that does whatever he wants, regardless to the safety of everypony else, including his own life.”

“Quit being ridiculous,”

“No, you’re being ridiculous! If you keep this act up, sooner or later, somepony’s going to die!”

“Quel crétin...”

“I know what you just said and I am not proud of it. As your older cousin, I say it’s high time you given somepony else a turn at the wheel. Make me captain and stand down. You could learn a thing or two from me.”

“Nah.”

“I demand you, Korsan!”

“Or else what, Isyan?!”

“…”

“Yeah?” Korsan asked.

“…A storm is coming Korsan, and you’re driving right into it.” Isyan cryptically warned.

“Get out of my sights Isyan. I’ll take care of our guests in time. I need to ask them a few questions.”

Child.

Idiot.

Chapter 044: Why?

Inside the sick bay of The Perfection, Rarity stiffly laid in a bed, recovering from her injuries from Alicorn Island. She was attended to by Lilis, the nurse who also helped with the rapier wound. The two were good acquaintances at the least, passing by each other at least once a day. As painful as it was for Lilis to deal with the injuries, Rarity had good faith in her.

As Lilis worked, Rarity’s attention could be focused on her thoughts. They were bouncing everywhere, ranging from trying to put together a plan to save her friends to recognizing who is truly her ally and who is her enemy.

“This is ridiculous,” Lilis grumbled to Rarity.

She was examining Rarity’s front hoof. It was almost completely destroyed mostly thanks to Korsan’s claws. Blood still dripped from the open wounds, staining the nurse’s light green fur.

“I’m sure glad I stayed onboard. What did you ponies do on that island that could’ve resulted in this?” Lilis asked.

“…” Rarity was silent.

“Hello?” Lilis called out to her.

Eventually, she waved her hooves in front of Rarity’s frozen eyes. Rarity blinked and snapped back into reality.

“There you are. What caused this hoof injury? Another rapier incident?” Lilis asked.

“No, no, Korsan accidently stabbed me while we were escaping a trap.” Rarity explained.

“With his claws?”

“Yes.”

“No wonder the actual tear looks so clean…”

“Hey, Miss…”

“Jewmerin. Just call me Lilis.”

“Lilis, how you feel about Captain Korsan?”

“…”

“Lilis?”

“Nah, you don’t need to hear about me. I’m pretty much on equal standing with all of the other pirates. We respect our leader.”

“Really? Even after that day, three years ago?”

“…”

“After what happened to November and Nitin Gale?”

“…Listen, Rarity. Can you keep a secret? I’m a bit nervous to tell you due to you and the captain’s, intimacy.” Lilis said, a shiver running through her body.

“Don’t worry. Korsan and I aren’t really doing so well after something happened on the island. You can say anything about him.” Rarity explained, giving Lilis ease to talk freely.

“Well, to be honest, most of us pirates don’t like Korsan at all.” Lilis explained.

“Really?”

“He scares us. We respect him out of… necessity. He’s threatened to turn us into the authorities, to kill us, or to torture us if we were to do something he didn’t like. Most of it’s only implied, but Korsan is certain to drive the message home.”

“Why not just retire?”

“Most of us just can’t leave him like Nitin Gale and his daughter. They had a lot of money and luck when asking Korsan to retire. He was in a great mood at the moment. After discovering the Diamond Eye some couple years ago, he’s never been quite as happy. Our lives are bound to this wretched boat. This is our home. Though, it’s more of a hospitable prison. If you try to leave, you’ll be good as dead without many assets to start a new life. Not to mention a constantly watching eye,”

“That’s horrible!” Rarity gasped.

“Shhh! There are still a good number of crew members that are loyal to Korsan to the core. They could be listening in on us at this very moment.”

“Sorry. Haven’t you and the others tried to rally against him?”

“We can’t. We don’t know who to trust. Most ponies don’t even know I’m against him. And even if we did know, Korsan and his closest followers would destroy us if we’d ever rebel. He’s just too powerful. However, I’ve heard rumours of some mutiny going down soon.”

“I might of heard them. I thought it was just gossip.”

“It might be, but it may be my only chance at freedom from that insane creature.”

“Who’s leading the mutany? Any ideas?”

“No clue. Whoever he or she is though, they’re either really dumb or really smart. They had to have studied Korsan for a good long time and knows exactly when to strike.”

A loud thump then shook the floor below the two mares, causing the two ponies to leap in surprise.

“Was that coming from the brig?” Rarity asked.

“So what now?” Spike asked to his fellow friends on the mast.

“I think we just need to wait.” Twilight replied.

“We should come up with a backup plan or something.” Spike suggested.

Applejack then asked, “What can we do? There’s only eight of us and we’re all tied together to this wooden pole.”

“I don’t know what we can do, but I know some ponies that can do something.” Twilight said.

“Who?” Spike asked.

“We should get Alexander to go get Korsan.” Twilight said.

The group turned their attention to Pinkie Pie. For the past hour or so, she had been endless talking to the pirate beside her. Grevious was suffering from the endless chatter, so much that he had turned deaf to all outside conversation.

“…Rainbow Dash told me all about it!” Pinkie exclaimed. “The final battle between Daring Do and Captain Cutlass Cornelius was the best moment in all of the Daring Do books. The two were on this ship, in a storm, both about to fall off into the raging waters below. And when all seemed lost, it’s revealed that Daring Do’s mother is-”

“Pinkie!” Twilight called out to her.

“What? You want to say something to Alex?” Pinkie asked.

“No, I haven’t read up to that point yet. Spoiler alert.” Twilight stated.

“Oh.”

“But since you’re done, I would like to say something to Alexander. I need him to bring Korsan over here.”

“Don’t need to.” Pinkie said.

“What? Why?” Twilight asked.

“He’s coming already.”

“What?!”

The mares and Spike looked over to the main deck and saw the tall stallion approaching them. By his side now was Chopin, holding an inked quill and scroll. Korsan had a new expression on his face. His pride had returned, but an itch still lingered in his mind. He seemed constantly distracted. His eyes twitched back and forth between the prisoners and whatever was on his mind. His muscles tightened on occasion, the aftermath of excruciating machine work and the dynamic emotions held in his system. It distressed him, only thinly veiled by Korsan’s mental ego.

He still had an apathetic mood, but something was going on. He was planning something.

“Bonjour.” He greeted them in a condescending tone.

“Say what?” Dash asked, confused.

“Daft wench…” Korsan muttered.

“Hello.” Twilight coldly replied.

Her face immediately turns into a stone scowl as she and he made eye contact.

Korsan replied, “Ms. Sparkle, her accomplices, I’ve been hearing that there’s some strange activity going on between you all. Alexander, want to clarify?”

His eye shifted to his crew member. Alexander was clutching his ears and laying on the wood deck fearing the seemingly endless voice of Pinkie.

“Alexander?” Korsan called out to him.

“We haven’t been doing anything. We’ve just been sitting around with this rope tightly wrapped around us.” Twilight said.

“Is that so?” Korsan asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes.”

“Hm…”

“What do you want now, Korsan?”

“Very well then, since you’re so eager and all, I’ve been needing to ask you a few questions.”

“…”

Immediately, Twilight’s lips sealed shut. Her only response was simply a burning glare into her enemy.

“When have you come across the name, ‘Alexander Maden’?” Korsan asked.

“…” Twilight didn’t answer.

“What was that vessel you and the others were on in the Breach?” Korsan asked.

“…” Twilight didn’t answer.

“Where did you even find it?” Korsan asked.

“…”Twilight didn’t answer.

“How did you even know where the Breach is, let alone suspect me to be there?” Korsan asked for a fourth time.

“…” Twilight remained silent, readying herself to not answer the fifth question.

“Oh come on, you have to cooperate. I require answers from you. Now please,”

“Why?”

“Hey, I’m asking the one asking the questions here. Now please-”

“Why should I have to answer to you?”

“Why should you not? Do you want something?”

“I want out of this prison and taken back home.”

“Oh, you’ll be taken home alright. But not until I get some answers from you,”

“I’m not going to comply with monsters like you.”

“Twilight, Twilight, Twilight, please, just answer some questions for me.”

“…”

“Twilight?”

“…”

“Not the silent treatment again,”

“…”

Now frustrated with the stubborn mare, Korsan stepped back and took a deep breath. His hooves massaged his tired cheek. He looks towards the other prisoners, all giving him a silent glare.

“It’s best to assume that none of you are talking as well?” Korsan.

“…” No response, as expected.

Silently, the pirate captain walked towards the bowsprit and looked out to the endless sea ahead of him. Twilight was faced directly at him, unable to relieve him from her vision. No clouds were in the sky to distract her. The moon nor the stars had appeared yet to tire Twilight. It was only her, him, and the twilight. Both Twilight and Korsan felt like they were the only two ponies in a thousand kilometres.

“Have you ever stood and stared at it, marveled at its beauty, its innocence?” Korsan asked her. “Billions of ponies just living out their lives, oblivious. Did you know that the earliest of our species lived only consisted alicorns, no unicorns, no pegasi, no Earth ponies, where none suffered, where everypony was happy? Though, this is mostly dependent on theory and may be completely false. Yet, I have seen enough to believe that this prehistoric world existed in some form, thriving with the beautiful alicorns.”

Korsan looked back to Twilight. He seemed eager to talk about the ways of these supposed ancient ponies and their history.

He said, “They had reached the pinnacle of technology, magic, and knowledge of this world, thousands, maybe millions of years before our time here. It soon became a disaster though, when ethics came into question. You see, sometimes, certain unlucky ponies were born into these inferior bodies, ones that could not use magic. It was a mutation, if you will, caused by the sheer randomness of life. Although the advance magic of the alicorns would occasionally fix the problem, there was a backlash in regards to identity and other preachy stuff like that. Birth defections and mutations became the norm, which would require that the great ancients had to dummy down their works for these ponies. Centuries pasted, and the numbers of the unicorns, the pegasi, and the Earth ponies, rapidly outweighed the alicorns.”

At that moment, Korsan’s clawed snapped shut. Rage pulsed through his system, the mere thought disgusted him.

“…And, as the majority died, the rich culture and grand achievements of the alicorns died as well. All was forgotten. But, I believe that, as a collection of sub-species to the alicorns, we define our reality through progress, and there could be a chance to recapture the glory of the ancient alicorns through that. I’m afraid to say this though, but the number of ponies able to do so are vastly too slim compared to pegasi and Earth ponies.

“This is why I desire to redesign the world, to give everypony the world that was once heaven. It can achieve with the ability to perform magic and later simply grow our own wings and power. We can reach the peak of our global civilization like before. I say our global civilization because it truly does involve all of us ponies.”

“Is this where the genocide plot kicks in?” Twilight smartly asked.

“Even a small remaining faction of this old world would cause civil unrest between us. It would destroy the heavenly seed I plant! Evolution in a sense, Twilight, evolution, like the dinosaur. Once great beasts, now degraded into tiny mammals that now call these greats monsters. Look out that window that is your self-designed barrier. They lost their time. You and your friends had your time. They deserve the future as is their world, Twilight. The future is their time.”

“…” Twilight had no response.

“I'd also like to share a revelation during my time travelling the world and gathering knowledge as a pirate. It came to me when I tried to classify you and your troop as a type of heroes. I realized that you're not like most heroes. Every hero I’ve encountered that has tried to stop me always followed some type of trope, or process. Strategic planning, getting bigger ships, rallying an army, ways to somehow, but always failing, to stop me.

“But you girls, and dragon, do not. You just keep coming at me headfirst, again and again, losing ponies and vitalities, until every resource is consumed. It’s insanity really when you think about it. Do you know the definition of insanity? Insanity is doing the same, maudire, thing over and over, and expecting a different result each time. You hold a strong bond with your beliefs of equality, but ultimately succumb to the grim reality once I get my point to you, not like those other heroes that either keep their thick skull, or flat out join me.

“Such heroes that fit you are only spoken of in fantastic folklore and fairy tales, not really real at all. You are no such heroes, just look at you. However, there is another type of pony on this planet that follows the same pattern. Do you know what it is? A villain. Villains always attack persistently, yet are always foiled by the heroes, and perhaps even have a change of heart and join them. They are often deemed insane, often defy goodness for all, and are just mean overall. Sound familiar? You are the villains. We are the heroes. Are you following this?”

“…”

“Can you hear me, Twilight? You must be, I can see it in the twitching of your ears. I'm going to be honest with you. I hate this world, this innocence, this prison, this reality, whatever you want to call it. I can't stand it any longer. It's the smell, if there is such a thing. I feel soaked by it. I can taste the stink of obliviousness. And every time I do I feel I have somehow been infected by it. It's repulsive, isn't it?

“I must get out of here. I must get free and in that body is the key, my key. Once this world is reformed and I get my desires granted, there will be no need for this crusade. Don't you understand? I need you to help me. I have to fix everything, to restore peace and true equality, and you have to help me. The world will not merely listen to some mere criminal pegasus, they need a celebrity, an idol, to endorse the message.”

“…”

“You're going to tell the world that you stand by my side or you and your friends are going to die. Do you get the picture, or are you just going to fight?”

“…”

The two ponies, Korsan and Twilight, villain and hero, pegasus and alicorn, stared at each other, head on head. A dangerous mind game was being played. Whoever snaps first will most certainly lose. But who will win? Will it be Korsan’s grand gestures of progression and terror? Or will it be Twilight’s undying loyalty and resilience?

Chapter 045: The Master Pony

Korsan and Twilight stared at each other for a minute, trying to get a reach on each other’s minds.

Korsan hissed at her, “Why, Twilight Sparkle? Why, why? Why do you do it? Why, why stay adamant? Why keep fighting? Do you believe you're fighting for something? For more than your survival or this false logic you still believe in? Can you tell me what it is? Do you even know at this point? Is it freedom of resistance? Or spite? Perhaps to form some peace with yourself? Could it be for love?”

“…”

“Illusions, Twilight Sparkle. Vagaries of perception, that all is good and fair with your world. They’re temporary constructs of a these modern ponies’ bleak intellect, trying desperately to justify an existence that is without true logic in its balance. And all of them as exposed as the true reality itself, although... only an inferior pony mind could invent something as insipid as this innocence to hide it. You must be able to see it, Twilight. You must know it by now. You can't win. It's pointless to keep fighting. Why, Twilight Sparkle? Why? Why do you persist?”

“…”

“Just tell me! You persist in staying your lip tied. For what reason? I put your life in peril. I put your friends’ lives in peril. I have made myself clear that I am losing my patience with you, Twilight. And for what?! You still stay stiff. Why? What do you have to gain? I have made my point clear to you. I stand upon the higher ground of knowledge. I am your only answer to your questions. Yet you still continue this? Are you daft? Is that what it is? If so, then you are a disgrace to your now kind. But if it isn’t, then whatever childish game you are playing must come to an end. Just tell me. Just tell me!”

“…”

Rapidly escalating in fury, Korsan grabbed Twilight by the chest and slowly lifted her. He raised her up the length of the mast, causing the rope wrapped around her neck to tighten. Soft gags escaped from Twilight.

“Tell me!” Korsan demanded.

“Twilight!” The other prisoners exclaimed.

However, Twilight remained silent.

“You’re nothing but a pathetic bar wench to me if you keep this up! You hear me? That’s all the rest of the world is going to hear of you when I’m the one that takes your voice! This is your final chance, Twilight!”

A moment of silence followed.

Twilight coughed.

She finally responded, “…Fine. You want me to talk so badly? You want me to betray Equestria? Fine. So be it. No, how about I join your crew?”

Korsan was immediately taken back. He was surprised, wordless, dumbfounded even. Had Twilight just turned like that? Before any of his emotions fully shown, he recollected himself.

“Seriously?” He asked, just as menacingly as before.

“Serious enough to write a declaration to back home,” Twilight said.

“Good!”

Korsan carelessly dropped the mare onto the wooden floor and walked over to Chopin.

“Chopin, write this as a letter to Princess Celestia of Equestria.” He declared.

“You know what? How about we make this more official? Give the quill and paper to Spike, the dragon. He’s my number one assistant and I always trust him to send my letters to the princess.” Twilight insisted.

“So be it.”

The mine, Chopin, gave the writing objects to Spike. However, with his claws restrained, Spike just stared at the pen and paper.

“Chopin, loosen Mr. Spike’s arms, carefully.” Korsan commanded.

With a flick of Chopin’s horn, the rope around Spike’s arms loosened. Spike took the quill and paper and prepared to write.

“Now, Twilight, do the deed.” Korsan demanded.

“I could never imagine doing otherwise.” Twilight said.

“Now, sing!”

With Spike already writing, Twilight said what Korsan wanted to hear.

“Dear Princess Celestia, there is no hope for you now. I have taken to the side of the great, no, the fantastic, Captain Korsan Maden. I have been proven wrong, so greatly wrong. What he says is true, that all unicorns are superior to any Earth pony or pegasus. As of this moment, I support in the brilliant captain’s campaign to wipe out all pegasi and Earth ponies from this world. If we are to ever cross paths, may the worst come of it if you are to rebel. I shall see to it personally that you are dealt with if you are to conspire to a resistance of any form. Farewell, Celestia, may we have mercy on your soul. The Ex-Princess, Twilight Sparkle.”

“Fantastic. Alright, I’ll take the paper now…”

As Korsan walked up to Spike to retrieve the letter, the dragon breathed green fire onto the scroll. In an instant, the paper vanished before the captain’s eye.

“What was that for?!” Korsan exclaimed.

“The letter has been sent to Celestia. Spike’s fire is magic.” Twilight explained.

“At least give me time to look at the scroll and check for typos or something.”

“No need. I know that Spike never fails to write the perfect letter.”

“…Very well then, I might have to take your word for it.”

“Twilight! Spike! What are you doing?!” The surrounding mares screamed out, kicking and flailing on the mast.

“Joining the winning team, that’s what.” Twilight simply stated.

“No!” They gasped.

“Ha, ha!” Korsan cackled. “Now, with an alicorn princess at my side, I shall be unstoppable!”

The giddy pirate captain jumps up and down with joy.

Suddenly, out of now where, the sail above his head dropped. He and the ponies surrounding him were blinded by the massive black sheet. Korsan tripped on the cloth and fell on the floor with a brutal smack to his jaw.

“What in blue blazes is going on?” He roared.

He tore through the sail with his cloths, disintegrating the cloth. He ripped apart the sail and escaped. Long, glowing chains then bolted at him. They wrapped around Korsan and pulled him up into the air. His legs became bound tightly and pulled into his torso. His lungs and throat collapsed as the metal cables tightened as hard as they could. His head began to lose blood pressure, turning lightweight in seconds.

The Perfection then lifted off into the air. Somepony was operating the ship without Korsan’s consent. The airship accelerated as it rose from the waters, higher and faster than it could handle.

“What’s going on?” Alexander yelled out from under the sail.

Using a small knife on him, Chopin escaped from the sail as well. An unseen figure attacked him from behind, attaching an anti-magic strap around his horn. More chains followed from behind the neighboring mast. They wrapped up the mine and hung him from a beam of the front mast, leaving him to dangle over the sea.

As Korsan flailed in his chains, he heard menacing chuckling surround him.

“Gah! What’s the meaning of this?!” Korsan exclaimed.

“Captain Korsan Arasinda Maden…” A familiar stallion’s voice said.

Korsan looked around to the source of the voice, his eye darting everywhere. He saw the pony approaching him. Although the pony was wearing a black hood over his head, Korsan noticed the tailcoat suit being worn by the pony.

This was a mutiny, brought forth by his own crew members.

“You…” Korsan hissed at the leading stallion of this rebellion.

“Who?” The hooded stallion asked.

He was joined by ten other ponies, all also wearing cloaks and masking clothing.

“Ryan Aran, Butch Taylor, Maria Vanshwitz, Clara Rosebud, Lazarus Lazuli, Jack Cauld, Fawnswa, Salty Bob, Anton Chugs, Blackgate Beardsworthy,” Korsan said.

One by one, the ten surrounding ponies took off their hoods, revealing themselves to be the ponies that Korsan predicted.

“And what about me?” The mysterious pony asked.

“…Isyan Maden.” Korsan said.

The pony pulls off his black hood and fluffed his blonde mane. It was Isyan, Korsan’s cousin, his boatswain, and his mutineer.

“So, you’re the leader of the mutiny.” Korsan said towards his capturer, sternly.

“So I am.” Isyan proudly replied.

“I always knew something sketchy was going on with you, just didn’t know what it was.” Korsan said.

“Oh, and what gave you that idea?” Isyan asked, brimming in compensating tone.

“I don’t know,” the trapped stallion joked. “Perhaps your whiny attitude, your incompetence, the way you always get hissy whenever anypony talks with you-”

“Because I was always warning you, you daft bilge swiller!” Isyan yelled, now furious.

“Whoa, language! There are foals on this ship.”

“The only foal I see is you Korsan. You are, by far, the worst captain of a ship in all of history! You constantly throw all of our lives at risk for whatever ridiculous reason you can think of. And most of those reasons are beyond ridiculous. To have some fun, to study this pile of dust and rock, to see if this boat can go into a maelstrom, to test some dangerous toy you made in your little workroom- I’m sick of it! And so are the rest of us!”

“Well, I’m sorry you can’t take a punch without crying your eyes out. And you call yourself a pirate?”

“Look who’s talking, Mr. Pushover.”

“What?”

“Ever since that wench, Rarity, mind you, not even a pirate, showed up, you’ve basically turned into a pathetic slave. Look at who you’ve been letting join on your side. This is not to mention the ones that you should have axed off a long time ago: those two Earth ponies. After all we’ve been through, after all of this unrelenting, merciless power you boast yourself to process, and you don’t even follow through with it.”

“So what if I’ve been a little soft bellied recently?”

“No, not recently. Rarity’s only the tip of the iceberg. Do you realize how many of us nearly got killed from the unicorns that you never bat an eye at?”

“What? Isn’t that what our family wanted, to leave the superior be?”

“Not when we’re robbing them and they’re trying to kill us! Are you mad? You are mad. Why am I even asking? Heck, why am I putting up with this? Why am I even putting up with you?! You are nothing but a crippled pegasus with a thick skull, a dime a dozen in this world.”

As Isyan continued to berate Korsan, Juliana dove down from above to save her captain. She smacked into Isyan with brutal force. The two fell to the floor and tackled each other, both screeching at the top of their lungs.

“Get this thing off of me!” Isyan begged.

“Juliana!” Korsan gasped.

A red magic aura wrapped around Juliana and lifted her into the air. She was thrown into a small metal cage beside Maria.

“I’m sorry! I should’ve figured you knew Isyan was up to no good!” Korsan said to Juliana.

Quickly, Juliana was locked into the tight cage and moved back against the second mast by Maria.

“Be sure to euphemize that parrot after we deal with this scum.” Isyan told his followers.

“No! She’s one of the last ice phoenixes in the world! You can’t do that!” Korsan begged.

“Oh I will. In fact, I’m going to turn her into the rarest dish on the seas. I’m currently debating whether to sell the dish off or eat it myself.”

“I swear, when I get out of here-”

“How? You have no magic to free yourself. You’re just as low in power as the soil on this deck. Actually, no, you’re lower than dirt. How about we knock you down a few inches to prove my point.”

In an instant, Korsan was thrown down into the wood floor in front of his cousin. Now pinned to the floor, Korsan could only glance upward to Isyan.

Isyan kneeled down to Korsan’s stiff head petting it with a hoof.

“Much better,” Isyan sighed.

Korsan muttered into the floorboards, “You’re getting a real kick out of this aren’t you?”

“You’re at the whim and mercy of me from now on. Now I’m getting to understand how your brother and sister felt. It’s glorious! Hey, do you want to play a game, Baby Korso? It’s called Catch-Your-Favourite-Toy.”

Carefully, Isyan reached a hoof underneath Korsan’s chains and pulled out the crossbow.

“No, please, not this again!” Korsan internally begged, his eyes beginning to bulge and water.

“Already getting flashbacks eh?”

Isyan then teasingly held the crossbow just above Korsan, dangling it just in front of his eye.

“Jump, you mutt!” Isyan demanded.

“This mutiny will not go unpunished!” Korsan warned, trying to keep his cool.

“Are you even trying? Come and get it! Hahaha!”

“As your captain, I demand you release me!”

“Korsan the Inferior, Korsan the Inferior, Korsan the Inferior,”

“Let me go! Now!”

The surrounding ponies silently watched as their once captain degraded into a crying child. Isyan continued to bully him, determined to break every fragment of his will.

Chapter 046: Mutiny

Isyan continued to torture and tease Korsan for minutes without end. He berated him. He insulted him. He slated him. And if Korsan shown any sign of strength, Isyan would remedy that with a punch into Korsan’s soft belly. By the ten-minute mark, Korsan’s belly was as red as a burning cherry.

“I can already see that crying wimp inside of you coming out! Haha! This is rich!” Isyan roared in pride.

Korsan began to feel his eyes watering. His ego was on the verge of total collapse.

Then, out in the distance, a familiar mare screamed out, “Isyan stop!”

Isyan immediately stopped what he was doing. He turned to the mare who was now galloping towards him. His fur and skin turned pale, like he saw a ghost. The mare was soon joined by two others.

“It can’t be…” He gasped.

Korsan looked behind him and saw the mares. It was Rarity, Lilis, and Slasher. After weeks of having seemingly vanished, Slasher had returned.

The rest of the pirate crew soon surfaced to the deck and followed the trio of mares.

“Slasher?!” Korsan and Isyan exclaimed, one in joy and the other in shock.

“That’s right!” Slasher roared.

Isyan exclaimed, “How did you-”

“Let Korsan go!” Rarity interrupted Isyan.

The massive group of eighty unicorns, led by Slasher and Rarity, surrounded the mutineers and their captain, Korsan.

“Hey!” Isyan shouted at the approaching pirates. “Don’t any of you take a step closer!”

“Isyan, how could you?” Rarity asked.

“How could I-? All of you, look at yourselves. Think for once! What are we? We are pirates right? What are pirates? Terrors of the sea, unmerciful to anypony they come across in order to get riches beyond compare! Are we currently pirates? Are we?” Isyan asked the loyal crew of The Perfection

At first, the surrounding ponies remained adamant. They kept scowling at Isyan, waiting to pummel his pretty face in. However, one by one, the pirates broke their glare and looked at each other. Isyan had them, they doubt was growing.

He continued, “Exactly. All we’ve been doing for the last couple of years is just taking nature hikes and working our flanks off for nothing. Nothing! Remember what we just went through on this latest ‘quest’? Attacking Equestria, fighting Twilight and her gang, dealing with Rarity and that nose picking brat of a sister, fixing this blasted boat, nearly dying on far too many occasions, and for what? For some busted artifact that we didn’t even take? And our ‘captain’ expects us to move on like nothing happened? I’m not tolerating this, and neither should you!”

“Really? ‘Riches beyond compare’? Look at what you’re on! You’re standing on a giant floating airship that’s filled with some of the rarest and most luxurious artifacts I have even seen.” Rarity protested.

“…Why? Why are you being so protective of this rat? He wants to destroy the lives of so many ‘innocent’ ponies, albeit he’s executing this desire very poorly, but he still intends to do such. He’s attempted to kill your friends on numerous occasions. He even stole you and your little sister away from your past life. Yet you still value his life over you and your sister’s potential freedom. Why?”

“I-I-I…”

“Is it love, Rarity? Do you love this monster as you’ve put it? As well as the rest of you fellow crew members, why do you all still support him? I hear your cries. You’re all hateful, untrusting, scared of Korsan. I just want to fulfill your wishes, and restore to you all the pirate names that you all desire so greatly, yet you attempt to resist me.”

“…”

“Let us hear it from our captain’s most beloved wench. Rarity, do you still love Korsan?”

Hesitant to answer, Rarity looked over to Korsan. She saw his quivering eye look at her in desperation, his body crushed below all the chains. She could almost sense him trying to speak to her, but too frightened to say the wrong thing. Rarity then looked down at her right hoof, seeing the fresh scars that the stallion put in her.

“…” Rarity wasn’t sure what to say.

“Do you?” Isyan asked.

“…No. I don’t. We’re though.” She declared.

Shame immediately hit. Rarity lowered her head and shut her eyes, Isyan’s joyful cackles ringing in her ears. She could already see Korsan slowly lowering his head onto the cold wood and give up on himself.

“Even she admits it!” Isyan proclaimed to the crew. “This poor excuse of a stallion is a failed romantic as well as a failed leader. Been reading one too many romances of the sea, he has, filling his imbecilic mind with fantasies of love.”

Swiftly, the renegade leader turned back to the sulking pirate captain. He lifted his cramped head up with magic.

“You’ll never find love” Isyan said. “Love is imaginary for a pony like you. It’s a pity really.”

“…I hate you…” Korsan uttered in his dying breath, cutting off his vision from the world with a stiff eyelid.

“I hate you too.” Isyan said in glee. “Like they always say, you can choose your friends…”

Without hesitation, Isyan violently smacked Korsan’s left cheek with his hoof. The onlookers gasped and watch as the tortured pony’s cheek flared.

“…but you can’t choose your family.”

“…” Korsan’s only response was his eye opening in a furious stare.

A light hiss rung of his tongue.

“Now, where were we before?” Isyan asked.

“I’ll wipe that dumb look off your stupid face once I get out of this…” Korsan grumbled.

“Korsan, Korsan, don’t be violent to your cousin. I’m going to have to discipline you.”

Gently, Isyan ran his thin hoof over Korsan’s eyepatch, feeling the indent of the scar peaking above. The rest of the scar was under the black patch. Isyan had an idea of what he plans to do to him.

“May two of my ponies please remove the sail? I want everypony onboard to see this, the dethronement of a foal and the coronation of a grand leader.”

Quietly, the two ponies from the mutiny group walked over to the large sail and rolled it off of the ponies underneath, careful not to rip it.

“In the meantime, who here knows how mummies are preserved?” Isyan asked the onlookers. “Anypony?”

Silence followed.

“It’s very simple, as my cousin would put it.” Isyan said. “First, you dry up the body, using spices, herbs, salts, sands, and chemicals to make sure that the skin and everything underneath has no moisture whatsoever. Then, you wrap it up tightly with linen, for if one droplet of mist or foreign particles were to seep into the body, rot would immediately follow. So what would happen if this was to happen to a pony still living, perhaps one who hasn’t removed an eyepatch for over seven years? I would imagine it would hurt like Tartarus.”

Alexander and the eight prisoners were freed from the sail. They gasped out for fresh air immediately. The two who freed them directed their attention to Isyan and a chained Korsan. The nine gasped upon the sight.

“Are you ready for this, Cousin? Are you ready for the world to see you in your truest form?” Isyan asked.

“…Bring it on.” Korsan groaned.

Isyan reached his hoof out to the patch, ready to rip the thing off.

However, before Isyan could even touch the eyepatch, a sudden jolt struck into his side. Isyan lost grip of Korsan’s crossbow. It leapt from Isyan’s hoof and fell near Korsan’s hind hooves.

“What the-?!” Isyan bellowed.

Snapping his head around, Isyan saw Slasher tightly grabbed onto his side.

“Let him go!” Slasher screamed.

She was immediately pulled off by one of Isyan’s followers before being restrained to the deck. Another pony of the mutiny quickly came to Slasher and attached an anti-magic strap to her small horn.

“Are you mad?! I’m about to free you Slasher, yet you still side with him?!”Isyan exclaimed.

“You locked me in the brig!” Slasher Gutzoult proclaimed. She was burning in fury, continuously kicking and flailing against her captors.

“You were getting too close to us. I tried to convince you on a number of occasions, but you were still adamant for whatever reason.”

“Whatever reason? This isn’t just ‘overthrowing a corrupt leader’ as you’ve been claimin’ this mutiny is. This is just a way for you to get back at your cousin.”

“Mind your tongue, Miss-”

“Quit denying it! Face the fact, you couldn’t stand your cousin, a pegasus, getting all of the money and glory while you were stuck in whatever rut you got yourself into.”

“Bite it!”

“Never! Korsan may not be the best captain, his ideals may be vile, he may not be the most sane, he may not be the most ruthless pirate, he may not be the most safe, but what he is, is better than whatever type of captain you call yourself. You know why? Because he cares about us. He’ll listen to our problems and have an answer in time. Despite his dedication to his works, he’ll always go down into the galley for the sparring. He has given new life to criminals like me, and has given us the greatest adventure imaginable. You? All you want is money and power. You’ve been pushing us around ever since you got on this boat. If it’s a choice between two evils you want, then I choose Korsan!” Slasher proudly declared.

“…”

A grin grew on Isyan as silently looked down at the kicking girl.

“What? Cat got your tongue?” Slasher taunted.

“No, I’m just a bit shocked how much my cousin has traumatized you. All of what you just said there, was out of fear. No, not respect because he is a good captain, but respect out of fear. Most of you were so ready to leave this crew as soon as that fateful day came three years ago. But then, Korsan made an example of Nitin Gale and his daughter, November, and you immediately began to fear leaving him. Isn’t that right, Ryan?” Isyan asked.

“Yes, Isyan.” The named pony replied.

“So you see?” Isyan asked the crew. “There is no need for fear. All of you surrounding me and Korsan, ready to protect him: there is no need to. He doesn’t have any tricks up his cape to get out of this. He won’t lash out at you when you turn your backs to him anymore. You hear that?”

Isyan returned to his prisoner.

He carefully cupped the black patch in his hoof before announcing, “No more Korsan!”

Isyan pulled the eyepatch away, and Korsan immediately screams in pain. His scarred eye and surrounding skin suddenly throbbed and scorched as thousands of salty air particles burrowed themselves deep inside. Moisture seeped into the dry flesh, boiling upon contact.

The onlookers gasped. Rarity covered her eyes from the horrific sight, barely summoning the strength to peek under her hoof.

“Isyan!” Korsan cried out, flailing in his chains.

Despite his efforts, his right eyelid stayed stiff and locked. It had not moved for years. Korsan literally forgot how to blink that eye.

Everypony else stared at the exposed eye in horror, speechless out of sheer shock. Korsan’s right eye was entirely glazed over, with barely any sign of a pupil. Instead, a glossy scar ran across the white from top to bottom.

Isyan simply stared and smiled at his torture victim. He could only exert so much power onto one pony. He felt like he had to make the most of every moment with Korsan’s body.

“Let’s make this image a little more clear…” He said, licking his chops.

Carelessly, Isyan slid the patch across Korsan’s face and planted it over his other eye.

After minutes of grueling pain, Korsan accepted the gruesome torture. His bays of pain slowly began dying.

“Much better… This is you, ‘dear cousin’ Korsan!” Isyan hissed.

Consumed at his growing personal power, Isyan could help but to laugh. His laughs turned manical, nearly destroying his lungs as he wildly displayed his dominance. The other pirates remained silent, instead focused on the now slowly breathing mass of chained flesh that was once Korsan, swimming in his own pool of tears.

“Don’t you just love it, being squished by the boots of the ones you’ve tortured?!” Isyan asked.

“…” Korsan was quiet.

“What? Got nothing to say?”

“…”

Finally recovering from his facial cramps, Korsan softly closed his destroyed eye. It hurt, but it was relieving nonetheless.

“…Very well then. I’ve had my fun with you. Time to put you out of your misery.” Isyan said.

With a flick of his horn, a long, pointed sabre hovered out from the back of Isyan’s suit. A shiny brown aura of magic surrounded the blade. This was Isyan’s prized weapon for show.

“Release the chains, I got this.” Isyan said to his lackies.

Listening to their leader, the ponies released the chains. Isyan then grabbed hold of several lengths of metal at Korsan’s chest, hoisting him up to eye level. With Korsan’s hooves barely touching the floor, Isyan sets the blade to his throat.

“Any last words?” Isyan asked.

“…” Korsan said and nothing.

He didn’t even bother mustering up a spitball.

“How about the rest of you all? Final words to give to your ‘dear’ captain?” Isyan asked the onlookers.

Only the soft breeze of the dark clouds in the distance responded. Even Juliana remained silent, as if she knew what’s about to happen to her master. She was powerless versus the mutineers. As Isyan glanced around, he saw everypony bowing their heads, trying as hard as they could to avert their eyes from the inevitable.

“Fine then, I guess you all won’t really miss him.” He said with content.

“…”

“From this moon forward, The Perfection and its crew of one hundred unicorns will no longer be run by the tyrant Korsan Maden. Instead, a new, better leader shall take the title of captain, I, Isyan Maden! As soon as this rat’s blood has been shed, we will be going to the nearest kingdom and burn it to the ground! We shall take their treasures and slaughter any pony we see, no matter if it’s a pegasus, Earth pony, unicorn, alicorn, whatever! Stallions, mares, colts, foals, elders, rich, poor, we will show no mercy to any of them! We are pirates, terrors of all ponykind, and we will do whatever we want to do! Starting now!”

Isyan swung down the blade with all his might.

This, he saw, was the end.

Suddenly, Korsan’s limp body sprung back to life. His hind booted extend into claws. They grabbed the nearby crossbow. Korsan then pulled away from the incoming sabre, buying just half a second of time. He aimed his armed hind legs at Isyan. The trigger set. Without any hesitation, Korsan fired. With no time for his cousin to react, Korsan ended his schemes.

The crew gasped in shock as the sound of the metal bolt fired from the crossbow shattered the silence. The bolt struck Isyan directly in the horn. The horn instantly shattered.

Isyan released a bloodcurdling shriek as thousands of the shattered bits of horn rained down onto his face. From under the thick lays of iron cable, the sound of gears rapidly whirring roared across the air. With all of his might, Korsan ripped out of the chains that once held his body stiff. Broken links and shards of steel showered down onto everypony. Sight became nothing more but chaos and panic.

Isyan, seeing Korsan now charging at him, released another scream of terror. Korsan swiftly snatched his once-captor by the throat. He barbarically smashed him into the mast behind them, pinning Isyan’s back to the tall tower of wood. He tore into the scared-white pony’s soul with his warped eye. Eye-to-eye, the power of The Perfection returned to Korsan.

A small smile formed on Korsan’s mouth as well. A menacing chuckle croaked from his throat.

“Korsan!” Isyan shilled.

Korsan hysterically barked, “Hahaha! Oh yeah, I love it! More!”

Isyan could only stamper as the mad Korsan held his body, still riling in pain.

“K-K-K-” He stammered.

“What are you waiting for? Summon your followers again! Squish me! Choke me! Put me to the blade again!”

“Y-you’re a monster! More than a monster! A-a demon! Y-you’re supposed to be blind! It’s impossible for you to see!”

“This eye right here’s blind, you say? I see the truth in this eye. And do you know what it sees? It sees a monster! You’re a monster.”

“Wha-wha-what are you?!”

“I’m a monster! We’re all monsters! Don’t you get it! Anypony can betray you. Anypony can try to take your life. They’re so messed up in the head, that it controls their every move. It’s unpredictable! We’re all monsters like this! I’m terrified out of my life! I love it! I love it all!”

“You’re ludicrous! Please let me go!”

As Isyan, hornless and defenseless, wept and pleaded, Korsan continued to stare.

He tone began to apparently calm down, yet the grin on his face grows even wider.

“Mad? Hehe… Aren’t we all? Aren’t we all mad monsters?” Korsan asked. “You’re a fair share of madness as well. Shall I tell our audience of how you got here? I’ll tell them. You were locked away in a dinky prison for the murder of one of our own family members. Isn’t that something? I only thought of you as a mere punching bag when I picked you up, a toy I can vent my frustrations onto. However, you ended up being a bigger pain than I ever imagined, a thorn to the eyes and ears.”

“Please, I beg for forgiveness!” Isyan cried.

“Oh, but aren’t pirates supposed to be ruthless? Hm?.”

“You know what, you-you’re right! I was an idiot. Yeah, let’s all have a laugh. Hahahahaha-”

Immediately, Korsan snapped back into his deranged state. He slammed the back of Isyan’s head into the mast, laughing upon seeing his cousin black out for a second. A trickle of crimson ran down Isyan’s scalp and face.

“Laugh it up! That’s right! Laugh at me! Humiliate me! Scare me! It’ll be all the more rewarding when I spill your guts!” Korsan roared.

“No-no-no-no-no-no! I’m not laughing at you! I’m laughing with you! I’m your cousin! Please! Spare me!”

“…”

“Please?”

“Now’s about time that we finish this.”

“No!”

Slowly, Korsan dragged Isyan to the edge of the boat, not even paying mind to the crossbow still clenched in his hind hooves. The other ponies watched in horror as Korsan held Isyan over the edge by the neck.

“You wouldn’t do this to your cousin, would you?!” Isyan asked, trying everything he can to be spared.

Frantically, Isyan pawed Korsan. Tears poured from his eyes and fell into the ocean a kilometre below his hanging hooves. Seeing Isyan struggle after what he pulled causes Korsan to break out into laughter as well. He eventually returned into his calmer tone.

“Farewell, dear cousin, Isyan Karsi Maden.” Korsan said.

“Please don’t kill me! I’ll do anything you want!” Isyan exclaimed.

“Oh, I’m not going to kill you. The water will, either shattering your bones into millions of bits and turning your organs to mush, or causing you to exhaust your energy and slowly drown, a far worse result.”

“Please! I’m begging you! Let me go!”

“…Very poor choice of words.”

“No!”

“Adieu.”

With one twitch of a muscle, Korsan let go of Isyan, dropping him off of The Perfection and to his death. The screams of the traitor painfully echoed throughout the sky for an endless minute before fading away. The onlooking ponies could only stand and take in what they have all seen and heard.

Chapter 047: Drums of War

Korsan stood at the railing, silently watching Isyan fall into the rolling waves below. His grin slowly faded away and his face turned cold, stoic. The thrill of the kill was gone.

As Isyan disappeared from sight, Korsan forgot about him.

Korsan slowly turned back towards his crew and prisoners, all speechless.

“Anypony else?” He grimly asked.

“No sir, Captain Korsan.” The crew, including Isyan’s ten once-followers, quietly replied in unison.

Korsan slowly walked to the ten ponies. They were immediately terrified.

“Ryan, Butch, Maria, Clara, Lazarus, Jack, Fawnswa, Bob, Anton, Blackgate,”

“Yes?” The ten ponies muttered in terror.

“Why did you follow Isyan?”

“…” None of them could muster a word.

“…Let me ask you again. Why did you seek my wrath?”

Maria took a step forward. She removed herself from the crowd and stood at Korsan’s clawed hooves. She was a brave soul, but not even those stood a chance against Korsan’s terrifying presence.

“We-we-we-” Maria stammered at first.

“…” Korsan waited, impatiently tapping the floor.

“We wanted a break!” Maria finally said. “All we wanted was to put our lives of crimes behind us and move on. But you wouldn’t let us after Nitin. You-”

A swift, powerful strike to the cheek by Korsan immediately cut off Maria. The mare squealed in pain as the metal claws burnt into her soft flesh. The onlookers gasped as Maria dropped to the floorboards.

Korsan’s energy had returned. But this time, this was pure rage. This was deliriousness.

“You thought Isyan would let you off? You thought you could use his joy after he kills me? Huh?!” Korsan asked.

Maria silently wept into the wood, hoping to not be heard.

Korsan then turned to the other nine betrayers, who were all frozen in place. He slowly walked to them, extending his claws and stomping his hooves. The metal digits grinded against each other, generating sparks of burning heat.

“Isn’t it?!” He asked them again.

“We’re sorry!” The nine cried.

“Didn’t you learn from the Gales? I am a force to be reckoned with! And you will obey me! When I say to stay with me, you stay! Isn’t the message clear enough!”

Korsan raised his claws and the nine ponies instantly curled in defensive fear. The rest of the crew covered their eyes and ears, equally as scared. Twilight and the others were absolutely horrified. This was what Korsan was under that roguish veneer he had. The demon had revealed himself.

Just before Korsan threw down his claws, before he tore the ponies apart, Hans jumped in between him and the others. The onlookers thought he was mad. Korsan stopped however, his claws just short of Hans’s eyes.

“Hans?” Korsan asked.

“Sir,” Hans coolly said. “Perhaps they have learnt their lesson. We have never seen you this angry and violent as before, and you know how they bend to you will just by a hiss in your tongue.”

“Perhaps you’re right.” Korsan replied.

Slowly, Korsan returned his claws into his mechanical suit. His body eased and his eye finally blinked for once. He was tranquil, for the moment anyways.

The crew also eased down. The way that they did so scared Twilight and her friends, for it seemed to be some sort of routine thing. Of course, none were more terrified than Rarity.

With the night rising, and the air calming down, a seldom atmosphere covered The Perfection. It would only be a matter of moments before business returned to normal.

“Can I get you anything, Captain?” Horus nervously asked, almost yipping as the scarred eye locked onto him.

“Nothing for now, I just need some room to ease up for now. Oh yeah, free Chopin and Juliana.” Korsan said apathetically.

“Is it true what you said?” Slasher asked the captain. “Are we monsters?”

Korsan hesitated for a moment to think. He tried to recall what his maddened being said, for it all happened in seemingly a flash.

“…We all are.” He finally said. “The only thing we can do about it is to put ourselves closer to the divine and pure. Isyan just wanted riches, he didn’t care about who was in his way nor how dirty his hooves would’ve become from the blood of the pure. He was one of the worst monsters.”

“Sir?” Yu hesitantly asked. “What about-”

“I’m now taking care of that. Ryan, Butch, Clara, Lazarus, Jack, Fawnswa, Bob, Anton, Blackgate,”

“Yes Captain?” The named ponies replied.

They weren’t as scared as before, but felt ashamed nonetheless.

“Are you all loyal to me?” Korsan plainly asked.

“Yes.” They replied firmly.

“Have you disassociated yourselves with Isyan Maden?”

“Yes.”

“Are you telling the truth?”

“Yes.”

“Are you going to listen to everything I say and follow my command without second thoughts?”

“Yes.”

“Good. I expect you all to clean up your mess. As for the rest of you, proceed with your own business as usual.”

“Sorry to bother you, Korsan, but are you well?” Lilis sheepishly spoke up.

“…I don’t know. I don’t know.”

“Is there anything I can do to-”

“No. Anything else?”

A silent response was given.

“I’ll be in my quarters.”

Quietly, Korsan walked back to the quarterdeck. Along the way, he kicked up his crossbow to his top hooves and tucked the weapon into his cape. Without a word, the other crew members slowly returned to their normal business.

Eventually, only Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Slasher, Alexander, the eight prisoners, and Maria remained, with Maria still face-down on the bow, silently weeping in pain and shame.

“He’s snapped.” Alexander solemnly remarked to the others. “Insane, that stallion has become, a real pity it is.”

“Maria, are you okay?” Rarity asked, reaching a hoof out to the fallen mare.

“Leave her be.” Alexander told her. “She wants to simply rest there for a while.”

This was an obvious lie. Alexander knew how great Maria’s warrior pride was, and dared not to disturb it. Rarity eventually understood this as well and backed away from Maria.

“What if he’s right?” Slasher asked.

“Who?” Alexander asked.

“Isyan. What if we do respect Korsan out of fear?” Slasher asked.

“…We do. As much as we try to reason otherwise, that is the truth.”

“Oh…”

“It’s better to fear and live the good life than to rebel and die, that’s for certain.”

“What?!” Twilight exclaimed. “That’s the opposite of ‘better’.”

“What?” Alexander responded.

“Aren’t you ashamed of the ponies you have made to suffer, even killed, just for this’ good’ life?” Twilight asked the pirates.

“You don’t think I am?! It’s an unfair world! I didn’t ask to do any of the horrid crap I have to do every day. I wanted to be a noble gentlepony, but fate had other ideas. Now I’m here as a pirate, and I have to do the wrong deeds and live with my actions. A little shame is worth my skin.” Alexander said.

“It doesn’t have to be an unfair world, Alexander.”

“It can be a beautiful place of harmony.” Fluttershy replied.

“If you fight for what’s right, it will be.” Rainbow Dash added.

“But it won’t be easy.” Applejack said.

“Sacrifices will have to be made.” Rarity said.

“But it’s all worth it in the end.” Spike responded.

“Yeah!” Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle cheered.

“…Am I just going to go against everything I just said because you all said a bit?” Alexander asked.

“You really think so?” Slasher asked Twilight.

A hint of hope sparked inside as Slasher saw these ponies before her, so optimistic in the face of danger.

“We know so.” Twilight answered.

“As your friends, we can help set you on the right path.” Rarity said.

“But why? What have we done to deserve this respect from you?” Slasher asked.

“Because we’re friends,” Rarity said.

Slasher replied, “We are? But we-”

Rarity explained, “I’ve lived with you all for two weeks. I’ve seen the way you girls and guys act, how you play off one another and support each other. I am more than certain that all of you are good ponies inside.”

“As Princess of Friendship, it is my duty to uphold the magic of friendship in all ponies.” Twilight said.

“But the letter-” Slasher responded.

“Do you honestly think that I’d give up that easily?” Twilight asked.

“Yeah, it was merely a trick to send an emergency notification to Princess Celestia.” Spike said.

“And Korsan bought into the whole thing.” Pinkie said in pride.

“So expect help to come any day now.” Spike told Slasher.

Before Slasher could join in Twilight’s scheme, Alexander was quick to stop her.

He retorted, “Reality check: Did you not just see what Korsan did to Isyan? He’s going insane! Korsan’s going from a calm pony into a bloodthirsty lunatic faster than ever before. It can only go faster from there. If he finds out about this, we all might be thrown over without even bothering a monologue. I suggest that we don’t start anything and just stick to our old ways.”

“What about Princess Celestia?” Slasher asked. “She has an army.”

“Whatever sized armada she’s bringing, it won’t be enough to stop Korsan. He has Princess Twilight as a prisoner. If anything’s Twilight’s scheme will just speed up the ransom process.”

“As long as he doesn’t know, or isn’t about to do something dramatic, we should have enough time to think of something.” Twilight replied.

“Who said I was joining in this rebellion?!” Alexander exclaimed.

“Are you going to tell us off to Korsan?” Slasher asked, scared.

“Yeah, are you?” Pinkie threateningly asked.

“…No, I’m just, curious.” Alexander replied.

“What should we do?” Rarity asked Twilight.

“First, gather as many pirates as you can, get them to join our side. The more team members we have, the less Korsan will have when Celestia arrives.” Twilight replied.

“So, another mutiny party?” Alexander asked.

“Yes. Only this time, it’s for the right reasons.” Twilight replied.

“Count me in!” Slasher declared.

“What about Korsan? Aren’t you one of his loyalist members?” Alexander asked.

“As much as I respected him, I’m starting to realize that I may have been giving him too much credit. I didn’t know he was such a monster. I just… thought he was really emotional. But no, I was wrong. He’s a psycho. He just slapped Maria and tortured our friends, Alex. That’s not the captain I want to follow. I no longer want to be part of this crew if fear is the only thing holding it together. I want to start my life right.” Slasher said.

“Well then, welcome to the mutiny party.” Twilight said.

A loud hum then roared across the airship. Rarity, Sweetie Belle, and the pirates immediately recognized the sound as Korsan testing his speaker pipe.

“It’s Korsan, he has an announcement.” Slasher whispered to Twilight and the others.

“This ought to be rich.” Alexander muttered.

Three metal taps echoed from the pipes. Everypony onboard quieted down and stopped what they were doing.

Korsan’s voice echoed throughout the The Perfection with a foreboding message.

He said, “My friends, it has often been said between you crew members that I like war. Rumours that sneak under my nose, yes? Thought that I wouldn’t catch on? Well I did, and I wish to dash these rumours. My friends, I like war. No, friends, I love war! I love it all. I love blitzes, I love defensive lines, I love sieges, charges, I love mop-up operations, and retreats. Wars across prairies, in streets, in trenches, in grasslands, in frozen tundras, through deserts, on the sea, in the air, I love every act of war that can occur upon this world. I love the thrill, the power, the scale, the rewards, the action, the peril, the risk, the risk of death!”

“How many speeches does this pony have?” Twilight asked.

“Shhh!” Alexander hissed, a sense of fear resonating from his voice.

Korsan continued, “Every time I am one sword swing away from demise, I enter euphoria. I love blasting the enemy to smithereens with artillery salvos that thunder across the lines of battle in every direction. My heart leaps with joy whenever a pony is tossed high into the air and blown to pieces by well-placed explosive rounds. And there is nothing like my grand galleon using its one hundred guns to destroy enemy ships, and the feeling that comes when an entire crew runs screaming from their blazing brig, only to be swallowed by the ocean below, is such an exquisite feeling.

“Like when ranks of infantry brandish their blades and rushing into the enemy’s territory. It moves me deep within my heart to watch a fresh recruit stabbing over and over into the bloated chest of a long-dead unit of resistance, filling the blood-lust that had been empty for all of his previous years of a life of contained anger and rage. The sight of deserters being captured and held for ransom is an irresistible pleasure, especially when a little torture is involved. And there is nothing more arousing, than the sounds made by soldiers of defense dropping like flies, screaming in agony as they're mowed down by ear piercing cannons! When a band of pitiful resistance fighters makes their final stand with nothing but their own hooves, only to have their city smashed to mites of dust block by block by solid lead balls, I'm in ecstasy.

“Now, don’t call me crazy, but this next part, the part that I love most, is a bit of a doozy for the easily sickened. But, what I love even more, is my crew, all of you, under attack. I love it when my forces are ravaged by an entire armada of war ships. It intrigues me, like a good book, to see the character I have been rooting for my entire life, throwing their safety out the door and facing up to the massive enemy, and perhaps even be killed in a delicious fashion.”

Slasher and Alexander gulped at that last sentence. It almost disgusted them by how Korsan romanticized their deaths.

“I love to be squashed under the hooves of the nation’s strongest soldiers.” Korsan said. “The humiliation, as my crew crawl around like vermin, ducking from arrows and balls of metal flying overhead, reflects off my sight. But be rest assured, this is not merely for some sort of masochist’s enjoyment inside of my soul, merely. When the time is right, those who squashed us get squashed back, a reward that’s completely worth the cost and risk. In its entirety of rewards, costs, risks, and power, I love war with all of my heart and soul.

“Gentlecolts and mares... All I ask for is war, a war so grand as to make Tartarus itself tremble. Sea artists, I ask you as fellow brothers and sisters under my infinite wisdom, what is it that you really want? Do you wish for further war as I do? Do you wish for a merciless, bloody war? A war whose fury is built with iron, and lightning, and fire? Do you ask for war to sweep in like a tempest, leaving not even ravens to scavenge our target’s remains, from this Earth? ...Very well. Then battle is what you shall have.

“We are a clenched hoof, ready to strike down all who oppose us, with our might. But... After having our ancestors’ legacy enduring over many centuries wallowing in the darkness by these inferiors, for us, a simple "ordinary" war will no longer be sufficient. We need a massive war! A war beyond any other that pony's history has ever known! One that shall alter the course of history and restore all of our future descendants to the glory we as an entire species deserve!”

“He’s gone…” Alexander gasped, now shriveling at the hooves.

“Yet, I can sense doubt still among you gazing upon me, for good reason. We are but a single battalion. We are the remnants of a long defeated cause, now numbering merely a hundred strong. However, I believe that each of you warriors is equal to a thousand of their inferior might! We represent a force that could easily defeat an army of a million and one ponies, one hundred thousand fully rigged brigantines, ten thousand factions, and a thousand countries combined!

“It is time for them to awake the ones who sent us screaming into madness, to obscurity, and who now lie sleeping. Let's drag them out of bed by the mane, and remind them of what we are! We will remind them of what it feels like to live in fear, in inferiority, in pain. We will remind them of the sound of our ancestors’ greatest powers grinding against their throats. We will remind them, that there are more things between birth and death than are dreamt of in their philosophy. Our legion of one hundred mighty unicorns is going to burn this wretched world down to ash.

“Yes, my friends! We shall begin an assembly of new eras, starting with the war against all of the known world! But first, we shall strike Equestria, the leading country of this old world, and turn it into a beacon of our new world. Soon, Equestria's charred remains will illuminate the night sky! I have brought you all glory, riches, and power, just as I promised I would. All that now remains is your cooperation in this final campaign, our greatest campaign! Back to our favorite battlefield. Back to our beloved war! At last, the sea lion has crossed the ocean and is heading up the hill. Attention, all soldiers of The Perfection! This is a message from your captain, Korsan Arasinda Maden. …Friends, let’s bring them Tartarus.”

“Oh, no.” Twilight and Alexander groaned.

Chapter 048: United and Strong

“What?! He expects us to go to war?!” Alexander exclaimed.

He and everypony on deck were absolutely blown away by what Korsan told them. It was overwhelming to the crew.

“Has he gone off the deep end?” Slasher asked, completely shocked.

“He has to be. We’ve almost died on Alicorn Island, now he expects us to go to war? Even Isyan was more sane than to do that!” Alexander replied.

“We have to do something!”

“And we will do something,” Twilight replied. “We all will get as many ponies on our side as quickly as possible.”

“I’ll try to convince Korsan to hold off the attack.” Rarity said.

“No,” Twilight told her. “He’s too unstable right now.”

“You just rejected him, Rarity.” Alexander commented.

“He might kill you just like he did to Isyan. I’m going to go to him, he trusts me.” Twilight said.

“Are you sure?” Rarity asked.

“I just ‘sent a letter to Celestia declaring my face-heel turn’.” Twilight replied.

“Okay.”

Rarity and the other pirates loosen the roped around Twilight and the others. Rarity then pulled out her rapier and carefully stabbed it into the anti-magic strap around Twilight’s horn. As Twilight climbed out of her binds, the horn band dropped onto the wooden deck.

“Thanks.” Twilight said.

“Good luck, and don’t get hurt.” Rarity replied.

“I’ll try not to.”

Twilight galloped to the quarterdeck. She saw the back of Korsan as he headed into his quarters, a smug grin certainly on his face. Making it to the beginning stairs, Twilight was approached by Yin and Yu. The brothers were in a panic of some kind, most likely for the same reason Alexander and Slasher were.

“Oh, hello there, Ms. Sparkle,” Yin quickly spoke to her.

“Uh, hi,” Twilight replied.

They walked up the stairs as they continued to talk.

“So, what are you doing?” Yu asked.

“What are you doing?” Twilight asked back.

“…” Yu had no response.

“Hey, we asked first.” Yin replied.

“But she’s new to the crew, we should be courteous.” Yu whispered to Yin.

“Don’t give me that courteous garbage. We’ve already been given enough lip about that.” Yin silently retorted.

“Hey, I don’t want to risk being smashed in the face again. Remember that yellow devil?”

“Of course I do, I was right beside you with a busted nose of my own.”

“Exactly my point,”

“Whatever, this is getting us nowhere.”

Yin returned his attention to Twilight, who had heard the whole ordeal.

He asked her once more, “Twilight, what are you-”

“Wait,” Twilight interrupted Yin. “A ‘yellow devil’?”

“She was furious!” Yu exclaimed.

The three then reached the third floor of the quarterdeck.

“Hey, we’re here, Yin.” Yu said.

“We’re all here to meet with Korsan, huh?” Twilight asked.

“You know what? We’ll find out what we’re all doing once we get inside.” Yin replied.

“Fine.”

Twilight, Yin, and Yu quickly marched into the captain’s bedroom. Upon entering they immediately looked around for Korsan. The room was barren, with the only company being distorted music coming from the organ in the back. It sounded broken.

“He might be in the garage with that new weapon he’s been working on.” Yin said.

With the two pirates leading the way, the three walked to the metal doors. They opened the doors without hesitation and were met by six rapidly spiraling pipes aimed right at their face. The long, thin pipes were traveling at blinding speeds, emitting deafening rattles of gears and pistons colliding.

The ponies stopped dead in their tracks as they stared down the circling barrels aimed at their heads. Metal bolts could barely seen at the other end of the barrels. They were just like the bolts used for Korsan’s crossbow, but absolutely massive.

“Oops,” a mischievous voice echoed from behind the pipes. “My bad, let me turn this off.”

“Korsan…” Twilight cursed beneath her breath.

The barrels soon slowed down as the weapon was turned off. The weapon was turned away from the onlookers, revealing its true, massive size. Twilight and the two pirates gazed upon the whole of the weapon, dumbfounded. by the vast collection of razor sharp gears and cables inside it. Hundreds, if not thousands, of pieces of machinery were jumbled together in a solid cannon of mechanical terror.

“What is that?” Twilight gasped.

Korsan revealed himself to her and the others from behind the cannon.

He frenziedly replied, “It’s my newest weapon, sort of a scaled-up version of my crossbow. I hope you like it, because you’re going to be seeing it a lot in the coming years. It’s accurate, it’s powerful, it’s strong, it’s continuous, it’s everything a tool of war should be!”

Now no pony wanted to confront Korsan. They couldn’t even imagine what would happen to them if Korsan fired at them with that thing.

“Isn’t it glorious?” Korsan asked.

“Uh huh…” The three nervously nodded.

“So, what brings you all here?”

“...You two, you want to go first?” Twilight asked, turning to the yellow stallions beside her.

The brother duo promptly replied with a silent death gesture in her direction.

“So then, Yin, Yu, what is it?” Korsan asked.

Yin took a gulp of air before shakily answering, “We’re here to ask you about a few… aspects of your newest command.”

“Ask away. But make it quick, I’m going to have a lot of my plate very soon.” Korsan replied.

“Well, don’t you think the timing of such a ‘war’, as you put it, is a bit sudden?”

“Sudden?”

“Yeah,” Yu replied replied, even more squeamish than his brother. “We just had a big adventure and all. Shouldn’t we have a bit of a rest?”

“Oh, no-no-no-no-no-no, this war must begin now, and I’ll need all of you to be ready when it begins.” Korsan eagerly replied.

“What if some of us, not me nor my brother, just, hypothetically speaking, what if some of us don’t want to join in this war?” Yu asked.

“…” Korsan didn’t respond and instead silently paced across the room.

His scarred eye remained locked onto the three, staring into their souls.

“Also, Captain, you’re eyepatch is still-”

“Still what?” Korsan sharply asked Yu.

“Eep!” Yu yelped.

“Well?” Korsan asked.

“Still over the wrong eye, Sir,” Yin said.

“Oh, so it ‘tis. Huh. I guess I’m taking a liking to this new view.” Korsan replied nonchalantly.

“Are you sure you can see fine that that eye?” Yin asked.

“Oh, I can see much better with this one.”

“Okay…”

“Yep, seeing everything a lot clearer than before with this here eye, I never thought of removing the eyepatch,”

“Sir, you still haven’t answered our question.”

“Oh yes, Yu!”

“Yin-”

“I forgot, silly me, well, if anypony doesn’t want to participate, they’re free to do so.”

“Really?” Yin and Yu asked in unison.

“Yes, they can help me in here, performing tests.”

Korsan then slammed his claw against the machine, springing the weapon to action. The onlookers jumped in place as the cannon roared to life. The barrels instantly spun up and were ready to fire. The cannon slowly rotated in place, pointing right at them.

“Stay still.” Korsan warned them.

The mighty cannon scanned over the three still ponies before moving on around the metal chamber. It passed Korsan and continued to rotate. Now out of the machine’s “sight” away, Korsan turned off the cannon.

He walked up to the three ponies, his tongue licking his chops.

“Are we clear?” He asked Yin and Yu.

The two unicorns stuttered, “C-c-c-c-c-c-cryst-tral-l.”

“Any more questions?” Korsan asked.

“N-no!” They replied.

“Very well then, be on your merry way.”

“Yes, Sir!”

Quickly, the two stallions ran out of the captain’s quarters in a sweaty panic. Not even a second passed when the door to the captain’s quarters could be heard slamming shut. Now, Twilight was alone with Korsan.

“Now what about you, Ms. Sparkle?” Korsan asked, petting his cannon.

“M-me?” Twilight stammered, still frozen from the machine’s quick drive. “What about me? What do I think about your suit? It’s good! All refilled with anti-magic, it looks like-”

“What have you come to see me for?” Korsan asked, cutting off her pleasantries.

“Oh, yes, I was just wondering…”

“Wondering?”

“Wondering if I should be getting any training, …Sir!”

“You seemed pretty capable during our little, moment, on Alicorn Island. By the way, who taught you those moves again? You never really clarified.”

“My brother, the Captain of the Royal Guard in Equestria,”

“I see. I don’t recall seeing such a stallion during the night of the gala three weeks ago.”

“He was busy at the Crystal Empire, had to take care of certain affairs.”

“Interesting, most interesting.”

“…”

“And curious, might I add. You are oddly open with these more personal details. Mind if I ask why?” Korsan asked.

“I just thought you would know since you’re the captain.” Twilight lied.

“Mmhmm.”

“Is there a problem?”

“No, no. There shouldn’t be one, right?”

“Y-yeah,”

“…”

“Korsan?”

“Oh, I was just thinking. Is there anything else you want to tell me?”

“Well, I guess, what are your current feelings towards Rarity?”

“Ms. Rarity…” Korsan muttered below his breath.

“…” Twilight took a gulp of air, suspense killing her.

“I’d rather not think about her all that much. I’m more concerned about urgent matters.” Korsan plainly replied.

“I see.”

“You know about these urgent matters, I assume.”

“…What do you-”

“Those matters,”

“…” Twilight loudly swallowed another gulp of air.

Anxiety puked from the walls as Korsan gave her a very judgement and knowing glance.

“What’s wrong?” Korsan asked. It was like he was playing with her.

“I-I think I should check on our prisoners, Captain.” Twilight replied.

“Ah, yes, a very wise decision, I congratulate you, Ms. Sparkle. They will need to be secured for what’s coming. War often begins at the most, unexpected, and sudden times.”

”Eep!”

“Don’t you think?”

“Uh, yeah,”

“Shoo.”

Slowly, Twilight backed away from the room and Korsan’s sight before frantically entering into a gallop. She escaped the captain’s quarters and flew to the bow of the airship. As she soared between the masts of the boat, the sounds of maniacal laugher echoed from behind. The cold screeches of a hungry ice phoenix followed in the captain’s wake.

She eventually reached the remains of the front mast. A large group of pirates, including Yin and Yu, surrounded the busted mast.

Twilight hovered above the mass gathering, asking, “What’s going on?”

“What’s going on? We’re listening to what Yin and Yu have to say.” One of the pirate mares replied.

“He’s off of his rocker!” Yin yelled out to their audience.

“Called it!” A stallion in the mass exclaimed.

“He wants us all to get ready for this war, now!” Yu said.

“Now?!” Butch asked in shock. “What if we aren’t ready?”

“You better be ready! There’s this giant, super-crossbow-cannon that he’s going to use to maim any of us that doesn’t fight.” Yin said.

“It was insane!” Yu added. “It was like, RRRRRRRRR, and, chink-chink-chink-chink-chink.”

“Basically, it’s scary.” Yin said.

“Well then, we better get ready to fight.” One of the pirates said.

“Wait!” Slasher exclaimed. “Why do we have to? Why can’t we fight back?”

“Did you not just hear Yin?” Alexander asked Slasher. “Korsan’s going to skewer anypony that he doesn’t like!”

“Not if we all work together.” Slasher said.

“Are you kidding? He’s got Chopin, Gofu, Pip, Horus, Ivan, Phlox, Barbara, Hotus, and several others glued to his side. None of us can beat those guys in sparring tournaments, even when it’s two of us against one of them." Hans replied.

“But-”

“And besides, what are we going to do after that?” Maria asked Slasher. “None of us know how to run this ship. We’ll be caught and executed for our crimes, just like things were before Korsan. For a moment, I, and nine others with us, thought the same thing as well as you did, we wanted to overthrow Korsan in order to start anew. It was a stupid idea, one we only got out of out of sheer luck. He’s ended his own cousin’s, why not us?”

“What life is there in constant fear and destruction?” Slasher retorted.

“Korsan’s life,” Maria said. “Look at him now, terrified of all of us, yet still has the biggest grin on his face. He has ended thousands of lives, and will end millions more without remorse. A hundred or so pirates will be nothing to him. It’s good for your skin to stay alive.”

“Quite.” Alexander replied.

“But it’s wrong, and you know it.” Slasher said.

“Is it?” Hans asked.

“What?” Slasher replied.

“After all of these years, we’ve been almost unstoppable because we can use magic. We can teleport, levitate objects from afar, and cast all sorts of other spells.” Hans explained.

“But that doesn’t mean we should end the lives of millions of non-unicorns.” Rarity retorted.

“As much as I hate the violence,” Butch replied. “If there isn’t a worthy reason to rebel against Korsan without strong cause, then don’t. You and anypony else that joins this ‘new mutiny’ are signing into a pointless suicide pact. It’s either life or death, and I’m going with the former.”

Slowly, most of the pirates broke away and headed back to their stations on the ship, choosing to stay with Korsan. Alexander also walked away from the group. Horrified, Twilight and the few others remaining watched over the mass exodus. If only there was some way to bring them back.

“But-but-but,” Slasher stammered, but was cut short by Alexander staring back at her with an intense stare. “…I’m so sorry…” She cried.

“Don’t worry sugar cube,” Applejack comforted Slasher. “You tried your best.”

“Need a hug?” Fluttershy asked, slowly hovering to Slasher.

“Look on the bright said, there’s a few pirates still here.” Yu said.

“Perhaps me and my brother could join this rebellion.” Yin followed up.

“I got your back.” Rarity told Slasher, holding her rapier between her and her cat-loving friend.

“Thanks,” Slasher sniffled.

She smiled as she looked over her friends around her.

A brilliant thought then burst in her head. A thought so grand, she almost lost control of her flight. Immediately, Twilight soared around the mass of retreating pirates, catching their attention.

“Listen up!” She exclaimed, landing in the middle of the herd.

“Ugh, not this again,” Alexander groaned in shame.

“Korsan knows about my false allegiance to him, and how I have sent Princess Celestia a letter for her to come and save us at any hour or day.” Twilight declared.

“Oh that’s reassuring!” One of the stallions sarcastically yelled out at Twilight.

“But that is not a call of despair! Instead, let it be a call of rejoice! Listen, as Korsan holds his expectations high towards all of you, it will be all the more crippling to see his expectations shatter before him when Princess Celestia comes with her army.” Twilight said.

“But why should we even rebel?” Butch asked, “What cause is there if we’re just going to get caught?”

“Again, why bother with a bunch of losers?” Hans asked Twilight.

“All ponies are equal, each in their own right!” Twilight declared.

A series of groans and boos erupted from the mob.

Twilight yelled at them, “Listen! Over the past three weeks, I have witnessed many things that I would’ve have taken for granted. My friend, Fluttershy, a pegasus, talks fluently with animals, something that no magic has been able to replicate. She is also one of the kindest and bravest mares I know, facing her greatest fears, even death, in order to help those in need. My other friend, Rainbow Dash, another pegasus, is fast, really fast, faster than any speed spell and can go farther than any series of teleportation spells. She can create storms with only a beat of her wings. But most importantly, she is more loyal to me and my friends than anypony I know. Another friend, Pinkie Pie, an Earth pony, even in the worst of times, she’ll almost never frown and keep a positive attitude. She’ll always find a silver lining and find some way to keep both friends and enemies happy. Applejack, the Earth pony that had temporarily joined you all, is the strongest mare in Equestria. Without my magic, I depended on Applejack most of all to keep me safe. And although she betrayed us, I understand why she did it. She had an honest reason, to protect those she loved, even me and my friends. That’s right, Applejack, I forgive you!”

“This is all very touching and all, but what are four-five friends of yours reason to try and ‘protect’ millions?” Maria replied.

Despite her cold voice, Twilight, and by extent, the other pirates, sensed something was off. Something was melting inside Maria. A warm breath of a hopefully heart could be felt in her voice.

Rarity replied, taking Twilight’s place as the speaker, “The same as a crew of one hundred compared to billions of other ponies that love and are loved by the millions. Remember that day three years ago? The day when you all destroyed an entire kingdom, sending those thousands of families to their deaths? Are you ashamed of that day?”

The pirates hesitantly replied, “…Yes, but-”

“Why? There isn’t a worthy cause is there?” Rarity asked.

“…”

“But there was a cause, and you all know it. The reason why all of you are so ashamed of that day, and why you should fight against Korsan, is that you know the truth. Although we are more versatile in some aspects, doesn’t mean we are any better than pegasi and Earth ponies. You know why?” Rarity asked.

Twilight replied, “Souls, personalities, friendships, all of these play equal factors in each and every pony that Korsan has never seen and that all of you have taken a blind eye to. My friends, mostly all non-unicorns, are far better, happier ponies than many unicorns I have come across. They, as well as I, have helped so many others to live better lives with just their voices alone. Heck, magic sometimes is the source of the many problems we come across. Without magic, all of you were powerless, not knowing what to do. Wiping out two thirds of all ponykind and replacing it with magic is not going to solve anything.”

“…” The crew were deathly silent, thinking to themselves based on the words of these heroes before them.

“We’ll most likely destroy ourselves if we follow along with Korsan.” Twilight continued. “You all wanted a second chance, and this is it. Use your talents for helping those that can help you in return when you need help with a problem you can’t solve with magic. Their humility may be your reason you will still be alive and live as you will in the future.”

Alexander replied, “But we’re criminals. No pony is going to look at us any higher than scum.”

“Criminals can be heroes. Any pony, including non-unicorns, can be,” Twilight said. “Literally, it happens every Tuesday.

Rarity concluded the battle rally, “I know this is scary for a lot of you, abandoning your luxurious lives on this ship to possibly die. But what is a life in shame and fear other than Korsan’s, the maniac that keeps you prisoner on here? His way of life is bringing death to thousands. Even if you die fighting, you would have lived a better life in those few seconds than serving him for however many years. If you still decide to stay loyal to Korsan, then go ahead. We shall meet again when the battle begins, and even there, I will still offer mercy. If you want to end this guilt of being his lackey, then join us, and together, we’ll end Korsan’s tyranny once and for all!”

“Choose wisely, please.” Twilight begged.

Silence washed over the airship. The massive sea of motley ponies stared off into their own personal subconscious worlds. As they all thought, Twilight heard the revving of Korsan’s weapon at the other end of the ship.

Eventually, Maria and a few other pirates left and returned to their regular posts.

However, just as it seemed that the mutiny was going to fail, a pirate’s voice turned the tide.

Alexander proclaimed, “You know what? You’re right. More it is noble to live a short life fighting for what is right and pure, than to forever live in shame and wrong. I dreamed of being a noble pony to the end of my days, and this is how I’ll do it.”

Slowly, Alexander walked over to Slasher’s side. He turned and faced the remaining, undecided pirates. Instantly, the mob burst out in small talk and cheers, splitting apart and taking sides. As one pony joined the heroes’ side, another went back to their station and prepare to fight them.

Yet, even with this vast split, the many members of the new mutiny, including Twilight, Rarity, Spike, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Slasher, Alexander, and several others, stood firm. They triumphantly looked to each other, their own personal army of justice.

“Hey! Don’t forget us!” Yin called out to Twilight.

Yin and Yu galloped to Twilight and the others and joined them.

“Yu! Yin!” Slasher yelled out to them.

Yu galloped to Maria, overly excited to see her. He quickly stared to stare into her eyes with a dumb smile on his face.

“Slasher, I haven’t seen you in ages.” Yu said.

“I missed you so much.” Slasher replied, blushing a little. “I missed seeing you out in the halls, goofing around with the other ponies.”

“I missed your smile.” Yu replied, blushing a lot. “You’re so prett-I mean-petite. You’re petite form always brought a warm atmosphere.”

“This is so awkward! Just do it, Yu!” Rarity yelled at him.

“What does she mean?” Slasher asked.

Yu took a deep breath before replying, “…Before we all probably die in some horrific fashion, I just need to get this off of my chest, Slasher”

“Wha-”

Without hesitation, Yu grabbed Slasher with his magic, pulls her into his face, and locks his lips onto hers. At first shocked, Slasher soon succumbed to the kissing and held bond even tighter. Their eyes closed as the two collapse onto the floor in a cuddling fit.

Yin and the other pirates watched in shock.

“Aww!” Pinkie exclaimed. “It’s so romantic!”

“When was this going on?!” Yin exclaimed in confusion.

“It doesn’t matter silly, it’s love.” Pinkie replied.

“It just came out of nowhere, no explanation or any-” Yin tried to reply, only to be cut off by Pinkie.

“You will feel the love tonight!” She told him.

“But-”

“Just ignore it, Yin.” Applejack replied.

“How? My brother is sucking the face off of Slasher out of nowhere!” Yin exclaimed.

“Ahem…” A soft voice called out to Rarity.

Rarity looked to the source and away from the others to see Maria. She was standing behind the mast stump, nervous to show herself in front of the others. A glint of fear was in her red eyes.

“Maria?” Rarity responded.

“Is it too late to join you guys?” Maria whispered.

“It never is too late.” Rarity warmly said.

Slowly, Maria walked out from behind the mast and joined the team. With a team of now over thirty ponies, the heroes now stood a chance against Korsan. However, only time would tell who will win. Will it be Korsan, or Twilight and her friends?

Chapter 049: Celestial Intervention (Part 1)

Cracks of thunder roared across the stormy skies over the archipelago, Thieves’ Hold. Rivers of rain fell from the dark heavens onto the stone stacks that towered the raging waters below. Falls of fresh rainwater poured from the stone and wood structures and into the see.

The popular tavern that resided in this place was gone for the moment. Only a wooden foundation of the tavern remained, hovering over the edge of the steep cliff. It was not abandoned, rather the opposite. The tavern of Thieves’ Hold was under renovation.

Massive construction was unfolding on the small isle. As the rain poured down and the thunder cracked, hundreds of ponies were bustling around the platform. All sorts of building materials were scattered around the to-be new tavern. Wooden planks, logs, furniture, iron rods, lamps, stone blocks, and several miscellaneous items were being thrown around the area. The sounds of roaring pirates and heaving workers filled the air.

At the balcony, November Gale and Nitin Gale were looking at plans of the tavern, shown on a soaked scroll laid across a small crate. On the scroll were several schematics and blue prints for the new tavern.

“These look great, Dad!” November cheered.

“Thank you, November, though I’m not sure if our budget will handle this.” Nitin joked back.

“Ten million bits?” November asked, raising an eyebrow.

The two glanced over to the giant crate behind them, brimming with golden coins that shone in the rain. They shared a laugh.

“Who am I kidding? Ha, ha!” Nitin cackled.

Jarvis, one of the old patrons, approached the Gales. He was carrying three large logs on his back.

“Mr. Gale.” Jarvis called to Nitin, still laughing.

“Hm? Oh yes, Jarvis, place those next to Cecil.” Nitin told him.

“Yes, Mr. Gale.”

“Please, just call me Nitin.”

“Okay then, Nitin.”

As the Gales returned to their blueprints, the green giant, Jarvis, trotted over towards the back of the growing foundation. He approached his friend, Cecil, who was lifting several other logs up. Cecil was fitting the logs through holes in the floor.

“Hey, Cecil.” Jarvis said.

Cecil looked down from his work and saw Jarvis.

“Hey Jarvis.” He merrily replied. “Put them with the others.”

“Need some help?” Jarvis asked.

“Sure, help me get this stubborn bugger in.”

Jarvis walked up to the tall log Cecil was holding up and pushed his hooves down against the sides of the wooden log. The log slowly lowered into its tight hole.

“There we go…” Cecil groaned, as he would with any strenuous work.

“Quite a lot of rain we’re getting.” Jarvis remarked.

“Oh please, this is nothing compared to what’s going on in the northwest.”

“Hm?”

“Yeah, there’s a massive hurricane forming. Rumours are spreading around that an entire ocean’s worth of water will be pourin’ there. This is merely the edge of it.”

“Pity for anypony who’s sailing there,”

Cecil then asked Jarvis, “Speaking of sailing, where’s Maurice? He ditched us when Korsan left.”

“I don’t know. He probably left knowing that we would stick around to rebuild the bar.” Jarvis replied.

“Perhaps.” Cecil agreed, rolling his eyes.

The massive vertical beam set in place. But before Cecil could thank Jarvis, a flash of blue light blinded the two stallions. Somepony was teleporting right in front of them, no consideration given for light falloff. The blinding glow died down immediately, revealing Maurice in his casual back suit and top hat.

“Maurice!” Cecil exclaimed.

“What’s up you slacker?” Jarvis asked.

“Guys! I’ve just scored a big one!” Maurice giddily cheered.

“How big?” Cecil asked.

“I just looted a mailing ship headed from Equestria to Cervidas with me crew!” Maurice said.

“You what?!” Cecil and Jarvis gasped.

“Yeah!”

“Maurice! Do you realize that you committed one of the biggest federal crimes between two of the largest military kingdoms? We’re pirates, but even we draw the line when it comes to mail. That’s too much of a risk.” Cecil scolded the bouncing pony, Maurice.

“Relax, the ship’s crew barely knew what hit them. I even got a few of the more de-luxe letters.” Maurice said.

“And tampering with the mail?!” Cecil exclaimed.

“Hey, check out this one butt kisser’s letter to the king…”

“You’re ridiculous,” Cecil moaned.

Maurice took a moment to clear his throat before reading out loud to his fellow rivals with benefits.

To Ceres, King of Cervidas,

My liege,

I have the honor to inform you that the power of Equestria has been exaggerated to a degree that beggars belief. This evening I had the pleasure of witnessing a band of thieves make off with Equestria's greatest treasure during their annual gala despite the presence of a company of elite soldiers and all four of the alicorn Princesses. This theft was not carried out, lest you be misinformed by others, by darkness or by subterfuge, but by sheer force of arms. Their guards were overwhelmed despite superior numbers and their Highnesses were undone by the bandits' leader, who defeated them alone and unaided. Having seized their prize, the thieves left, victorious and of their own accord, apparently having deemed it not worth their while to take neither hostages nor plunder - nor indeed seize - the city. Should my words fail to do justice to this night's events, I have included with this letter photographs which I was able to take whilst the focus of the room was on our unexpected guests. I should emphasize to your majesty that these thieves were neither creatures of darkness nor bearers of enchanted arms, but mere mortal ponies of an ordinary sort.

Therefore, I implore your majesty to, with haste, gather together what soldiers you may, and set sail fo-

“Okay, okay, I’ve heard enough.” Cecil interrupted Maurice’s readings.

“That sounds a lot like that one raid Korsan did in Equestria.” Jarvis pointed out.

“That was three weeks ago, right?” Cecil asked.

“Four weeks.” Maurice corrected him. “…I think.”

“Why would a mailing ship be at least three weeks late?” Cecil asked again.

“I don’t know. The ship was being a little suspicious.” Maurice noted.

“Whatever, just get rid of the letters you took before some official catches you.” Cecil told Maurice.

“We’re in the middle of nowhere, who’s going to find us?”

“Probably the same lot as that group with Pinkie,”

“Oh yeah!” Jarvis exclaimed. “I remember her.”

“We all do, Jarvis. She’s the reason this place is getting upgraded, no, fixed for once.” Cecil replied.

“Hey, when do you think she’ll come back?” Jarvis then asked.

“No clue. Maybe Maurice will attack another mail ship and find a letter that’ll answer your question.”

“It was just one ship out there in the open!” Maurice retorted. “I wasn’t going against an armada or anything.”

“You may as well be trying to pick a fight with Korsan.” Jarvis replied.

“Actually, where has he been?” Cecil asked. “We’ve been here for a fair while and we haven’t seen one sign of him.”

“Wasn’t he busy with something involving some diamonds, an island, and being able to use magic?” Jarvis asked back.

“If I recall correctly, yeah…”

“Do you think he found what he’s been looking for?”

“Knowing him, probably.” Maurice plainly said.

“What’s going to happen to us then?” Jarvis asked.

“He’s probably going to try and kill us or something. I say we split this place when the bloke finally snaps and hide until the heat dies down.” Maurice advised his friends.

“What about November and Nitin? Shouldn’t we stick around help out with the new bar?” Jarvis replied.

“Hey, I didn’t say Korsan did find whatever he’s looking for to start his blood campaign now. I’m just saying in case it does happen.” Maurice said.

“When do you think that’ll be?”

“Probably long before I get caught for this mail job.”

“Don’t tempt fate, Maurice.” Cecil warned him.

“Oh please, as I said, we’re in the middle of nowhere-”

A massive ship horn suddenly blared across the trio as well as the rest of the working ponies. A frightening shadow was casted over the wall of the stone tower. Tall sails fluttered right by the pirates on the top of the tower.

They all looked over to see the huge battleship right next to them. A while glow seemed to come off the ship.

“Is that Korsan?” Jarvis asked.

“It can’t be, it’s too small. It’s doesn’t even have a green glow or black sails.” Cecil replied.

“A battleship?” Maurice said.

Other, smaller ships then joined the great battle ship and surround the stone towers.

“An armada?! Only large military kingdoms would have-Oh dear.” Maurice lamented.

“You have messed up big time now.” Cecil said.

“Hey, you’re all going down with me. We’re all pirates here!” Maurice snapped back in panic. “Also, when we get to prison, I’ll be the one who gets the soap first.”

Most of the pirates stood frozen as the larger ship parked itself at the edge of the harbor. A long ramp extended from the ship and onto the port. Two ponies, one white and one black, flew out from the ship and approached the top.

November and Nitin prepped their weapons as the two emerged from below the cliff and land at the edge of the balcony. A thick mist covered the area, making it difficult to recognize the two ponies.

“Who’s this?” Nitin sternly asked.

The two walked across the balcony and revealed themselves by the light of the nearby lantern. They were Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, alicorn princess of Equestria. Both were garbed in thick, extravagant armour that covers them from head to tail. Celesita’s was gold and white and Luna’s was in black and blue.

“The princesses of Equestria?!” November gasped.

“I wasn’t the one that tampered with your mail! It was Korsan!” Maurice’s voice echoed across from the corner of the foundation.

“How did you all even-” November asked.

Celestia interrupted her with a powerful message, “We received a letter from Princess Twilight Sparkle that detailed for us to come to this location and enlist the help of all of you. This is an urgent matter.”

“Who?” Cecil shouted out.

“Twilight Sparkle. She says you all know her.” Celestia replied.

“…” Every pony was silent, clueless.

“…What did the letter say? Oh! Pinkie Pie’s friend-”

“Pinkie Pie! This came from Pinkie’s friend?!” Cecil asked.

“Uh… yes?” Luna answered, slightly confused by the abnormal connotation.

“This is important! Everypony shut up and listen to these two!” Cecil yelled out.

Mass cheering erupted throughout the area. It was great to hear from their dear friend, Pinkie Pie. Eventually, the pirates silenced themselves and listened in to what the princesses had to say.

“Okay then…” Luna replied, stunned from the reaction.

November humbly asked the princesses, “What does Twilight need help with?”

“She says you all know Captain Korsan, correct?” Celestia asked.

“Yes ma’am.” November said.

“He’s about to begin his global campaign to wipe out all pegasi and Earth ponies.” Celestia announced.

The entire audience gasped.

“Twilight and her friends need all of us to come and help stop him.” Celestia then said.

“Fight against Korsan?!” November exclaimed.

“Yes.”

Nitin glanced back towards the pirates with them. At first, they were uncertain. But as they looked to each other, they saw that they all had the same thing in mind.

“We’re in.”

“I know it is scary-wait, what?” Celestia said, having prepared a rousing speech.

“Yeah, we’re sick of Korsan.” One of the pirates yelled out.

“He just wiped our bar from the face of the world. How can we rebuild it if there’s no world to put it back?” Cecil replied.

“It’s about time we did something!” Another pirate declared.

“Korsan’s a jerk.” Another said.

“He owes me money!” Another exclaimed.

“He smells,” Another commented.

“So, yeah, we’re in.” November told Celestia and Luna.

“Hey!” An old, cranky voice faintly yelled out.

“Did you hear something?” November asked.

It was coming from underneath the balcony at the waters below.

“Will all of you keep the noise down?” The voice yelled out again.

“Who’s that?” Nitin asked.

“If all of you don’t shut up so I can get to sleep, this here cane’s going to have a word with all of y’all!”

Author's Note

Kudos to Veylon for originally writing the letter Maurice reads.

Chapter 050: Celestial Intervention (Part 2)

Hurricane winds swirled and roared outside The Perfection. A storm was drawing near.

Over the short time Twilight and her team of heroes and pirates have been with Korsan, they have been preparing to battle him when the time came. As they worked aboard the ship, they amassed an array of weaponry and supplies for the coming mutiny. As the long days progressed, their time was coming closer to an inevitable end. Every moment of preparation counted.

On this stormy day, Rarity, Maria, and Sweetie Belle snuck into the armoury. Although they have looted this room on several occasions before, hundreds of sharp weapons and articles of armour still hung from the walls and stands, a clear sign of the crew’s hording habits. Quickly, the trio of mares got to work. They sifted through the armoury and grabbed as many good items as their magic abilities could handle.

As Rarity searched through a pile of battle garments, she found a red silk dress. It looked to be misplaced. It had no weapon-holding pockets, no long strap with a weight at the end, no obvious blades sticking out of it.

“Huh. This is odd.” Rarity remarked aloud.

“What is?” Maria asked.

She looked over from the other side of the room to see Rarity. Maria pulled away her red bangs in order to actually see what Rarity was looking.

“This, Maria. It looks nice, but it is out of place in an armoury.”

Just as Maria, could get a clear view of the dress, Rarity flick the dress in the air to fluff it.

“Look out!” Maria exclaimed.

“Wha-”

The red dress suddenly snapped. Several large spikes popped out from the near invisible seams of the slick dress. Rarity dropped the dress and leapt into the corner. She looked back to see the dress, now coated in sharp, serrated spikes.

Maria put a hoof to her face. She was scared for Rarity for a moment, but it was quickly replaced by annoyance.

“Have you never heard of a trap dress?” Maria berated Rarity.

“Only in story books, I never thought they were really used.” Rarity replied.

“Of course they’re real. Sheesh.” Maria rolled her eyes. “And Korsan thought he could train you to be a killer.”

“It was only two weeks, I could be a decent fighter.” Rarity replied.

“’I could’, so what of it? But this is not the time for fighting. I’ll just take the dress. I have a tickling feeling this maybe our last time going in here.” Maria said.

Carefully, Rarity picked up the spiked garment with her magic. Seeing as how flicking extended the spikes, Rarity flicked it once more to retract them.

“Not like that!” Maria gasped.

The dress snaps once more. It fired the metal spikes from the cloth in every direction of the room. A needle flew directly at Maria. She ducked under it in time and the spike nails itself to the wall behind. Several spikes barely miss Sweetie Belle as she scampered across the room. She jumped behind a shield in a worried panic. The final flung spike soared into the galley and smashed a window, creating an earsplitting shriek that ring across the entire quarterdeck.

“Oops…” Rarity moaned.

“You are such an idiot!” Maria snapped, rife with anger.

“Well sorry, I didn’t know it was going to do that!” Rarity retorted.

“Ivan or somepony is going to come in here any second and catch us!”

“Aye.” A large, booming voice replied from the armoury doorway.

The three mares looked behind them to see the massive black stallion, Ivan. He walked into the room and approached Maria. Maria immediately began to panic, but calmed down in order to talk to Ivan.

“Oh, hey Ivan, sorry about the window. You forgive me right?” Maria asked in an uncharacteristically laid-back tone.

“Aye,” Ivan coldly replied in his usual stoic nature.

“I was just showing Rarity some of our newer weapons. You know, letting her test one or two of them.” Maria explained.

“Aye,”

“So yeah, how about you hurry along back to the kitchen and prepare some supper for us? How about letting Sweetie Belle help ya?”

“…Aye.”

“Look, I’ve just been a bit jumpy from the storm and the dress problem, nothing more. Don’t judge.”

“…Aye.”

“Just get back to your job and quit snooping.” Maria commanded Ivan, returning into her equally cold attitude.

“…Aye.” Ivan grumbled.

Stiffly, the large unicorn backed out of the armoury and returned to the adjacent kitchen.

“Sweetie Belle, follow him.” Maria told Sweetie.

Sweetie nodded her head and galloped after Ivan.

Maria looked back at Rarity. Rarity was still embarrassed from the dress incident.

“Alright, Rarity, we better make ourselves scarce. Take these weapons into the brig with the others while I clean up this mess.” Maria said.

“Got it.” Rarity replies.

With a flick of her horn, the couple of piles of weapons and tools were levitated into a single floating ball of metal, wood, and cloth. Rarity galloped out of the armoury with the ball in tow and went down to the bottom of the ship, leaving Maria all alone.

“Idiot.” Maria hissed under her breath. “…I do feel sorry for her. She’s been through a lot. I know what that feels like…”

As Maria cleaned the needles from the walls, ceiling, and floor, a cold breeze slowly washed over the room. Maria didn’t pay mind to the cold and continues to clean up. She stuffed all of the spikes into a chest in the corner of the room. Surely, no pony would look there and uncover what she and the other mutineers were doing. With her back turned against the rest of the room, she carefully placed the misplaced artifacts in a non-suspicious area of the box, already filled with kunai daggers and other throwing knives.

As she closed the chest, two cold, metal fingers ran across her cheek. A feeling of instant terror shot across her even paler body.

A menacing, icy voice whispers to the back of her head, “Maria Vanshwitz.”

Without turning around, knowing her fate when she does, Maria coldly replied, “…You.”

“And your favourite fellow crew member.” The voice said.

“The clown?” Maria asked.

“Mime, you know that. He gets easily offended.”

“I know what you want.”

“Do you now?”

“What else? You want to kill me, maybe torture me for a good while.”

“You would want that, wouldn’t you?” The voice asked.

A cold, slimy feeling licked Maria’s neck, clearly coming from the being right behind.

“What are you talking about?” Maria asked.

“Don’t play coy with me. You want to out of your misery, to forget the deep inside you.”

“What misery? The only thing close to misery is resentment towards you, Korsan.”

“Good, you still have that cynical sense of humour mixed in with that sassy, can-do attitude. I'm glad. I did so want you to be at your best for what I’m about to say.”

“Another speech? I’m speech-less.”

“…”

“Just get this ego-trip of yours done with.”

“Fine. You see, it doesn't matter if you stop me and kill me with whatever amount of magic you’ll have. I’ll be proven right. Insane you may say? You claim that I am not even a pony anymore, but more of a suicidal monster? Well then you’d be wrong, Maria. I've proved my point to you, thanks to your own self. I've demonstrated there's no difference between me and everypony else! All it takes is one bad turn of events to reduce the noblest pony into the scourge of all walks of life. That's how far the world is from where we are: Just one bad turn of events. You got some bad luck, am I right? I know I am. I can tell. You got unlucky and now there is no hope for you. It was what got you here, and what will keep you here, the failed resistance and the failed mutiny.”

“You think you can just walk away after that last bit?” Maria asked. “I’ll carve a Glascow frown right into that dumb grin.”

“When? During this next mutiny you’re trying to pull.”

“…!”

“Now, let’s see, who was in it again? Yu, Yin, Butch, Alexander, Rarity, Twilight, her friends, Slasher, Hans, Mordechai, Lilis…”

“How did you-”

“The same way your enemies found out.”

“A traitor? But-”

“…” A piercing grin stabbed Maria from behind.

“Hans?!” Maria gasped.

“Hans practically resented you ever since you joined the mutiny, even now as we speak weeks later. My, what a poor turn of events. Everytime you try to earn, what? A second chance? A better life? Reform? Regardless, everytime you do something outside the order, everything comes crashing down on you.

Love and life are pointless without me, only you won't admit it! You have to keep pretending that what you do makes sense, that there's some point to all this struggling! And now you make it all the more evident and obvious by joining this second uprising? By Tartarus, you make me want to puke. I mean, what is it with you? What made you what you are now? Some promise of Hans’ returning love? Pfff, obviously not. The threat of this ‘fear’ that everypony on this ship has been gossiping about? You know I carry through with my threats. Experiences from your past somehow motivating you? Your rebellions never worked. Perhaps something else? Perhaps maybe, something before your rebellious nature kicked in.”

“…” Maria wasn’t sure how to reply.

“Something like that, I bet. Something like that. Something like that happened to me, I’m sure you know. I... I'm not exactly sure what it was. Not sure which day, what event, what mindset I even was in when I finally snapped. I’ve had my fair share of breakdowns, but I can never recall which was the last straw. Sometimes I remember it one way, sometimes another, sometimes two weeks ago, when Isyan removed my eyepatch, sometimes twenty years ago when I was only a wee colt and being rejected by my family.

If I'm going to have a past, it might as well be multiple choice! Ha-ha-ha! But my point is... my point is, I went crazy. When I saw what a black, awful joke the world was in this ludicrous state, I went crazy as a coot! I admit it! Why can't you? I mean, you're not unintelligent. You must see the reality of the situation. Do you know how many lives I can heal from the struggling of inferiority? Plenty more than I can count! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Don’t you see it? It's all a joke! Everything everypony ever valued or struggled for, struggled for in this pathetic, downgraded planet, it's all a monstrous, demented gag!”

“…” Maria kept a tight lip and stayed quiet.

“So why can't you see the funny side, or any side that makes at least some sense? Either you’re mad, or you’ve just haven’t accepted the punchline. Why aren't you laughing?"

Maria finally replied. “Because I’ve heard this a million times from you, I’ve heard that pointless speech each and everytime you open your dumb mouth, and it wasn’t funny or insightful the first time. You want me enjoy life on this boat for a day? Fine, you’ll get one. You’ll get one from me and everypony else when your dead corpse is hanging from the highest mast of this ship. We’ve all had enough of your garbage. Sooner or later, all of us are going to want to see you as dead as your cousin!”

“…Perhaps it’s Twilight and the prisoners in the brig that are causing this, this corruption? What do you say, Chopin? Juliana? My thought exactly. Hans Kraus?”

Maria immediately gasped. She peeked behind her and, in the corner of her eye, caught a glimpse of the Hans. He, Chopin, and Juliana, were standing behind her and Korsan. She couldn’t believe Hans was here. She couldn’t believe he was here to see her downfall.

“Hans?!” Maria exclaimed. “You sold us out?”

“You need to know your priorities.” Hans coolly replied.

“I never said you were correct about your favourite…” Korsan teased Maria.

“Hans! You don’t need to give into Korsan!” Maria exclaimed.

“How adorable is this?!” Korsan asked his followers.

“No…” Maria cried in disbelief.

“It’s a pity really. Hans was so romantic and heroic for you up to this point. We all heard it on Alicorn Island. However, sad as it was for you, he was wrapped around my claws this whole time. I think he started to shift sides when you were talking it up with Isyan a while back…”

“No… No! Hans! Tell me it isn’t true!” Maria begged Hans.

“…” Hans kept quiet.

“…No…” Maria cried.

Warm tears slowly crawled down Maria’s cheeks. The tears vaporized on her red cheeks, burning with terror, loss, fury, and depression. Maria wept atop of the closet chest below her. She could feel her hopes wither away in the most gruesome of ways.

“Your illusion is shattered my dear, and so will everypony else’s once the first cannon is fired.” Korsan told her.

“Please, if you’re going to kill me, or torture me, just do it now.” Maria begged Korsan, barely able to speak amidst her crying.

“…I have a different idea.” Korsan replied. “After finishing my newest weapon a while ago, I’ve been begging fate to find me a use for it. I needed to test this ‘pinpoint-control’ technology, to extend the prowess of my mechanical control to not just be limited to my muscles. And, well, sandbags and watermelons don’t yield enough results for proper research.”

“…!” Maria’s eyes bugled in fright.

“Hans, Chopin, take Maria to my quarters and have her ready for my newest device. I got some business to take care of involving some very naughty mares.”

In the brig, Rarity, Twilight, and all the other pirates on their side gathered up. There, they armed themselves from the miniature armoury they created. Swords, crossbows, mini-cannons, and all other sorts of weaponry were passed around and were ready to fire or swing.

With the disappearance of Maria and Korsan’s growing impatience, they knew the final battle was within moments away. This was their last stand.

The choice was simple. Either stand idly by and let Korsan unleash his arsenal on the world, or fight back and most likely die to protect their fellow ponies. The pirates with Twilights knew this, and have committed to their choice. They’d rather die than see that fear-mongerer, Korsan, win.

“Hurry up!” Twilight yelled out.

“Do you think Celestia will get here on time?” Spike asked.

“She’ll have to. We’re going to have to get the jump on Korsan first to throw him and his crew off before to buy time for Celestia to catch them off guard.”

“Oh, we’re running out of time…” Fluttershy moaned in fear.

Soon, everypony was suited up and ready to fight. The small army of rebels then marched towards the stairs at the end of the brig. Up those stairs was the end. Who’s end? Only time would tell.

“Alright everypony, we’ve been gettin’ ready for this moment for weeks. Now is the time that we fight back for what’s right. It’s time to stop slouchin’ around and and save the world from the evil hooves of Korsan!” Applejack loudly declared.

“Yeah!” The others roared in triumph.

“Are you all ready?!” Pinkie Pie asked the pirate rebels.

“Yeah!”

“Is anypony having second thoughts?” Fluttershy asked.

“No!”

“Will we make them know who we are?!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!”

“Well, it’s been good meeting you all and getting to know you all.” Rarity said. “I hope we all come out of this.”

“Yeah!”

Twilight finished off the motivational buildup with a final speech.

She declared, “As Princess of Friendship, I am proud to declare all of you Knights of Equestria. Your bravery, even in the face of danger, your hope, even in the darkest of night, your will, stronger than the thickest metal in the world, all of you have proven yourselves. Though some, if not many of you, might die, it will not be in vain. Your names will be known across the world for thousands of years, as heroes, martyrs for the safety of billions. This is our final stand, we are the world’s last line of defense, we are what shall make history!”

“Get on with it!” The pirates roared.

“Right, right, to the deck.” Twilight said.

Rapidly, the sea of pirate rebels poured up from the brig and flooded the medical hallway. They bolted up the following flights of stairs and darted past the crew cabins. Startled onlooking pirates leapt out of the way of the mob. As the rebels went to the gun deck, the onlooking pirates realized that the rebellion was happened. They darted to their cabins and prepared to fight for their captain.

The rebel ponies surfaced to the main deck. The area was covered in thick veils of the night’s rain. The ponies walked over to the center of the deck areas and stopped. The faint image of Korsan walking to them appeared at the quarterdeck. Lightning seared the sky amongst the endless rain, giving temporary glimpses of Captain Korsan in full detail.

The howling gales blast blasted against his cape, causing its long length to rapidly flutter. His black mane and tail, drenched in rain, slapped against Korsan’s body. His front hooves were armed with his serrated cutlasses. Juliana circled shortly above her master.

Korsan’s scarred eye stares at the rebel army. A sly grin could be seen on his face.

“Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Applejack, Applebloom, Spike, Noisy Pegasus, Shy Pegasus, Odd Earth Pony, Tiny Pegasus, Lilis Jewmerin, Yin Shou, Yu Shou, Alexander Grevious, Slasher Gutzoult, Ryan Aran, Butch Taylor-”

“Can it, Korsan, there’s 31 of us here and we’re all ready to take you down.” Twilight snapped.

“Is that so?” Korsan asked.

“Yeah,”

“As impressive as this gathering is, it’s no match against me.”

“Ha! You and what army?” Yu snidely remarked to Korsan.

“Don’t say that!” Yin quietly yelled at his brother.

“I’m glad you asked.” Korsan replied. “Juliana!”

Juliana screeched on crew, summoning Korsan. Immediately, Korsan’s loyal crew walked out onto the main deck. They surround the rebel pirates. Their swords and weapons were aimed at them from all sides, trapping them practically.

Ivan walked forth from the loyal pirates and walked towards Twilight, pushing Sweetie Bell into the congregated army. He returned with the others and prepared his weapons.

“…I have 78 of the most highly skilled unicorns at my disposal. A ‘close call’, but I have the upper hoof.”

“You’re going down Korsan, once and for all.” Twilight threatened.

“Noble, but very misguided.” Korsan kindly retorted.

He then turned to his loyal pirates and told them, “Alright sea artists, let’s put an end to this before any real action can begin.”

Quickly, the outnumbered rebel team was forced into each other. They were pinned against the large mast as the dozens of razor sharp weapons hovered towards them. The rebels lifted their weapons up to try and deflect them, but all they can do was prolonging the sheer superior strength in magic.

“On my mark, finish them!” Korsan roared. “In five… Four… Three… Two… One-”

Just as Korsan was about to lower his hoof and command the final blow, a massive, fiery explosion erupted right in front of him. Chunks of wood and metal soared out of the blast. The shockwave launched Korsan into The Perfection’s wheel headfirst. Juliana flew over to Korsan and aided him up.

Two more blasts went off from both sides of the hull. The surrounding pirates broke formation and scrambled away from the attack. A large volley of explosive cannonballs soon soared in from above. The Korsan looked over the absolutely barrage on his ship. Both terror and awe washed over him.

He looked over the side of the ship and saw Celesita’s massive battleship and armada approaching him. The boat sails just under The Perfection starboard. Celestia and Luna were at the main deck, looking back up at Korsan.

Alongside the princess’s armada were several other boats. They were the pirates from Thieves’ Hold. Having banded together to take Korsan down.

Korsan couldn’t help but to laugh at what was before him.

“So, you got the letter.” Korsan said to Princess Celestia, just loud enough for her to hear.

“Korsan Maden! You are to stop these atrocities to ponykind right now or we will use force!” Celestia powerfully announced from her ship.

“Bahahaha!” Korsan laughed manically.

He grabbed the wheel behind him and lowered his airship onto Celestia and Luna’s ship below. The two vessels crashed into each other before Korsan pulled back up, just out of their reach. The armada of regal and pirate ships collected together and surrounded The Perfection

His white smile grew even wider as he saw the ships collect. This would be his ultimate show of power. Despite the sheer size and spectacle of Twilight, Equestria, and the pirate world’s combined efforts, Korsan believed he was going to beat them all. This battle would prove to the entire world that he would be the ultimate force.

“You want force? We got it! Attention all crew members! Take to your battle positions! The war has begun!” Korsan announced.

Author's Note

👍 Remember to add this story to Tracking and follow me for updates regarding Ultimate Equestria.

Chapter 051: Battle of the Skies (Part 1)

Cannon fire roared over the sea. The fire and ash of burning ships turned the ocean and rain to crimson. Screams of pirates and soldiers screeched around the world. Clashing and snapping metal rung across the sky. The entire world rumbled under the massive explosions that dotted the area.

In the roaring skies of darkness and thrashing waves of wrath, the war had begun. Korsan’s crew versus everypony else, it was a battle for the world.

Solid balls of lead and iron were exchanged across the lightning filled clouds between the ships and The Perfection. Each shot whittled the other down. Volleys were thrown in rapid succession, turning the tips of their cannons to a scorching shade of red and white. The fabric of sails were burnt and shredded apart, falling into the ocean. One of the cannon shots from The Perfection nailed the powder room of one of Equestria’s ships. The ship was disintegrated by a massive explosion, leaving behind a bow lit aflame.

The princesses’ mighty battleship pulled next to Korsan’s airship. The ponies onboard fired harpoon cannons into the hull of The Perfection. With one might heave, the airship was pulled down and smashed into the sea behind the royal battleship. Chunks of wood and water rained down onto the ponies on deck. Soldiers quickly hopped aboard the grounded airship to join the battle on The Perfection’s deck. The royal battle ship the pulled away, keeping its distant and providing cannon fire.

On the main deck of The Perfection, the new mutiny party and Celestia’s soldiers, all led by Twilight Sparkle, fought the loyal pirates of Korsan. Swords, arrows, spears, boat chucks, cannonballs, and bolts of magic bombarded the deck. Chaos blanketed over the heads of the ponies as they battled.

In the center of this chaos, Rainbow Dash formed a tornado in rapid flight. The flying projectiles and smaller weapons were sucked into the massive gale. Soon, the air tornado turned into a typhoon of razor metal. Korsan’s pirates saw this and tried to flee from the metal tornado. A few were sucked in though. They were bashed around in the vortex and spat back out, unable to fight.

As Dash continued to fly around, she was attacked by one of Korsan’s pirates. She was trapped in a magic aura and carried away. The metal tornado immediately burst, sending the debris over the edge and into the sea below. Rainbow Dash was pulled down towards a raised claymore, aimed right at Dash’s rump. At the hilt of the claymore was one of Korsan’s, Pip. The pirate filly evilly snickered as Dash struggled, her rear drawing ever closer to the sword.

In the nick of time, Applejack charge in behind Pip. Applejack slammed Pip’s hind with a powerful buck. Pip flew off the airship screaming.

“Rat deserved a spanking.” Applejack snorted.

“Thanks for covering my back.” Dash said, free from her restraints.

One of Korsan’s stallions snuck up behind Applejack. He raised a sword and went in for the backstab. Dash quickly came to the rescue and bashed herself into the stallion from above. The attack shattered the wood floor below, sending Dash and the pirate into the gun deck below. They landed onto a loaded cannon. The two entered a brutal hoof fight. The cannon’s gunner jumped away from the fury, not wanting to get hit by the flailing hooves.

The gunner aimed his horn at Dash, preparing a fireball blast. Applejack leapt into the hole and stomped on the end of the cannon barrel. The cannon bounced off of the floor from the sudden force. Dash then threw her opponent into the gunner. The two of Korsan’s pirates collided and tumbled into a pile. Both Rainbow Dash and Applejack bucked the cannon. The cannon fired into the deck above. The midair recoil launched the cannon into the two pirates, sending both of them into the floor below.

The two mares looked over the destruction they had just unleashed. They gave a blind hoof bump in congratulations.

It wasn’t much later until a wave of pirates, all armed to the teeth, charged towards them. The two heroes stood tight together and prepared to fight on.

In the galley, Pinkie Pie, Butch Taylor, Yin, and Yu, were battling their own slew of pirates. However, their battle took a bad turn. After a long clash, the four were backed into the center of the galley. They were surrounded by twelve of Korsan’s crewmembers, easily outnumbering them. The pirates were led by Ivan and Horus, both more than ready to kill the rebels.

Outskilled and outnumbered, Pinkie and her troop appeared to be helpless. The twelve villainous pirates snickered as they watched the five rebels bump into the edge of Korsan’s throne and table. Pinkie and the others had nowhere to go now. Korsan’s crew drew closer and closer, seeing the beads of sweat pouring from their victims’ faces.

Just as their weapons were about to strike, Pinkie suddenly yelled out, “Wait!”

The pirates stopped for a moment.

One of them asked, “Why?”

“Uh… Does any pony have a birthday today?” Pinkie asked.

The twelve paused and looked at each other with a confused look.

“I had one yesterday.” Another one of them replied.

“Well, Happy Belated Birthday!” Pinkie cheered.

“Thanks, I guess.” The pirate replied.

“Enough of this!” Horus exclaimed.

Ivan confirmed, “Aye.”

“They’re just buying themselves some time, let’s get them.” Horus proclaimed.

“Hold on, Horus!” Yu exclaimed.

“Oh come on-what is it?” Horus groaned.

“Before I die, I need to know something, something about Hoofball.” Yu said.

He knew Horus was an avid fan of Hoofball. It was Horus’ second favourite thing, second to only fabricating past stories. And with Yu and his friends surrounded, Horus would play along to further the torture.

“…What?” Horus asked, curious.

“So about the most recent game, the one where our favourite team’s going against some foreign team. You know the one, Who’s on first, What’s on second, and I-Don’t-Know’s on third.” Yu explained.

“I don’t know.” Horus replied.

“That’s third.” Yu said.

“Who?”

“No, Who’s on first.”

“Wait, what?”

“What’s on second.”

“I don’t know what you’re-”

“Third base.”

“What?”

“Second.”

“Who?”

“First.”

“Huh?”

“Shortstop.”

“Alright, enough of this, I’m getting a headache.” Horus groaned.

“Wait!” Yin exclaimed.

“No! No! No!” Horas screamed.

He raised his spiked mace at the yellow stallions.

“No more delays! Time to die!” He roared.

“Aye.” Ivan replied, raising his massive knife at the five ponies in front of him.

Just before Korsan’s pirates struck, the sound of a window shattering erupted behind them. The pirates quickly turned around to see Maurice, Cecil, and Jarvis, standing in front of a shattered window. Dramatically posed, the three raised their cutlasses to the pirates.

“Maurice! Cecil! Jarvis!” Pinkie cheered.

“Hey Pinkie!” The trio replied.

Cecil exclaimed, “We’re here to save you-”

The three stallions were immediately pinned to the ceiling by Korsan’s ponies. Maurice broke free from the spell and charged towards the enemy pirates. Horus walked up to Maurice and threw the small stallion’s cutlass aside with his weapon. Maurice backed away in fear immediately. He picked up a small spoon from the floor and held it up to the albino pirate as if it was a shield.

Horus chuckled upon seeing the tiny utensil before him.

He taunted Maurice, “By thunder, Pipsqueak! If you think that this mundane spoon is going to stop me, think again.”

Horus then threw his head back and cackled manically. He stopped though, as the hushed giggles of Maurice reached his ear.

“What’s so funny?” Horus coldly asked.

Maurice simply replied, “You might want to take a better look.”

Curious of what that meant, Horus squinted into the spoon. There was something peculiar about its reflection. An immediate feeling of terror spiked inside Horus. He realized that the wide reflection was showing something outside the galley windows.

Horus snapped his head to a side and looked out of the windows. A wave of pegasi came bursting through them. Millions of glass bits showered onto the pirates. A second wave of pegasi burst through the other side. In seconds, the galley turned into a raging river of motley ponies. Korsan’s pirates were swept away by the pegasi, vanishing without a trace.

Pinkie and the other four watched in shock and awe as the pegasi flooded the galley. The galley immediately cleared, revealing Cecil, Jarvis, and Maurice, cheering at the other side of the room.

“Wow!” Pinkie exclaimed. “That was incredible! I would’ve never have seen that coming! I didn’t even know you guys came to help us!”

“Thank you. The princesses picked us up and sent us here to help ya.” Jarvis replied.

“How did you even pull this off?” Pinkie asked.

Cecil answered, “We got some help.”

As if on cue, Fluttershy flew in through one the shattered windows. Upon seeing her, Pinkie immediately ran up to her and gave her a tight squeezing hug.

“You did this Fluttershy?!” Pinkie yelled into her ears.

“…Yeah.” Fluttershy chokingly replied, feeling her lungs deflate in her friend’s hooves.

“Did you secretly fly off to one of the pegasi platoons in Celestia’s armada and organized a surprise attack to wherever Cecil, Maurice, and Jarvis would find a group of pirates to strike?”

“…Sure.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you! The only things that could make this more awesome are a lemur and a whale!”

As if on cue, as well, a black and white lemur emerged from Fluttershy’s mane. Pinkie gasped and backed away from the small critter.

“Witchcraft!” She exclaimed.

“No, I just took him along with us.” Fluttershy calmly replied. “When the volcano was erupting on that island we were on, I couldn’t just leave him behind.”

“Great! Now that we have a lemur, all we need now is a whale. And guess who brought the whale?!” Pinkie asked.

“What?” The surrounding ponies asked.

“A whale?!” Fluttershy gasped.

“A what?!” Cecil, Maurice, and Jarvis screamed out loud.

A massive, powerful moan roared from below, shaking all of The Perfection. Everything shook and shuttered, all but Pinkie Pie. Everypony stopped in their tracks and braced themselves in unknowing horror of that that sound was.

“Yep, a whale.” Pinkie replied.

“Pinkie Pie, remember a few weeks ago when you said you were preparing a surprise.” Fluttershy asked.

“Yeah,” Pinkie nodded.

“Is this the surprise?”

Looking out of the galley’s front doors and broken windows, the ponies inside saw a sight almost comical. A massive blue whale breached the sea and rose along the ship’s stern. Everypony gasped as they set their eyes onto the whale, collecting into one breath of fear.

“On the nose!” Pinkie cheered.

The gigantic whale slammed into the main deck of the equally gigantic airship. The Perfection tipped and started to sink. The whole ship tilted into the beast’s weight, almost capsizing the whole thing. Everypony onboard screams as they all tumble towards the stern.

“Great mother of mercy!” Korsan’s voice could be heard above, surely fighting the whale’s pull with a panicked grip on the steering wheel.

“Okay, big guy! That’s enough.” Pinkie yelled out to the whale.

The blue whale moaned to Pinkie Pie and slowly slid off the side of the ship. The ship stabilized, but now a massive chunk of the hull had been taken out. Anti-magic poured from the side and into the sea, murdering The Perfection’s altitude potential. Even as the airship rose from the sea, it would only be for a hundred metres or so before stopping.

Looking to her sides, Pinkie saw the frozen faces of her comrades beside her, processing what has just happened.

“Hm… Perhaps I should’ve warned everypony about the whale.” Pinkie commented.

“Why didn’t anypony tell me about a whale?!” Korsan groaned.

He was on the verge of puking all over the wheel. At his sides, he saw Celestia’s ships still in view, firing their cannons up at his ship. He set the steering into its advance mode and attempted to pull his airship away. However, the ship instead jerks down. The pirates of Thieves’ Hold have fired more roped harpoons into the hull. Added to The royal battleship’s harpoons, the ships below had more than enough power to pull The Perfection down.

Cannonballs hailed from the sky, quickly turning the decks of the airship into infernal ruins. One of these massive balls struck right beside Korsan, creating a hole into his quarters. Down there was his super cannon.

Korsan had an idea.

Korsan thrusted Juliana into the air and leapt into the hole.

“Free The Perfection and get it flying! Use Arctic Wind if you must!”

Juliana screeched in compliance. The ice phoenix flew under the sinking hull, releasing her cold into the air. As she flew around the grappling ships below, the rain that’s caught in her icy wind turned into a hail of spikes. The ponies below retreated from the barrage of ice darts. As the spike hailstorm continued, Juliana snapped the ropes off with her sharp beak. One by one, the ropes holding The Perfection down were cut. As Juliana soared around the boat, she dodged the storm of metal, wood, and lightning that littered the skies.

She cut the final rope and quickly flew up to the wheel and surrounding levers. At the wheel, she imitated her master, driving The Perfection up and away from the fight. The massive pegasi team orbiting The Perfection quickly darted out of the way as the airship rose.

“Don’t let them get away!” One of the soldiers yelled out.

Quickly, the swarm of pegasi chased after the fleeing airship. The Perfection suddenly turned its starboard towards the group.

The ponies had no idea what was in store for them.

The wall of the quarterdeck wall was blasted away by the thing behind it. It was Korsan’s super cannon, fully built and combat ready. Korsan stood behind the cannon, aiming the weapon directly at the incoming mass.

“You ponies look mighty hungry for some metal!” Korsan madly exclaimed.

The machine roared to life. Its long barrels and gears rapidly moved and shifted in action. The herd of pegasi immediately scrambled away as hundreds of bolts launched from the cannon’s six barrels. In moments, the sky had turned to a death zone. The tables had turned for the worse.

Rapidly fired metal rods rocketed into the herd of pegasi. As the pegasi tried to dodge, the super cannon moved on its own, tracking its targets’ movements. Its metal bolts shot down anypony that tried to escape. Hundreds of soldiers and other ponies fell from the sky. Their armour was pieced and bodies were flung into each other. Their hearing was deafened by the sound of the roaring crossbow cannon and Korsan’s maniacal laughter.

Two ships then pulled up to Korsan’s airship. They fired a volley of cannonballs at the machine and Korsan. The cannon quickly shot each of the incoming metal balls out of the sky in rapid succession, not missing a shot. Upon finishing off the volley, the cannon proceeded to take down the approaching ships.

In less than two minutes, the sails controlling the boats were shredded into pieces and the two ships were left to the raging seas. The spiraling waves crushed and scattered the sail-less ships, now without any form of control.

“Is that the best you got? Ha! Six mere mares put up a better fight then the lot of you!” Korsan taunted.

“How about you stop hiding behind your toys and actually fight like a stallion?” A mare’s voice yelled out from behind Korsan and his cannon.

As he reached for his cutlasses, Korsan slowly turned his head to see exactly who he expected it was.

“Why hello…” He hissed with a grin.

Inside the vast cargo hold of the ship, Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, and Scootaloo were being chased down by Chopin. Upon reaching a wall, the fillies turned around to see the mime slowly stalking them. His long, curved knife twirled and teased in the air.

Chopin’s smile grew to unhealthy lengths as he drew closer to the fillies.

“Keep away from us, you clown!” Sweetie Belle barked.

She attempted to pick up the stallion with her magic, only to lead to no avail due to his sheer weight.

“Geez, you’re a fat clown!” Sweetie groaned.

“Why does Korsan even keep a clown around?” Applebloom asked.

Slightly offended by the name-calling, Chopin’s smile lowered down to a small scowl.

“Yeah you clown! Shoo!” Scootaloo yelled before throwing a nearby plank of wood at Chopin.

Now aggravated, Chopin grabbed the plank with his teeth and chomped it, snapping the board in two. Sweetie and Applebloom immediately backed away in terror. Scootaloo stayed put, not flinching at the mime.

She said, “Don’t you take another step forward, you clown!”

“Yeah! Clown!” The two others joined in, still scared.

Finally sick of this, Chopin stepped forward and screamed into Scootaloo’s face, “I’m a mime!”

The sound of a rope snapping echoed from below Chopin. In an instant, the mime was pulled and and suspended in the air. Hanging two metres from the ground and held upside down, Chopin was absolutely confused and shocked. He soon realized that a rope had been tied around his hind hoof that was hanging from the ceiling.

Looking back down, Chopin saw the three fillies running around his dangling body, giggling all the way.

He threatened, “When I get down from here, I’m gonna-”

“Gonna what?” A gruff, ominous voice sneered from behind the mime’s sight.

The rope slowly spun around by the unseen figure. Chopin spun around and came face to face with Grivs, perhaps the toughest pirate of Thieves’ Hold. The massive grey stallion grinned as he stared down the mime.

Chapter 052: Battle of the Skies (Part 2)

As the battle continued, Twilight found herself standing on top of the highest mast. With pirates scuttling up the rigging, Twilight was virtually surrounded. Two mare pirates reached the top and attacked Twilight. Without any weapons, Twilight quickly projected shields and defended herself. Swords and spells wailed against the shields, but couldn’t break through.

One of the pirates teleported at Twilight’s behind. She swung her sword right at the nape. Twilight ducked under the slice. The other then jumped in and swung a hoof below Twilight crotch. Twilight slipped and dropped to the floor. The two pirates raised their swords and threw them down. Twilight quickly slipped herself between the blades. The swords slam into the wood below, trapping them. Twilight flew up and smacked the pirates with a split kick. The pirates fell off of the yard and fell.

Twilight landed back on the mast and pulled out the swords. She held them ready with her magic.

She leapt from the wooden pole and her body plummeted towards the deck. She held the blades below her hooves and stabbed them into the sails, riding them down. The swords sliced the black fabric behind her as she went down.

Below her, she saw a small group of Korsan’s pirates. They were waiting for her with their weapons trained on her. Thinking quick, Twilight aimed herself downwards and fired a magic fireball at the mob. It exploded upon hitting the floor. The area was quickly engulfed by a burning cloud of smoke. The pirates gagged, their vision dampened greatly.

Twilight dropped into the darkness with her swords and fought the pirates. Twilight swished her swords into the dancing fire and flung it at her foes. This kept some distance between her and them, allowing her to fight two at a time.

The rain barely even hit the blades and weapons. They were too fast to catch, being rapidly flung around in the cloud of turmoil. Twilight being the epicenter of the chaos, and seemed to have the battle won.

However, one of the pirates overpowered Twilight. He disarmed her for a quick second and attacked with his bow knife. The knife sliced into her cheek, just enough to slash the nerves. Twilight screamed in pain, trying to back away. However, she soon found herself completely surrounded.

She attempted teleportation. But before she could, another pirate tackled her to the wet floor. The surrounding pirates galloped in and threw their weapons down at her. Just as all seemed lost, a group of unseen ponies attacked Korsan’s crew members from behind. The rescuers fended off Korsan’s crew and saved Twilight.

Twilight tried to see who her saviors were, but the smoke was too thick. Eventually, the pirates fled, and the area calmed down. The smoky haze cleared, revealing Twilight’s saviors: November Gale, Nitin Gale, Princess Cadence, and Craig Y’ol Timber.

“November! Nitin! Cadence! Craig!” Twilight exclaimed with joy.

As the four ponies got a better look at Twilight, they noticed the red scratch along her cheek.

“Twilight, are you okay?” Cadence worryingly gasped.

“I’m fine.” Twilight replied.

“That’s what they all say before it gets infected.” Craig muttered.

“We came as soon as possible. Princess Celestia got your letter.” Nitin said.

“Thanks for your help.” Twilight replied, overwhelmed with joy.

However, her joy was cut short by the roaring wails of Korsan’s machine, firing at pegasi and ships sailing in front of it.

“What can we do?” November asked Twilight.

“Okay, first we need to stop that machine. Cadence, get everypony away from the cannon’s view.” Twilight instructed.

“I’m on it.” Cadence nodded.

With a beat of her wings, Cadence was gone.

“Nitin, you know this ship better than any of us. Sabotage whatever’s keeping this thing flying and whatever’s helping the machine.” Twilight said.

“Understood.” Nitin nodded.

He leapt into one of the many blast holes of the withering ship.

“Craig-”

“Now you shut your piper right there,” Craig Y’ol Timber interrupted Twilight, “I do what I want to do.”

“…Fine.” Twilight groaned.

“And me?” November asked.

“You are going to help me destroy the cannon and stop Korsan.” Twilight replied.

“Alright!” November cheered.

The two mares immediately galloped towards the quarterdeck, leaving Craig behind and alone.

“Good riddance.” Craig muttered to no pony. “Now, where’s the kitchen with the prunes.”

Twilight and November were unstoppable as they charged to the quarterdeck. Even as some of Korsan’s pirates tried to stop them, the duo would quickly push past them and continue on. Their momentum was unbreakable.

As they reached the stairs leading up the quarterdeck, Twilight told November what she knew.

“The cannon tracks you by movement relevant to its position by scanning what’s in its view overtime.” Twilight explained. “It doesn’t seem to identify the ship itself as a target, so if it moves, you have to move along with it as if you were still. Stay stiff when it is facing you, it will usually do a quick scan before turning around in search of a target.”

“…Got it?” November replied, confused at the long-winded explaination.

They leapt up the stairs and reached the top deck. They saw the hole where Korsan leapt down and is currently operating the weapon. Swiftly, the two jump down, keeping behind the roaring cannon. They were immediately prepared to face off against Korsan.

However, to their surprise, the captain was nowhere to be seen.

“Where is he?” November asked.

“It doesn’t matter. It’s a good thing he’s gone. Now help me stop this thing.” Twilight sharply replied.

The two quickly examined the cannon for any weaknesses or a shut-off switch. Twilight spotted a small lever deep inside the back of the machine, drenched in anti-magic. She used one of her swords to stab into the machine and try flipping the switch. The sword, however, snagged onto one of the whirring gears of the cannon. The blade became lodged, covering the level. The cannon choked and sputtered for a moment, but continued shooting onward.

“Shoot.” Twilight groaned.

“Wait, what if you jam the machine?” November suggested.

“Good idea.”

With her other sword ready, Twilight prepared to stab it in with the former. However, just as she was about to strike, an unseen force pushed her forward and towards the open edge of the room. Her wings instantly sprung open. Twilight stopped herself right before falling and entering the machine’s line of sight.

Her sword flew forward and the cannon instantly shot it down. The cannon reacted within the speed of sound, faster that a pony’s reaction time.

Clanging metal rung from behind Twilight. There was a sword fight going on. November was in trouble.

Now teetering between life and death, Twilight tried to fly back inside. However, an unseen weight was attached to her hind hooves. She immediately looks down to see an unexpected surprise. It was Rarity, having slipped over the edge shortly before Twilight and November’s arrival, desperately trying to climb back up.

“Rarity?!” Twilight exclaimed.

“Pull me, up!” Rarity cried out.

With all of her might, Twilight pulled both of them back inside. November suddenly screamed behind them. The unseen pony knocked November into Twilight and Rarity. However, Twilight stood strong and kept the mares from falling out.

The now trio got up onto their hooves and faced the fourth pony: Korsan.

“Korsan!” Twilight growled.

“Twilight!” Korsan excitedly exclaimed.

Korsan kicked the nearby cannon with his hind hoof. It roared and spun in place.

“Hold still!” Twilight gasped.

The four ponies instantly froze as the machine’s barrels rapidly aimed towards them. As soon as the cannon passed them, Korsan immediately attacked. He swung his cutlasses forward. Rarity and November blocked the blades with their respective rapier and knife. November leapt forward and into Korsan’s chest. The two fell back by the tackle. But, Korsan stopped the tumble midway. The cannon looped around them again as they stood still.

Upon the cannon passing, Rarity hopped into the fray and swung her rapier at Korsan’s legs. Korsan rolled back to the wall, dodging the slash and throwing November to the floor. They froze once more and the cannon circles past them once more.

It was a continuous and painful loop. They fight, freeze, fight, freeze, fight, and freeze.

Having enough of this, Twilight stopped the cannon’s rotation. She took hold of the weapon and aimed it right at Korsan. With no other choice to avoid being shot at, Korsan froze in place, midway of a maneuver. A pain groan of defeat could be heard from Korsan.

The three mares stood back and aimed their horns at him. Each of the three horns glowed. Preparing to fire their most powerful spells at him.

“What are you going to do huh? Use magic?” Korsan muttered in her still breath.

“I’m not falling for that again. Ending you is more important that ‘hypocrisy’. This time, I’m finishing you off.” Twilight declared.

“You think this is the end? Please, this is only the beginning. From as I see it, we are going to have a great, long history together, if you don’t die, anyways. If you stay alive, I’m going to make sure you wish you died on this day. I’ll make sure you wish it everytime you look to the sky!”

Out of nowhere, Korsan moved in front of the cannon. He rapidly spun his claws and swords. The cannon instantly fired at him. Yet, his swords caught the metal rods. He deflected them at the mares, using the cannon to his advantage.

The mare trio scampered away as the barrage of bolts soared at them. As fast as the machine could spit them out, Korsan’s makeshift shields deflected them and fire them everywhere around the chamber.

The mares leapt. They dove. They teleported. They did everything within their power to run away from the barrage. Exhaustion soon took a hold of them them, but Korsan hasn’t yet even dropped a sweat.

Just before the mares could take it no longer, the entire ship suddenly jerked around. The sudden force threw Korsan, Twilight, Rarity, November, and the cannon off balance. It was as if an earthquake struck the airship and was tearing it to shreds.

The Perfection started to float down towards the ocean. Everypony inside slowly rose from the rapidly falling ground and floated around in the interior. The cannon slowly hovered to the ceiling aimed at Twilight. Twilight quickly pushed herself up as well in order to keep the same distance from it.

Rarity and November continued to fight Korsan, clashing their blades against theirs in the lower gravity. They maneuvered around the cramped chamber as The Perfection soon reached terminal velocity. The slowly turned around on its own and faced Rarity and November. They instantly froze in place and stopped fighting.

Seeing this as an opportunity to escape, Korsan used his claws and dug into the wood structure and ran out.

“Hey! Get back here!” Twilight yelled.

She immediately soared after him.

“Juliana! Keep this thing even!” Korsan yelled as he dashed across his quarters to the doors out.

A phoenix screech echoed back in compliance.

Twilight chased down Korsan as he went below the main deck. They traveled deep in the ship’s deteriorating hull. Korsan climbed along the walls, ceiling, and floor with incredible maneuverability. Twilight struggled to fly alongside and keep up with him. Chunks of the walls, furniture, and loose weapons turned into obstacles as they flew past the two.

As they continued on, Twilight fired bolts of explosive magic at Korsan. They barely hit him in the tight corridors of the cabin areas. Korsan returned by firing his crossbow at her, counting the bolts fired as he ran.

He gasped, “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten,”

They eventually reached the medical bay. Korsan quickly turned around and went behind the stairwell. Twilight continued to keep chase, following him into a massive room. Upon entering, Korsan and Twilight were immediately hit with a flood of green glowing liquid. The pained sounds of machines screaming rang in the ponies’ ears.

“What the-”

“The anti-magic generators, they’ve been sabotaged! No wonder this thing is going under!” Korsan roared.

While Twilight was shoved back by the tidal wave on anti-magic, Korsan pressed onward into the opposing current. He buried his claws deep into the floor on each step, tearing out entire wood chunks with each step. The room slowly drained, revealing the cause of the sabotage.

In front of the massive tank of anti-magic at the back was Nitin Gale. He was chopping into the pipes with an axe in his mouth.

Immediately, Korsan charged forward at Nitin, screaming, “It’s been about time we meet again, ye old stallion!”

“Indeed, Korsan!” Nitin replied.

Soaked in anti-magic, Nitin had to use his hooves to operate the axe. Regardless he held his axe at the ready as Korsan charged at him swinging. A loud clang erupted as the weapons collided. In this moment, the two stallions’ strengths were revealed to their rival.

Korsan and Nitin withdrew and struck again, and again, and again. The two continued to rapidly trade blows without rest. Korsan then backed Nitin up against the massive anti-magic container. However, Nitin kept his ground. He used his axe to trap the dual cutlasses in a blade lock.

Twilight flew into the fray and bolted towards the two. Along the way, she picked up a long, broken pipe in her mouth to use for Korsan. It was still dripping from all the anti-magic.

In the corner of his eye, Korsan saw Twilight and decided to switch targets. In one swift motion, Korsan dropped one of his swords. He then snapped his cape at Nitin’s hind hooves, causing him to trip and fall. Korsan finally grabbed his second sword again and attacked Twilight. Twilight and Korsan battled each other while Nitin regained himself. Twilight had to rely on her body and keep Korsan at bay. For as long as they can, Twilight and Korsan fought each other, matching each other’s attacks and counters. It was a test of endurance, a test to see how long they could outplay the other.

“Impressive,” Korsan congratulated Twilight, a sadistic smirk printed on his face. “You’re almost as powerful and smart as I am, but let’s see you deal with my Overdrive!”

The gears in Korsan’s back piece immediately accelerated and thundered. His speed and power against Twilight increased exponentially. Twilight powered herself up with a quick spell. She grabbed a hold of her pipe with magic, it now fully deprived of anti-magic. Twilight and Korsan struck their limit. Their fighting became untraceable.

The two clashed their weapons and bodies against each other with the greatest of precision, speed, and focus, never letting each other out of their sight. Leaping over and dodging each other’s attacking in the plummeting airship, the dancing of the metal was a sight to be seen, but uncomprehensive at the same time.

Eventually through, Twilight managed to hit Korsan in the face with a long swing of her metal pipe. Korsan was knocked back into anti-magic container behind him. Twilight then lunged forward in attempts to stab him. Korsan quickly evaded the attack. Twilight instead stabbed the jagged end of pipe into the glass. The glass instantly burst and anti-magic flooded the area once more. Twilight backed away, leaving the metal pipe lodged in the glass.

Korsan used his crossbow and shot the metal pipe out.

“Eleven.” He told himself.

Twilight turned around to kick her rival, but Korsan was too quick. He grabbed Twilight’s outstretched hoof. Korsan then threw Twilight into the busted glass, forcing her into the anti-magic container. Korsan was going in for the drown attack.

The green liquid quickly poured down Twilight throat and entered into her lungs. Twilight tried to swim back out in a frantic hurry. However, Korsan jammed his back piece into the hole, sealing the exit. Korsan’s rapidly rotating gears became a deathtrap. Twilight tried to swim away, but was being sucked in. The churning anti-magic created a current that pulled Twilight the grinding gears. No matter how hard Twilight tried to swim away, Korsan’s gears were too powerful.

“No!” Nitin Gale exclaimed.

He ran at Korsan with a plank of wood. Undisturbed, Korsan broke the wood with an iron kick. Korsan then grabbed the charging stallion’s head with his hind claws and pinned him to the wet floor.

“Twilight! Either you drown, or you’re grated into bits! Either way, I win!” Korsan taunted, his back turned to her.

Twilight’s eyes burned from the thick substance. Her heart filled with acid. Whatever breath she had left was being spent by her calling out for any of her friends, any of her family, any pony to save her. She was powerless against Korsan now.

Chapter 053: Battle of the Skies (Part 3)

Back outside, the hurricane had turned more vicious. The rail fell in waterfalls, and the sky turned into another sea. On top of the main deck, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Slasher, Yin, Yu, Princess Cadence, Cecil, Maurice, and Jarvis had grouped up and prepared to take on the final wave of Korsan’s pirates.

Back to back, they took on Korsan’s pirates. The enemy pirates were pouring in from every cervise and unseen part of The Perfection and surrounded the heroic band. The heroes dodged the slashes and punches of the ferocious pirates as one body. Magic shields, wind gusts, and earthquake pounds were unleashed left and right by the heroes, knocking down the pirates one by one.

However, the fallen pirates picked themselves back up and returned to fight. It was as if they weren’t even hit. As hard as the eleven ponies tried, their stamina and strength were nothing compared to the will of Korsan’s crew. Minutes of grueling battling passed. Eventually, the heroes tired, and their defenses fell fast.

Seeing their foes weaken, Korsan’s remaining crew, thirty in count, surrounded the ponies. The loyal pirates drew their weapons towards victims’ bodies, teasing the kill. The pirates slowly drew themselves so close to their foes, they could practically see their salty sweat mixing with the fresh rain in the rampant cracks of lightning.

“Any last words?” One of the mare villains asked, standing before Rainbow Dash.

With a grin on her exhausted face, Dash asked response, “Do you?”

“What?” The pirate asked, confused.

“Look behind you.”

Curious, she, and some of the other pirates, looked behind and towards the bow. Charging right at them was the massive royal battleship. It showed no signs of slowing down. It was set for a collision course with The Perfection’s slow decent.

The pirates screamed as the battleship smashed into The Perfection. Everypony was sent flying backwards along with the entire airship with a giant jolt. The front of the ships shattered open. The rain was replaced by showers of wood ships and metal beams.

Amongst the chaos, Princess Celestia and Luna leapt through the debris, landing in front of the pirates. Bolts of lightning hit the surrounding sails and structure of The Perfection, creating a ring of flame around the ponies on deck. The light of the burning flames revealed the princesses in their shining armour. Princess Celestia drew out a massive battle axe made gold and Princess Luna drew out a pair of silver swords. The two alicorns instantly struck fear in their foes by them merely standing and staring with the most determined eyes imaginable.

“…M-Mother…” The pirate mare gulped.

The princesses kicked into action and lunged at the pirates. One of the pirates held their sword in defense, only for Celestia’s axe to chop the blade in half with one mighty swing. The axe then traveled below the mare pirate and threw her into the air. The pirate flew up several metres high in altitude. Celestia then soared up above the pirate mare. She sent her back down with a powerful kick. The pirate smashed through each of the airship’s floors and out the bottom into the ocean.

“Get her!” A pirate roared out.

Three of the pirates pulled out crossbows and immediately took aim. They fired at Celestia. The arrows sped at Celestia at rapid speeds, certain to hit. But, Luna’s swords swung over and deflected the arrows in time.

Luna herself zipped across the flaming arena and charged at the pirates. She rammed into the three crossbow pirates with a powerful head-butt. Celestia dropped back down and finished them off with a barrage of magic bolts.

Celestia and Luna joined together and flew into the middle of the arena. Their allies looked behind them to see them join back to back. The princesses aimed their horns at the pirates.

“Duck!” They yelled.

The onlooking allies did so and ducked just in time.

A beam of burning sunlight magic and a beam of glaciating midnight magic burst from Celestia’s and Luna’s horns. The beams tore through the entire ship, drilling through all material. The alicorn princesses circled around each other, blasting the pirates with their spiraling beams. The pirates flew all the way through the disintegrating wood and metal and were sent them into the sea.

As the attack finished, a whole portion of the bow fell off The Perfection. The airship and the massive battleship separated, leaving The Perfection to rise up again.

Juliana screamed in rage at what she saw. Almost all of Korsan’s forces were gone. All this effort she had put in to return The Perfection to the air would be useless if her and her master, Korsan, were to be taken down as well.

Angrily, Juliana swooped out from behind the wheel and flew towards the ponies on deck. She sharpened her talons and attempted to attack the princesses. However, a light green magic aura surrounds the phoenix and was slowed down to a stop. She was then dragged by Sweetie Belle into a large bird carrier. With Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Spike watching over, Juliana was gently placed in the cage and the metal door closed on her.

Juliana shrieked and flailed in the container, but to no avail.

“Sorry, Juliana. But, don’t worry. You’ve be taken good care of.” Sweetie said, trying to calm down Juliana

“You will be taught how to behave and be a good bird.” Spike said.

“You’ll even have a friend!” Applebloom cheered.

Scootaloo opened her wing and revealed Philomena, Celestia’s pet fire phoenix, from her small wing.

A puff of cold wind snorted from Juliana’s beak. She knew she had been beat, but this was still humiliating.

Finally, only one of Korsan’s loyal pirates remained. He managed to sneak away from the fire ring. He was almost to the galley. Surely, it would be a perfect place to hide. But just as he was about to reach the galley doors, a sharp wooden pain suddenly pounded through the top of his head, stopping him in his tracks.

The wooden cane that hit the stallion in the head was pulled away from the pirate. The user looked over the knocked out pony as he got up from the attack.

“Is that you Bainbro Bash, ya darn kid?” An old, craggy voice followed.

It was Craig Y’ol Timber.

Quickly, the pirate grabbed a nearby knife in his mouth and turned around. He faced the old stallion and went in to stab the old pony. He was cut off by a wooden staff, which caught his knife. The stallion backed away from Craig’s reflexes.

“Hey! Respect your elders why don’t you?” Craig barked. “Blasted kids these days, getting involved with knife tricks and ridiculous magic acts...”

The pirate chuckled for a moment, feeling a sense of relief. He realized that his rival was a senile, old stallion. Surely, he thought, that such a pony couldn’t stand a chance.

Unexpectedly though, Craig charged forward and immediately overwhelmed the pirate. Craig struck the stallion’s head with a series of quick whacks of his stick. He then finished the pirate off by with a wailing smack upside the chin, sending the stallion over the railing screaming.

The old Earth pony looked over to see the pirate as he flailed in the water.

“Nope, that wasn’t her.”

With the battle seemingly over, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, November, Nitin, Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Yin, Yu, Cecil, Maurice, and Jarvis celebrated their victory.

“Thank goodness you two came. One moment later and we would’ve been pony-sushi.” Applejack said.

“That was awesome!” Dash exclaimed.

“Thanks.” Fluttershy said.

“Again! Do the light-show!” Pinkie demanded.

“Wait, where’s Twilight and Rarity?” Princess Celestia asked.

“Princess Celestia! Luna!” Rarity screamed out.

The once celebrating party looked over to see her and November galloping to them from the quarterdeck.

“Rarity!” Rainbow, Applejack, Pinkie, Fluttershy, and the pirate allies exclaimed in unison.

“Did you take care of the machine?” Yin and Yu asked.

“That’s not important,” Rarity declared a panicky tone present in her voice. “Have you seen Twilight?” She asked.

“…No?” The brothers responded.

“Wait! Where’s my father!” November then exclaimed, suddenly realized he’s gone as well.

“…The anti-magic generator room!” Rarity gasped.

“It’s over, Twilight Sparkle!” Korsan cackled.

His gears rapidly shredded through the green fluid, trying to get to Twilight. Twilight still had some determination however and still continued to swim against the current with all of her dying might. All of her organs were burning and melting. Her eyes saw only black and white. Her ears could only hear laughter. She could feel herself being swirled in Death’s drink swirling by the undertaker’s claws.

As hard as she tried though, the back of her hoovers were eventually drawn in. They began kicking against the whirling blades. A sharp series of metal clangs rung throughout the liquid tank in response. Twilight’s mind frantically raced against the clock of life. She tried to think of an escape plan, but saw no possible means of escape. The option was to submit to Korsan’s rampant current.

As Twilight was further drawn in, Korsan’s voice could be heard from the other side of the glass wall.

“You know, it’s a shame you weren’t born an alicorn. They are incredibly more powerful than you ascended types. If you were one of them, things would’ve been different. I would’ve become an alicorn, you and your friends would’ve been set free, for a fair share of time, and the world would be restored to normality! Fate certainly has a way to throwing a wrench in the clockworks.”

Wrench in the clockworks! Twilight’s mind suddenly yelled out in triumph.

An idea had just blossomed in her mind.

Twilight looked behind and saw the series of gears at her hooves. She studies them quickly, taking note of where and how they moved. She found what she needed. Carefully, she floated up towards the top of the back piece and by Korsan’s nape. She flipped over to face Korsan’s sideways face. She reached a hoof forward and slammed it in between the whirring gears. The gears suddenly stopped with a loud scream. A rush of pain hit Twilight, but didn’t let it bother her.

With her free hoof, Twilight immediately began punching at her rival’s exposed nape. Korsan pulled himself out of the hole, only to bring Twilight, stuck on him and still fighting. Nitin was subsequently releases from Korsan as well. Nitin immediately rose and joined Twilight in the fight. Korsan tried to fight the two off with his swords, but his movements were now stiffer and slower. A persistent jolt hit the back of his brain as well. Thanks to Twilight’s stunt, Korsan was at his weakest state ever.

The room filled up once more with anti-magic as the three fought on. It became harder to maneuver on the ground.

Nitin attempted to punch Korsan in the stomach, but Korsan grabbed the hoof with a hind leg. Twilight tried to intervene by swinging over Korsan’s head to body slam his face. But, Korsan counted by executing a backwards roll. He knocked Twilight off him and onto Nitin. Korsan released the two and rose to his legs. He pulled out his crossbow with one of his bottom hooves, causing him to stand on one hoof.

He aimed at the fallen ponies. He breathed in for a second.

He silently whispers, “Twelve,” and pulled the trigger.

Just as he pulled the trigger through, a silver pipe flew in from seemingly nowhere. It flicked the crossbow to the side, causing the crossbow to fire a metal bolt into the floor just short of Twilight’s throat.

Korsan looked over to his side and saw Celestia and Luna, followed by the other heroes, charging at him. He turned to challenge them instead of Twilight. With his swords and crossbow in his hooves, Korsan was fully armed and ready to fight. His systems accelerated, and his suit entered Overdrive.

“Come and get me!” He exclaimed.

“Stay back!” Celestia declared to her followers.

She and Luna lunged forward at Korsan. Korsan raised his three armed hooves and blocked the first strike by their weapons. Korsan attack back and Celestia and Luna defended. The princesses and Korsan fought each other head-to-head, battling at rapid speeds. Celestia’s golden axe, Luna’s silver sword, and Korsan’s dual cutlasses and crossbow slammed into each other before backing up and slamming into each other again and again.

The air hissed with the sounds of grinding metal and the rushing wind. The three combatants dashed around the room, turning the white noise of air into a snarling roar of combat. Fire started to leak into the area as well, but the three continued to fight on as if it didn’t matter. Their lives depended on this battle, and nothing was going to stop them.

Eventually, the two alicorns backed Korsan into a corner. Celestia took the opportunity and swung her axe forward. Korsan quickly reacted and shot his crossbow at the axe, impaling the weapon with a metal bolt and threw it across the room.

“Thirteen.” Korsan mumbled.

He then entered an intense black lock with Luna. His dual cutlasses grinded against Luna’s dual swords, sparks flying in between them. Soon, Luna overpowered Korsan. Her swords drew close to Korsan’s neck. However, Korsan shot his crossbow precisely where Luna’s swords intersected. The metal bolt of the crossbow pinned Luna’s weapons to the ceiling.

“Fourteen, one more…”

Now with the upper hoof, Korsan roared in triumph. He slashed his swords at his two rivals. Celestia and Luna instantly backed away. They lowered their horns and fired a powerful beam attack at him. The two conjoined beams ripped through the ceiling and floor as they darted at Korsan. Korsan quickly held up his two swords in front and shielded himself from the beams. Upon contact, his swords disintegrated the powerful magic with only minimal recoil.

The attack died quickly and Korsan instantly charged at the two alicorns. Dropping his two swords, Korsan used his free hooves to rapidly crawl across the floor. He turned into a cheetah almost, dashing and hopping around the area at blinding speeds. He leapt at the princesses, his claws set to kill.

Twilight, however, jumped into Korsan’s open side, sending the both of them into the glass wall. They smashed into the wall with such force, the two fell unconscious for a moment before coming to again. Twilight and Korsan tumbled and rolled out to the middle of the floor in a small hoof fight. Korsan mercilessly slashed at Twilight’s face and chest. He didn’t care for “good form” or “advantageous precision”. All he wanted was to finally kill Twilight.

The green anti-magic that sloshed around the area turned to a gross mixture of green and red fluids.

But Twilight held on. This is what she wanted. Korsan was in the perfect position.

“Rainbow Dash, finish him off!” Twilight screamed in the struggle.

Dash immediately sprang into action. She flew up and broke through the ceiling above Twilight. She worked her way towards the top deck, eventually fading out of sight.

“Twilight!” Spike yelled out.

He and the others drew in around the wrestling pair, ready to help.

Twilight immediately shouted back, “Stay back, I got this!”

“Hahaha!” Korsan cackled below Twilight. “You think you are stronger than me? At best, we’re equal! But you hold back your true power, your superiority, for no good reason! You’re going to die, here and now!”

“I am no superior to the ponies around me as you are to every other villain I have encountered.” Twilight retorted. “What makes me stronger is my friendship, something that you lack. If you claim that some form of magic is power, then I am infinitely more powerful than you are, because I have the ultimate magic, the magic of friendship!”

“Good thing I have an ace up my sleeve!” Korsan hollered.

He revealed the crossbow now in his right upper hoof. He quickly held it up and forced it to Twilight’s temple.

He screamed, “Fifteen!”

He pulled the trigger.

…

CLICK!

“Gah… I hate my cousin…” Korsan groaned, suddenly remembering that he didn’t reload.

Twilight delivered a powerful head-butt into Korsan’s skull. She quickly rolled off of him. Stunned, Korsan grunted from the hit. But as he tried to climb back up, his eye noticed something above.

Through the smog of the fire and the wooden debris, Korsan saw Rainbow. She was diving straight at him at Mach speed.

He cried, “Nooooo!”

Within a second, Rainbow Dash burst back down into the room and slammed into Korsan’s chest, sending him crashing through the floor. The wood floorboards were flung across the room. The surrounding ponies backed away as the pirate captain plummeted through the floor below and the bottom of the ship. His screams echoed as his body vanished from view.

Eventually, Korsan’s screams died down, and the ponies inside looked at each other in utter disbelief.

Chapter 055: Perfected Korsan

“Think you got what it takes to beat us?” Twilight asked Korsan.

The new, “Perfected” Korsan accepted Twilight’s challenge. His giant metallic head released an ear-splitting roar.

The battle had started. Twilight and the heroes galloped forward from the bow. Ahead of them was an obstacle course like no other. Korsan’s alicorn powers were constantly rebuilding the airship the heroes stood on. Jagged metal, weapons, and warping structures flew across the deck. No spot was safe to stand on. It was the equivalent of a mile long path of burning coals plus spikes added for good measure. But this didn’t deter the heroes in the slightest.

As Twilight and her friends charged on, they were attacked by a group of mechanical tentacle cannons. The cannons floated ahead of them and open fire onto them. The twelve ponies dodged the incoming volley of cannonballs. The cannonballs exploded upon contact with the wood and metal deck behind the ponies. Debris, brimstone, and molten rainwater showered the area. Another volley was unleashed. The ponies barely avoided it. The flaming cannonballs scraped against their sides. A third volley was fired onto them. The ponies jumped over the incoming fireballs, just barely escaping the blast.

Rainbow Dash left the group and flew into the air, set to take the cannons out. Three of the cannon tentacles turned to her while the others continued to fire onto the ponies on deck. One after the other, each cannon fired at Dash in rapid succession. Although the hurricane rain and lightning staggered her speed, Dash persisted, and was able to avoid the cannon fire.

She flew away from the airship and into the open and right into the thick of the storm.

A lightning bolt struck her. The raw electric energy was absorbed into her mane and hooves. She returned to the cannons, now covered in electric static and sparks. One of the cannons fired. The flaming cannonball charged right towards Rainbow Dash. It was a perfect point-blank shot. Dash flipped backwards and sent a powerful kick into the cannonball. The force and electric energy combined in her hind hooves split the ball in half and fires it back. The halves smashed into two of the cannons at the necks, shattering theming.

As the killed cannon heads plummeted below, Dash then bolted into the last cannon hooves first and punched through the barrel and flew out the other end. The cannon exploded behind her. The tentacles that once held the cannons dropped limb, shredded on the inside. Victorious, Dash joined back with the others.

Twilight erected a magic shield ahead of the on-deck group. The shield deflected cannon fire as the team presses forward. At this point, it looked like the tentacle cannons were absolutely powerless.

With Fluttershy at the back of the group, she could hear something going on behind them. She looked behind the group and watched in horror as the tentacles destroyed by Rainbow Dash slithered behind them.

“Dash! Those tentacles are still here!” Fluttershy exclaimed.

“What’s the worst they can do? They can’t keep up with us without any weapons.” Dash replied.

The naked tentacles dove into the hull of Korsan and burst back up, carrying metal debris at their ends. The metal constricted and reformed into a new set of cannons. This time though, the cannons were much stronger and were armed with two barrels instead of one. The reformed tentacle cannons filled with a green glow. They had evolved to use anti-magic.

The cannons took aim and fired at Fluttershy. Applejack lunges into Fluttershy’s side and shoved the both of them away. The cannon fire blasted away a large chunk of the deck, irradiating the area in a green mist of anti-magic.

With Applejack and Fluttershy separated from the group, Korsan attacked. He raised an electric mega-blade and swung it down on the two. However, Pinkie dove into them and shoved all three of them away as struck down on them. The slice created a canyon in the ship that was quickly repaired.

Eventually, all of Korsan’s airship form stared to glow green.

“Korsan’s fixed his cannons already!” Fluttershy exclaimed.

“That’s the least of our problems!” Rarity replied. “He’s protected himself with anti-magic!”

“How is that even possible?!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed in question.

“I don’t know. His anti-magic requires a lot of time and materials to create.” Rarity replied.

“Korsan must be using every advanced magic spell he knows.” Twilight figured. “He might be using his alicorn magic to materialize his body and materials for anti-magic. He creating anti-magic with magic!”

“Is that bad?” Maurice asked.

An electric sword then smashed into Twilight’s shield, shattering the shield instantly.

“It’s absurdly bad!” Twilight exclaimed.

The giant sword rose into the air. It attacked Rarity and November. The two mares rolled out of the way in time. The sword missed and pulled back up. As the sword rose, Rarity and November quickly leapt onto the tip of the metal shell of the top of the sword. They ran down the long length of the sword covering. More cannon tentacles burst from the ship and fired at the mares.

The duo leapt, ducked, and teleported away from the cannon spam. They deflected cannonfire back with their weapons, only to do minimal damage to Korsan. Rarity and November did everything in their power to avoid the almost random and chaotic firing barrage of cannonballs.

Celestia’s battleship fired harpoons into Korsan and pulled him down. The ship appeared behind the edge of the deck and fired at the tentacles. The cannonballs tore through the tentacles, decapitating them on the spot. Korsan retaliated with returning cannon fire. He rose back up high into the raging sky, pulling the battleship out of the sea. With the battleship powerless, dangling in the air, Korsan rebuilt his tentacles.

November and Rarity continued to gallop across the top of the long sword. They pulled ahead of the others below. At this rate, they’ll reach the quarterdeck and Korsan’s true body in no time. However, a second electric sword appeared from above. It slammed its edge onto the lower sword at its base. The sword grinded against the top of the metal cover and charged right at Rarity and November. The electric energy of the blade shredded into the sleek metal shell below, creating showers of metal shards and daggers of steel. Rarity and November jumped onto the second blade as it reached them. They continued forward like nothing happened.

A fiery haze fell onto the living airship as Korsan climbed higher and higher into the storm. Rarity and November could barely see ahead of them as the haze thickened. As they got to the halfway point of the sword, Rarity and November noticed a white figure approaching them in the distance.

It was Maria. At first, she appeared to be joining her friends in the fight against Korsan. However, as Maria drew closer, a chilling realization came. Maria’s movements were unnatural. Her eyes were going crazy. It soon became obvious: Maria was under the control Korsan now. Maria prepared herself to fight Rarity and November, pulling out five daggers from her clothing.

“Maria! Break free from Korsan! You can do it!” Rarity exclaimed.

Maria chuckled, “Hahahahaha, she’s long gone now!”

“November, don’t hurt her.” Rarity told November. “She’s being controlled by Korsan.

“I’ll try not to, much.” November said.

“You know, I first thought doing all of this stuff would be too much. But I was gladly wrong. It turns out being a supercharged alicorn gives you so much control and power.” Korsan said through Maria’s body. “Becoming an airship, creating anti-magic, controlling these tendrils, swinging these massive swords, mind control, it’s all so easy! I will it, and it comes to be! I am a god!”

“That’s only a temporary high. In a few minutes, that initial spike of magic on ascension and all of that alicorn power you sucked up will die.” November told Korsan. “You should know, you taught my dad about it.”

“Hmph, should’ve killed that old fool long ago.” Korsan said.

Rarity and November held their respective rapier and dagger at the ready. They and Maria then charged at each other and battled on the long sword. As the fought, the sword moved over the edge of the deck. It moved downward, creating a steep incline for the mares to fight on. They slowly slid on the metal slope, but kept fighting onwards. They pushed against gravity and slowly made their way to the top of the sword arm.

Twilight watched as the three mares battled on the sword-top, dangling over the edge of the ship. She separated from the main group and jumped over the edge of the deck. She flew down to the mares in attempts to help her friends. However, she was stopped by one of Korsan’s tentacles. It wrapped around Twilight and pulled her back to the deck and high into the air.

Six cannon tentacles circled the trapped mare and took aim. Twilight used her Earth pony strength and broke out at the last second. The six cannons fired late. Aimed at each other, they accidently destroyed each other in a massive fireball of destruction.

Twilight turned around towards the Korsan’s giant floating head blew a raspberry at it. She proceeded to fly towards the head. She was suddenly stopped however as a massive volley of giant cannonballs soared over her from behind. She stopped just short of them. The cannonballs smashed into the deck below, blasting almost half of the middle out.

Twilight turned around and saw that the seven tentacles from before had reformed into one massive super-cannon.

“You’ve got to be kidding me…” She groaned.

The super-cannon fired again. Twilight weaved between the clusters of cannonballs twice her size. The cannon fire blasted the ship again. The airship split in two, but was immediately reforms, stronger than before. It seemed like everything Korsan had that wasn’t completely disintegrated came back stronger.

After a good look at the new weapon, Twilight had an idea how to beat it. Twilight darted towards the cannon, avoiding the incoming volleys. The cannon switched tactics as Twilight approached. It sprayed her with an endless stream of cannonballs. She swiftly drifted along the stream, eventually reaching the cannon.

The super-cannon backed away and tried to slam her. Twilight caught the cannon in her hooves. She then swooped under the cannon head and flew between the arms holding it up. The tentacles tried to grab her and trap her, but she evaded them. Left, right, up, down, the tentacles chased her all around. Before Korsan knew it, the tentacles had accidently tied themselves up. The super-cannon ended up fixed at the sky, firing aimlessly into the clouds.

Twilight clapped her hooves together in triumph before flying back down to support her friends on deck.

Twilight and the others on deck reached the middle and, sure enough, Korsan threw another obstacle at them. The crossbow cannon from Korsan’s chambers burst from the floor and took aim at the ponies. It roared with the hunger of blood.

“Hold still!” Twilight yelled out.

Everypony obeyed and froze on the spot. However, despite all expectations, the cannon fired at them.

“What?!” Twilight gasped.

The ponies immediately scattered. They took cover behind chunks of debris littering the deck. Their manes, tails, and ears had been nicked by the fury of metal bolts.

“That’s not how it worked before!” Twilight exclaimed in surprise and terror.

As she poked her head from around the corner, she saw the machine travel towards her. It was being operated by a long mechanical tentacle revealed behind it.

Korsan was controlling it. He knew the crossbow cannon’s weakness when it was automatic, and acted accordingly.

The machine bolted around the corner of the debris and fired at Slasher. Slasher could only panic and flail as the cannon fired at her mercilessly.

Twilight then remembered what Korsan did.

“Slasher! Deflect the bolts! Go ham!” Twilight yelled out.

Slasher listened and quickly pulled out her war scythe from its metal scabbard on her back. She rapidly twirled the blade in front of her. The crossbow cannon followed the scythe and fired at it. The scythe deflected the metal bolts.

Maurice, Cecil, Jarvis, and Nitin watched this from behind a nearby fallen mast piece. They whooped and roared in zeal, cheering for their friend. However, they then noticed another crossbow cannon emerging from behind Slasher, preparing a surprise attack. The stallions immediately galloped to her aid. They pulled out their weapons and deflected the incoming metal bolts from the other cannon just before they hit her. While Maurice, Cecil, and Jarvis took care of the rear, Nitin turned around to help Slasher.

“Thanks!” Slasher thanked the stallions.

“No problem,” Nitin replied, groaning as he wildly slung his blade around.

Another crossbow cannon suddenly burst from behind the debris wall, flanking the five.

“A third one!” Maurice cried.

Maurice and Nitin jumped front of it and defended from the flank attack.

“Slash, are you okay?” Nitin asked.

“I’m fine!” Slasher replied.

A fourth cannon then appears from the other side.

“Aw, come on!” The five collectively groaned.

Nitin flipped around and dealt with the fourth cannon’s barrage of bolts. The other ponies run to help the five pirates, but were stopped by Nitin raising a hoof at them.

“Go on without us!” He declared.

“No!” Fluttershy retorted.

“We got this, Pinkie’s friend.” Jarvis muttered, his weapon in his mouth.

“Take care of Korsan!” Cecil yelled out, his weapon being tossed around in his wings.

“Take care of my daughter!” Nitin croaked.

Reluctantly, Twilight and the others agreed. They pressed on across the deck.

Korsan saw the five remaining ponies still charging forward. He roared in rage, absolutely lost as to how they keep coming. All of the tentacle cannons of the gun deck rose to the main deck and concentrated their fire at them. Not a millisecond pasted without a cannonball being fired. The cannons were practically melting at their barrels. Nonetheless, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy pressed forward. They dodged every projectile, every explosion, every lightning bolt, every pellet of debris, and every drop of crimson rain.

The wood and steel deck turned into the crater of a volcano, being constantly attacked and melted by cannon fire. The deck started to be destroyed faster than it is being repaired. A portion of the deck in front of the mares snapped. The deck piece pulled away from them, creating a tall wall before them. The surrounding cannons forced them into a corner, unable to escape.

However, just as all hope appeared to be lost, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy played their trump card.

The both screamed out, “Whale!”

Immediately, whale, from before, rose from the water and rose to Korsan. It burrowed through the bow and breached the deck. With the red smog in the sky, the rising whale appeared to be on fire as it smashes into Korsan. The entire airship nearly snapped in two as the front half bent by the whale’s weight. However, the airship didn’t sink, and continued to rise higher into the sky.

The armed tentacles of Korsan quickly moved away from the mares. They wrapped themselves around the whale and trapped it on deck, beaching it.

“No!” Fluttershy and Pinkie screamed.

“We have to help him!” Pinkie cried.

“Go on without us.” Fluttershy told the others.

Fluttershy and Pinkie bolted away from the group and went to save the whale.

Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Twilight were fine with this. They continued onwards to stop Korsan and to end this madness. The wall that Korsan erected before had crumbled into rubble and the three remaining mares climbed over and proceeded onwards.

“We’re almost there!” Applejack told Dash and Twilight.

“How many more tricks is Korsan going to pull on us?” Rainbow Dash asked, now tired and annoyed of Korsan’s hindrances.

“He’s being absolutely reckless with his magic spike. He may be an alicorn, but he’s still a pony. His mind and magic will tire out soon.” Twilight said. “Let’s end this.”

Chapter 056: Imperfected Korsan

Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack remained to pressure Korsan. They continued towards the quarterdeck. If they could reach Korsan’s true body and attack it, his fusion with The Perfection will surely be broken. Korsan could not risk that, and would focus all of his power just to stop them.

“Incoming!” Rainbow yelled out.

The heroic trio looked forward and saw five of Korsan’s massive electric swords rise in front of Korsan, ready to strike. The swords swung into the mares, unleashing all of their electric might. The mares quickly dodged to the left and right of each swing, just fitting between the blades as they slammed down. The closer the mares go to the quarterdeck, the more frantic and random Korsan’s swings became.

One of the blades skidded across the deck in a haphazard slam, destroying anything in its path. As this turned out, this was one of Korsan’s biggest mistake.

Hollers in the distance echoed behind the three. It was Slasher, Cecil, Maurice, Jarvis, and Nitin. The rogue swing attack from before had smashed the crossbow-cannons, allowing the four of them to escape. The four galloped to Twilight and the others, hoping to rejoin with them.

“Fear the wrath of The Perfection!” Korsan roared.

The swords stacked together at the edge of the deck, their blades aimed at the ponies to the side. One of the swords slid across the deck towards the heroes. They jumped over the speeding sword. The sword pulled up and another swooped in. The mares ducked under it accordingly. As the second sword reached the other side, the last three swords swung at the mares once. The heroes jumped and snuck through the small gaps between the razor sharp blades.

The swords returned from their natural stance at the head of Korsan. The heroes quickly took this time to recover and wipe sweat from their faces. Their break only lasted for a second before one of the swords set its attack. The sword rose high into the sky, preparing to slice this entire ship in two.

“Already?” Dash gasped.

“There’s just no stop to this!” Twilight exclaimed.

“That’s it! I’ve had enough of this.” Applejack groaned, throwing her hat to the floor, odd, as the hat hadn’t flown off of her head throughout all of this, only sustaining a few burns and scratches.

Slowly, Applejack walked to the center of the deck. She was aligned perfectly with the strip of charged metal above.

“What are you doing?!” Twilight yelled out.

“Three words for you, ‘Perfected’ Korsan; Rules of Nature…”

The four other blades activated and dropped down first. Applejack steadily leapt over the first blade as it swept low. The other three swords slashed at Applejack from every direction at rampant speeds. They recklessly destroyed everything surrounding her. In the epicenter of the chaos was Applejack, dodging every attack and fragment of metal and energy hurled in her general direction. Like the eye of the hurricane, Applejack remained at peace while everything around her tore to shreds.

Twilight and Dash flew away from the massive swings while they watched their friend on the sidelines. Applejack was practically dancing with the swords, utilizing her natural Earth pony talents to the fullest. Chunks of the airship broke off and reformed underneath Applejack. However, some sections fell beyond Korsan’s magical influence, for not even his magic could keep up with Applejack’s endurance.

The four blades parted. The raised sword finally swung down at full force. It dove directly at Applejack, it’s blade melting with electric power. Applejack quickly returned to her hooves, ready.

In a flash of electric light, Applejack grabbed the humongous sword by the sides of the blade. Sparks erupted from her hooves as they locked onto the sword tighter and tighter. The floor below cratered beneath the sheer mass and power of the sword and Applejack. This gargantuan sword was being held up by a pony only one third its height, all of its force concentrated in the two hooves Applejack had planted in the floor. Despite the electric burns of the molten blade, Applejack stood firm. Metal cables and structures that ran under the deck buckled and burst from the floor.

With one mighty heave, Applejack yanks the blade forward. The joints of the robotic arm that held the sword screeched in pain. They buckled, bent, and snapped. The massive sword slowly pulled away from Korsan’s mechanical grip and into the hold of Applejack. The sword finally snapped off, launching high into the air and out of sight. Applejack leapt from the crater and backed a fair distance away from the quarterdeck. The electric sword dropped down from the red clouds and fell right towards Applejack. Applejack grabbed onto the back joint of the sword. Now, it was her weapon.

Rainbow Dash’s jaw dropped to the floor, lost in words of what she is seeing. This comparatively tiny pony was wielding a hundred-metre-long blade of electric power.

Dash sputtered, “H-h-h-how-w are y-you-”

“Dashy,” Twilight poked at Dash’s shoulder.

Dash turned to Twilight. She saw that her horn was emitting a faint beam onto Applejack. Twilight was casting a boosting spell on Applejack. Regardless, it was Applejack doing the heavy lifting and Twilight’s spell was only a minor buff.

“Oh.” Dash said.

“Go help her! This strength boost won’t help without some precision.” Twilight said.

“Got it!”

Rainbow Dash quickly darted to the end of the blade’s back cover and tightly held it. The three mares raised the blade to Korsan’s floating metal head. Korsan roared with great fury. He engaged his four swords and attacked.

Korsan swung a sword to the right. The mares turned their sword around and swing back. Upon collision, a thunderous boom detonated from the blades. Both sides were knocked back by the insane recoil. Korsan swung from the other side. Applejack and Dash quickly shifted their stance and struck back. On recoil, Korsan raised a sword from both sides dropped down. On the way down, a string of lightning struck the blades, turning them into hyper-electrified metal prongs. The mares turned their sword horizontal and parried. The force of the blow formed an even greater crater below Applejack.

The two sides continued to clash their swords together, throwing all of their strength into each strike. Lightning struck Korsan’s metallic structure, turning the robotic patches of his ship into deathtraps. The rain didn’t make it any easier, spreading his electrocuting aura throughout the air. While it slowed down the ponies, they continued to cling to their lives.

Finally, the mares got the upper hoof and stabbed one of Korsan’s swords, dislocating it from Korsan’s machine arm. They went in for the kill, swinging at the base of Korsan’s head on the quarterdeck. Two swords jumped in and held back the heroes’ sword. The three blades locked together. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight Sparkle threw all of their might into pushing forward.

Korsan went in for the flank and attempted to jab his third sword Applejack But before it hits, several unseen harpoons latch onto it and pull it away. From behind the quarterdeck rose one of the ships from below. Lifted by an army of pegasi, the ship was able to reach Korsan and fire harpoons at him. In a desperate attempt to free himself, Korsan lifted the sword Rarity, November, and Maria were fighting on and slashed at the ship. With one offhoof blow, the sword sliced the ship in two. Its halves split apart and plummeted into the ocean.

But, unbeknownst to Korsan, Spike, Yin, and Yu were on that ship. When the sword cut through, the three boys jumped onto the sword and rode it back to The Perfection. From the tip of the sword, Spike, Yin, and Yu ran towards the quarterdeck along the metal cover of the sword. The stallions and Spike made their way across the whipping sword whilst avoiding the wreckage of their ship pouring on them.

Two thirds of the way there, they saw Rarity, November, and Maria. However, it was now Rarity fighting the alone, as November had been taken over by Korsan as well. November couldn’t mentally endure the battle, and Korsan took advantage of her at her weakness.

Outmatched two-to-one, Rarity was at the end of her rope.

“Rarity!” Spike exclaimed.

“We got this.” Yin told Spike.

Yin and Yu pulled out their katanas and teleported in between Rarity and Korsan’s mind-controlled proxies.

“Yin?! Yu?!” Rarity shouted, jumping back in surprise. “How did you boys get here?!”

“One of the ships were being evacuated by Princess Celestia’s troops, something about a leaked hull or something, I don’t know-” Yu explained.

Yin interrupted just as he entered a blade lock against Maria, “The point is that we hijacked it and, with the help of some pegasi, are now at your rescue.”

“Hey Yin, how about asking her for a kiss? You deserve it for saving her life.” Yu slyly suggested.

“What? No, you do it, you played an equal part.” Yin snapped back.

“I got Slasher, it wouldn’t be right.”

“Well what if Rarity has a special somepony?”

“Touché… Hey, Yin, quick observation: Why are we fighting mind-controlled versions of November and Maria on top of a giant sword in the middle of a hurricane again?”

“Huh, wha-Oh. Korsan entered some super-form and has possessed these two and now they’re evil or something, I guess.” Yin said.

“…Makes sense.”

As the two brothers continued to battle the mares, Rarity and Spike kept back. The two saw two small tentacles slithering across the sword towards Yin and Yu. The tentacles opened and an erratic stream of electric energy poured from their ends. It was what Rarity saw attacking Maria just before she was possessed.

Rarity yelled out to the brothers, “Watch out!”

But it was too late. The tentacles attacked the, searing them in electric shock. Yin and Yu hollered and screamed. They struggled to escape before suddenly dropping to the floor dead silent in front of the four ponies.

Slowly, the two got back onto their hooves. A look of optimism sprouted on Spike’s and Rarity’s faces. However, they immediately turned to shock as the brothers turned around. They had fallen under Korsan’s control. They turned their weapons to Rarity and Spike.

“No…” Rarity gasped.

The four controlled ponies cackled in maniacal laugher as they forced their prey back towards the end of the sword. The blade suddenly jerked upward and swung over to the main deck. There, Rarity and Spike see their friends, still locked against Korsan.

Rarity and Spike leapt down from the sword onto the deck. The four proxies followed suit and pursued their targets. The now free sword snuck behind the massive blade lock, preparing to stab Applejack.

Rainbow Dash and Twilight saw this, but were powerless in her situation.

“Twilight! We need to do something fast!” Dash yelled.

“I know!” Twilight groaned, focusing all of her energy into supporting Applejack and Rainbow Dash. “If only there was some way we can get Korsan to overwhelm himself… Gah…”

In the corner of the eye, Twilight saw Rarity and Spike approaching her as well as the small army of Korsan’s proxies. Korsan seemed to be able to transmit his consciousness into his mind-controlled bodies. Perhaps it worked vice versa. An idea immediately sparked in her head.

“Rarity! Strobe them!” She loudly commanded.

Rarity instantly followed. She fired an extraordinary light from her horn. The light instantly blinded the incoming ponies. Korsan’s true body roared in pain, his swords immediately twitching and weakening.

“Applejack! Rainbow Dash! He’s open! Let’s do this!” Twilight exclaimed.

Dash and Applejack nodded and gave one final push with their mighty sword. Korsan’s swords were instantly shoved back, leaving Korsan’s head wide open. The mares launched their finishing blow. The blade sliced into Korsan’s floating head. The electric blade was pushed all the way through to the back of his metallic skull side. Korsan screamed in agony. His dying appendages flailed wildly. It was super effective!

Despite his desperate efforts to keep stable, Korsan’s massive airship body shut down. His floating head slowly slumped forward and dropped onto the quarterdeck. His four mind-controlled proxies groaned in pain before Korsan’s connection snapped off. Yin, Yu, Maria, and November instantly snapped back to normal.

“Huh, what happened?” Yin groaned, regaining his balance and memories.

“Did we do something stupid?” Yu asked.

“We did it!” Rainbow Dash cheered.

As she, Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, and Spike celebrated and Yin, Yu, November, and Maria recovered, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Maurice, Cecil, Jarvis, Nitin, and Slasher the other heroes rejoined their friends and celebrated over their victory.

“I just had the weirdest dream. We were all fighting Rarity on top of a giant metal plank in the sky…” November muttered.

“Well, that did happen. Korsan possessed you with magic.” Spike replied.

“Damn him. I hope I didn’t cause too much trouble,” Maria moaned, rubbing her numb forehead.

Walking in front of the stiff metal head, Twilight triumphantly announced to all, “What matters now is that we did it! We have saved the world from Korsan. Though tiny we were compared to his power, his size, his tongue, his fear, his ship, his unpredictable nature-”

Korsan suddenly sprung alive. His giant metal head lunged forward and engulfed Twilight in one swift bite.

“Twilight!” The ponies shrieked.

They watched in horror as Korsan returned to his active state. It’s like what they just did was nothing. He was practically ignoring the massive blade that was still rammed in his head.

“Spit Twilight out!” Spike yelled.

“What the-” Rarity gasps.

“-it’s still alive!” Applejack exclaimed.

“Ha, that was close.” Korsan taunted. “If that sword moved just an inch move, you all might’ve got me. Regardless, you failed.”

Korsan leaned his airship body forward to a vertical angle. He rapidly rose higher into the storming skies. The fifteen ponies on board tumbled down the face of the deck by the insane gravitational forces unleashed on them. They caught themselves on the edge of the destroyed bow.

Another battleship was lifted by the army of pegasi and came to their rescue. The battleship slowly approached the ponies, keeping the deck directly below.

“You aren’t getting away!” Korsan roared.

A loud rumble erupted just below the ponies dangling on the bow. The insides of the bow reformed and gutted themselves out. A gigantic cannon emerged out from the hull and aimed at the floating battleship. Energy built up inside the cannon as it locked on, a blinding green light bursting from the opening.

“Look out!” The heroes shrieked.

All they could do is hold onto the crumbling wood mangle that was the deck and watch the destruction of the battleship. Anypony was on the ship and the pegasi below were doomed to die.

However, just before the cannon fired, the entire remainder of the bow suddenly exploded in a massive fireball of magic. The cannon was obliterated into hundreds of pieces of scrap metal and magic fallout. Smoke quickly engulfed the area.

The heroes were flung into the air from the shockwave. The floating ship quickly rose and caught the fifteen. They looked back over to the destroyed bow to see something incredible.

Out of the smoke emerged Twilight, slightly beat up, but still fighting.

“Twilight!” Her friends cheered.

Twilight flew down to her friends on the ship, but they all motioned for her to go back to Korsan.

“Finish him off! We’ll be fine.” Rainbow roared.

The others cheered, “Yeah, go!”

“I will!” Twilight proudly replied.

With a flick of her wings, Twilight flipped around and flew back to Korsan. She landed onto the vertical deck edge. She looked at her target: Korsan’s electromagnetically lifted head. The sword was still jammed in it, just short of hitting his true body.

If I can just reach that sword, I can finish this once and for all. Korsan is moving too quickly for me to fly, so I’m just going to have to run it. Twilight told herself as she pawed into her wood and metal floor.

“Back for more?!” Korsan roared. “You ponies don’t give up!”

“Yeah, it’s a bad habit.” Twilight replied. “Happens to all of us it seems.”

Chapter 057: Unperfected Korsan (Part 1)

The head of Korsan opened its mouth towards Twilight. Inside the giant’s mouth, Twilight could see Korsan’s true body in all of its terrifying form. His true body was charging a beam attack.

Twilight snorted at Korsan. She strategized her final charge.

Crimson clouds, now practically rivers of electrified water, bathed her and the airship as the final seconds of their battle drew near.

The onlooking ponies can only imagine what’s going on behind the clouds.

Silence follow. Twilight and Korsan stared each other down, ready to make the first move.

Upon a lightning bolt striking Korsan, Twilight instantly sprung forward and up the massive deck length. Cannons immediately fired off at her. The multi-armed super-cannon joined in the fray, having freed itself. In seconds, the entire front half of Korsan’s airship body turned into the magma pits of Tartarus. Twilight was running through the epicenter of this chaos. Using patches of free wall, hailing debris, and even the massive cannonballs themselves, Twilight maneuvered upwards, higher and higher to her target.

Korsan then fired his ultimate beam attack. A massive energy beam of green electric magic blasted from the open mouth. It was five metres thick, enough to level a large house. Twilight barely darted away from the beam, half of her tail electrified and vaporized. She continued upwards alongside beam, avoiding even more stuff thrown at her.

She was now a third of the way to the quarterdeck.

Korsan’s electric blades sprung forth next and attempted to strike down Twilight. Amidst the heavy cannon fire, one by one, the swords violently slashed and hacked at the ship. Twilight barely avoided each blow, almost becoming paralyzed in electric shock. Enormous chunks of the airship crumbled and plummeted down.

Twilight was losing galloping space, and fast. She tried to think of a solution, but is unable to think straight. Everything was everywhere. There was too much to process.

An electric blade rammed right towards Twilight. Twilight jumped to the side. A series of electric bolts leapt from the passing blade and electrocuted her brain. Twilight backed away, regaining herself in an alcove.

Visions began to flicker in her head. Memories raced through her mind’s eye. Her conscience turned against her. Was this Korsan trying to mind control her? Was it electric shock? Was it herself? Twilight had no clue.

Korsan got the jump on her as she panicked. One of the massive electric swords slid down the deckside and onto her. Twilight quickly grabbed the burning electric blade and was pushed down the deck as well. She stamped her hind hooves into the floor. She eventually grinded to a halt. She then shoves back against the massive sword. As hard as she tried though, she is locked is a power struggle against the sword.

Lethal amperes of electric might pulsated through Twilight’s body. The longer she was forced against the blade, the higher the voltage. Her body wanted to go into an absolute spasm. Her will was in chaos, unsure what to desire. Her mind overloaded with sensation of all five senses.

The visions took a turn for the worst…

Twilight’s surroundings quickly faded into darkness. Figures from her worst nightmares emerged from the black fog and surrounded Twilight. Nightmare Moon, Lord Tirek, Queen Chrysalis, and hundreds of monsters closed in around her. Her hooves were chained to metal cables that were stretched out into the void.

The villains drew in closer to Twilight. She panicked and struggled in her binds, only for them to not budge an inch. She attempted to buck the beings back, only for them to turn into smoky shadow versions of themselves on contact. Their eyes melted into burning green embers, peering into Twilight’s soul. The shadows reformed themselves into bizarre figures. They looked and felt like Korsan, down to his presence of madness.

Upon kicking the last villain, Twilight watched in horror as the bipedal shadows turn into her friends, all in Korsan’s mechanical suit and having his scarred right eye. Equally monstrous grins faded onto their liquid faces. The Korsan hybrids pulled out their cutlasses and pointed them at Twilight. They forced her to do the only thing she can: curl in on herself and cry.

Tears poured from Twilight’s tightly closed eyes. Her ears bled from the deafening roars of Korsan’s demonic laughter. Her hooves buckled and ached as they simultaneously burned and froze in the metal chains and cables.

However, amongst the chaos and terror surrounding her, Twilight could feel something else. Something peculiar lingered in her heart. Escaping the madness around her, she was dazed to find a feeling of bliss, deep inside her. Despite the hellscape around her, a single vein of hope remained.

Tapping into this vein, the floor Twilight and the Korsan beings stood on turned into a shallow body of ocean water. The Korsan hybrids twitched and glitches in the water. The Rainbow Dash and Korsan hybrid burst into a bright light before returning as a normal version of Dash.

Dash slowly walked up to Twilight’s side in the middle of the surrounding pirates. It was like they didn’t even exist.

Dash said, “It’s so peaceful and quiet out here, I love it.”

As the cool water washed in between Twilight’s hooves, the pain from her binds vanished. A surge of control pulsated inside Twilight. Her bonds were lightening, turning from hard steel to soft aluminum.

She looked around to see the hundreds of glitching Korsan hybrids drop their weapons. The biggest look of fear was on their faces. The hybrids slowly degraded, turning into plain clones of Korsan. With one wayward look from Twilight, the clones ran away in panic.

Twilight turned to look at Rainbow Dash, now joined by Applejack, Spike, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity. Her friends looked back at her with confidence beaming from their faces. Twilight then looked att the chains on of her. She didn’t feel restrained of them. She wasn’t even afraid. With one mighty heave, the chains and cables shattered into millions of shards.

Twilight found herself back on Korsan, shoving the massive electric sword up the deck towards Korsan.

The sounds of battle returned. She didn’t pay mind to the chaos, only the goal. With one great shove, the sword snapped from its arm and flew up to the quarterdeck. Korsan caught it in its mouth and snapped the enormous blade in two. He spat out the halves and fired another beam at Twilight. She quickly dodged the beam and made her way across the middle of the deck. She was closing in on the top.

In her path emerged four crossbow cannons. They instantly fired at her, sending hundreds of metal bolts right at her. Twilight quickly grabbed a falling metal sheet with her magic and held it in front of her as a shield.

As hard as the force of the debris, the cannonballs, the massive swords, the metal bolts, the lightning, and rain poured down, Twilight pushed even harder against these obstacles and continues going forward.

Huge chunks of debris fell down from the quarterdeck and smashed into the cannons in front of Twilight. Korsan reeled back and prepared another beam attack. Twilight launched her shield up to him. The shield struck the sword buried in Korsan’s neck. The sword is dislodged and falls down the deck. Twilight jumped in front of the incoming sword. She grabbed it before securing herself on deck.

She didn’t have the strength of Applejack and Rainbow Dash to help. However, all she needs is her smarts and Korsan’s short-sightedness.

Using gravity, centripetal motion, and everything she’s learned, Twilight swung the sword around herself and threw it back up the quarterdeck. The electric blade rammed directly into Korsan’s metal skull, creating a large blast in its wake. Korsan screeched in pain. The sword continued to pass into Korsan, ripping into his true body. The screams soon turn into choking garbles. Korsan’s airship body started collapse and crumble in on itself. Twilight finished this off with a flying kick into the hilt, driving the entire sword through Korsan. Korsan’s giant floating head no longer floated and collapsed into its metal part.

Twilight leapt off of The Perfection and hovered in the air, looking back to see the metal head crash into the quarterdeck and roll down the deck. At first glance, it seemed like Twilight had won.

Though, if anything on this adventure had taught her anything, Twilight knew that Korsan wasn’t beat until everything exploded in a massive fireball.

Eventually though, the entire airship erupted in a series of massive colourful blasts. They tore the entire ship to shreds, launching flaming debris in all directions. After a minute of destruction and mayhem, the entire airship dissipated into shrapnel and tumbled into the sea below, just missing the ships below.

The only thing that remained was the giant head that housed Korsan’s original body. Twilight immediately knew what was coming do and flew to the armada below, where everypony inside is celebrating once more.

“Girls, we’re not finished yet.” Twilight told them.

“Oh, no party now?” Pinkie asked.

“Oh, come on!” Sweetie Belle groaned.

“Oh, come on!” Yin, Yu, Cecil, Jarvis, and Maurice roared out at once.

“How many phases does this final boss have?!” Rainbow Dash growled.

“This may be his last stand.” Twilight told her. “Korsan’s probably exhausted all of his magic, so he won’t be able to put up much of a fight.”

“I’m coming with you.” Applejack said.

“He’s going to pay for hurting our whale friend!” Fluttershy roared.

“We can’t just let him cause more trouble now, can we?” Rarity replied.

“I think I’ll stick back and watch. We should give Korsan a sporting chance.” Spike said, confident in his friends.

“Should we come along?” November asked, the other pirates joining around her.

“No, you’ve done more than enough. We don’t want you guys to get hurt.” Twilight said.

“And besides, it’s us versus one double-defeated pirate. How hard can it be?” Dash boasted.

“Very hard.” Pinkie Pie answered.

Confused, Twilight turned around to see what Pinkie meant. Her eyes instantly bulged open in shock at what she and the others saw. Just above the wreckage of Korsan’s airship and sea was a giant platform of hardened electricity, a hovering arena with a competitor waiting in the center.

Korsan was using the power of the storm around him to power himself and the arena.

“I will give him this: He is resourceful.” Cecil said.

“Fine, let’s end this.” Twilight said. “Celestia, take me, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity, all up to that platform and pull out as quickly as possible.”

In the middle of the floating platform of electricity stood Korsan, staring at Twilight and her friends being carried by pegasi. A wily smirk grew on his face. He had a surprise in store for them.

His mechanical suit had been rebuilt into a full set of mechanical armour. Its thick metal plates reflected the red and yellow light from above onto sea below. His chest bore five anti-magic storage glasses similar to that of his old harness.

On his back was a massive fifteen-metre long cape. It was black on the outside and electric gold on the inside. It flapped in the storm’s breeze, flaccid for now.

Poking from slits in his cape was a pair of massive robotic wings constructed of both magic and mechanical engineering. They radiated a lime glow from its crystal flaps. His head remained revealed, letting his long mane flutter in the breeze and his eyes burn with sporadic rage.

Twilight and her five partners jumped down in front of Korsan at the edge of the platform. Korsan gave a cold look at the mares, studying the determination and ferocity in their stances. In half of a second, he instantly broke down into hysterical laughter, his massive body twisting and shuffling. Twilight and the others simply held their stance and watched as their five-metre tall opponent broke down in his maniacal temper.

“This is mildly awkard…” Fluttershy whispered.

With a flick of his now gigantic claws, Korsan pulled out two cutlasses from his cape and held them out in full light of the red night. Drenched in anti-magic, these cutlasses were not only long, but incredibly thick.

“Hm? What do you think?” Korsan asked.

“I think you’re overcompensating for something.” Twilight sneered.

With another flick of Korsan’s claws, the two swords snapped and extended into two incredibly long whips. Parts of the sword separated apart, attached to the cable rope held within them.

“Yep, definitely compensating,” Applejack cracked.

“Face it, Korsan, you’re beat.” Twilight said. “That massive spike of magic you had earlier is all gone. You’re running on you last reserves of magic and the storm. You’ll hurt yourself if you continue this.”

“Step forth, if ye dare.” Korsan said, choosing to ignore her words.

Silently, Twilight and her friends slowly stepped forward. A low growl rumbled from Korsan.

“You will surely die… You all will…” Korsan lowly roared, almost warning them of their death.

“That maybe, but not today!” Twilight confidently replied.

The mares immediately galloped forward on the ice and charged at Korsan. Korsan stool still. His horn glowed a bright yellow hue. Twilight saw that he was casting a telekinetic spell. Twilight fired an anti-magic pulse. The blast sent Korsan back a few steps.

This gave the mares enough time to attack him. They rapidly kicked and punched Korsan. Korsan quickly collapsed his whips into swords and defended from them. He deflected the force of the blows right back at the mares.

Twilight zipped away from the brawl and magically drew a sword from thin air. She lunged forward and attacked Korsan. Korsan saw this and flipped over Twilight. His cape stiffened and slammed into the mares as Korsan flipped. The mares were sent into the air, but regained themselves on the platform.

With a flick of his claws, Korsan’s right sword formed into a whip. He sent the long whip after Twilight, snagging her hind leg. He pulled her back towards him and jabbed his other blade forward. Twilight freed herself in time and slid under the diving sword. She leapt onto Korsan’s back, using her sword to stab into the armour.

“It’ll take more than that to stop me!” Korsan laughed.

With a flap of his massive wings, Korsan sent himself and Twilight hundreds of metres in the air and into the hurricane. Korsan teleported away from Twilight and went in for an attack. Twilight prepared herself and the two alicorns dueled in the sky. Korsan rapidly circled Twilight, clashing his swords against her sword.

“Long time, it’s been, Twilight, my loathsome foe!” Korsan taunted.

“Not as loathsome as you, Korsan!” Twilight retorted.

She dodged a blade swing and smacked the back of his head with her back hoof in an aerial flip. Korsan drop a bit before retuning with an uppercut. Twilight barely dodged the metal fist, shaving her chin. Twilight backed away and fires a fired a magic beam at Korsan. He raises a sword and absorbed the beam.

“Twilight, I created myself for the sole purpose of destroying the inferior. But I could never seem to defeat a resistor on an equal plane as me! That's why I transformed my own body with my own magic! Feel the power of true alicorn magic, the magic that you deny!” Korsan said.

“Enough with the speeches, Korsan!” Twilight groaned.

Twilight then darted behind the end of her beam attack and punched Korsan in the face before he could react. Korsan was flung back, but recovers quickly and retaliated with his own beam attack. Twilight countered with another beam. The two magic beams struck each other, but only for a second. Korsan’s beam instantly destroys Twilight’s, giving Twilight a magic concussion.

Korsan was much more powerful than Twilight, even after the previous battle.

Before Twilight could recover or even react, she was hit by the electric magic ray of destruction and was launched into the thick of the storm above by Korsan.

Korsan roared in triumph, but was instantly cut off by a massive electric blade smashing him in the face. He fell onto the platform and saw met by Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie, and Fluttershy. They were wielding one of the massive swords of Korsan’s previous form, having plucked it from the wreckage. It was a strain on their bodies without Twilight’s aid, but they showed they could do some damage.

The mares swung at Korsan once more. Korsan dropped his cutlasses and caught the sword between his claws. He shoved the giant sword back, causing the mares to fall back. While they recollected themselves, Korsan summoned a tsunami behind him and pulled out another massive sword from the waves. He swung his sword forward just as the mares swung back. The two massive blades smashed at the middle with incredible force before being knocked back.

Korsan quickly swung again. The mares parried the blade and followed up with a side slice. Korsan parried the slice and struck back, only to be met by another parry. The mares then immediately went for the hilt. It was a direct hit, striking Korsan’s blade out of his hooves and high into the air. The mares then sliced the flying sword in two. The sword halves plummeted into the sea.

The mares went in for the finishing blow. Korsan dodged the blade and leapt into the raging waters below. He returned a tall mast, sharped at the point. He chucked the mast onto the mares. They dropped their sword and grabbed the mast.

Korsan picked up another mast and threw it, yelling, “I am the ultimate overlord, Korsan! I am a true alicorn!”

“Another one?!” Rainbow Dash groaned under the weight of the first mast.

The second mast fell onto the first, doubling the weight. The mares strained to keep the masts from crushing them.

Korsan flew back onto the platform and picked up his cutlasses. He charged forward and slammed into the mast, shattering it into the pieces. The mares shielded themselves from the razor wood chips. Korsan grabbed them with his magic and slammed them into the electric floor. Their bodies pierce through the solid exterior and were bathed in the full body of chaotic power. A collective scream echoed across the arena. Korsan raised the mares into the air by his all-powerful magic.

“While not as good as absolute power, I can still enjoy taking down all of you.” Korsan bragged.

One of the pirate ships below fired a harpoon at Korsan. Korsan grabbed the harpoon midair with his cape. With one heave, the ship was thrown up in the air. Korsan flung his whip blades at the midair vessel, wrapping them around the ship. He yanked the whips and they instantly sliced the ship into three large parts. As the three parts fell into the sea below, Korsan was overcome in mad delight.

“I am invincible!” He declared.

A rapier then floated up to his chest stabbed into one of the anti-magic tanks. Korsan screamed in pain as he feels his almost bodily fluids flowed from his chest. Furious, he looked down to see Rarity on the platform, having freed herself with magic.

“Et tu, Rarity?” Korsan asked.

“Eat it!” Dash yelled from behind.

As Korsan turned around, he was met by a powerful electric kick to the jaw by Rainbow Dash. Korsan head-butted Dash back, sending her careening down onto the electric platform. Dash picked herself up and joined alongside Rarity.

“I'll skewer you!” Korsan yelled, darting forward at the two mares.

He slashed his blade at Dash. Rarity blocked his cutlasses with her rapier. Korsan slid across the rapier and swiped at Rarity. She ducked below the two cutlasses and rolled around to Korsan’s backside. She tried to stab between his armour plates, but was cut off by Korsan turning. He attacked Rarity with a stab and side swipe. Rarity deflected the jab and parried the swipe. Dash hopped into the fray and tripped Korsan.

As he fell though, Korsan engaged his wings and took flight. He rapidly circled the arena, creating a spiraling electric tornado on the arena. Rarity and Dash stood back to back as Korsan fired magic bolts at them. The magic bolts sprayed from the swirling fog at all angles. Rarity used her rapier and magic shields to deflect the oncoming shots. Dash picked up Rarity and saved her from speedier bolts.

Rarity told Dash, “I think I know how to beat him. When I destroyed one of the anti-magic containers on him, you broke out. He must be using the anti-magic prevent others from causing interference with his spells. I might be able to free the others if we do the same thing to the others.”

“Got it!” Dash nodded,

“Fear my superior power!” Korsan’s voice echoed in the midst of the storm.

Using quick judgement, Rainbow Dash chucked Rarity towards the source of the voice. Using the momentum of the throw, Rarity quickly galloped across the platform and stabbed Korsan at the edge of the arena, right in another anti-magic unit. Korsan screamed and fled, diving down into the sea.

A massive tsunami formed at the edge of the arena and washed over. Rarity and Rainbow Dash tried to run away from the wave, but found themselves trapped at the other edge. The wave charged forward with no sign of stopping. However, Pinkie then dropped in from above and landed in front of the two mares, armed with what appears to by a large stick. She pointed the stick forward just as the wave was about it hit. The stick transformed into a massive pink umbrella shielded the three from the tsunami.

“Moral of the story: Don’t leave home without an umbrella.” Pinkie told her friends as she folded the umbrella and stuffed it back into her mane.

Korsan burst from the sea and galloped at the three mares. The three noticed Rarity’s rapier still inside his harness, lodged in the anti-magic unit. Just as Korsan was about to slash into the three, Pinkie Pie pulled out her party cannon from behind her and fired it into his face. It immediately disoriented Korsan, sending him back. Rarity grabbed the rapier with her magic and pulled it out. Rainbow Dash flew around and bucked Korsan back forward. Rarity then stabbed her rapier into a third container. Korsan frantically grabbed Rainbow Dash and slammed her into Rarity.

He quickly backs away to the center of the arena. Korsan was no longer so cheery. Now, he was mad.

“I’ll crush you!” He bellowed.

Pulling out the rapier in his harness, he snapped the thin blade in two with a flick of his horn. His horn then brightly glowed. A second electric platform formed right above the first one. It was then flipped upside down and fell down. Korsan flew away, leaving the six mares on the platform to be crushed. The upside down platform stopped however, just short of crushing them. In the center of the two platforms was Applejack, holding the second up in the air.

“Applejack!” The others cheered.

Korsan saw this and flew up to the top of the second platform. He kicked into it, but it stayed firm. He kicked it again and again in a rampant fury of bucks, but the platform stays firm. Applejack would not let it crush her and her friends.

“Useless! Useless! Useless! Useless! Useless! Useless!” Korsan yelled as he smashed into the platform.

But they refused. Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie banded together to keep the platform up.

The platform suddenly shattered and dissipated into static. All of Korsan’s kicking, smashing, and chaotic state had destroyed the platform’s stability. Korsan attempted to create another platform to crush them was attacked by Rarity firing magic spells at him. Korsan used his blades and magic to deflect the bombardment of magic.

While he was distracted, Pinkie fished up a sharp piece of ship debris. Applejack grabbed the debris and threw it up at Korsan. The sharp projectiles slipped past Korsan. It stabbed him in one of the final two remaining anti-magic tanks.

Fluttershy immediately was released from her magic grasp and landed alongside her friends.

“Take that, Korsan!” Dash boasted. “The gang’s back together.”

“With only one anti-magic container on you, it was easy to limit how much magic you can blast out willy-nilly.” Rarity told Korsan.

Korsan looked at them in disbelief.

He murmured, “It’s not possible! It doesn’t add up! How can one magic user and four weaklings surpass the ultimate lifeform?! You treat each other like you each play a major role in this battle, and it works?! I don’t believe it!”

“Believe it!” The five replied, ready for the second round.

Chapter 058: Unperfected Korsan (Part 2)

As Korsan looked over the mares below, a furious rage, more powerful than any magical attack, ruptured inside of him. He was almost beaten. Even after assuming his perhaps greatest form, after absorbing the magic of two naturally born alicorns, and after removing most if not all risk of losing, Twilight and her friends still managed to best him. What was this madness?

At the brink of snapping into complete lunacy, his thoughts raced through his head, deconstructing, twisting, and melting into mental rambles of madness. His vision turned clouded in scarred eyes, gears, blood, pegasi feathers, power, and in the center of this chaos is himself as a foal, laughing hysterically surrounded by the dead ponies of everypony he had ever slaughtered.

He tried to remove these hallucinations from his head, firing magic wildly in every direction. The visions stayed adamant, driving him beyond even madness. He finally snapped.

Korsan screamed with pained laughter, his voice echoed across the world. He dove down to the center of the arena. The mares backed away as he landed. His swords turned into bladed whips and Korsan proceeded to wildly spin in circles. His bladed whips swung around the arena in a chaotic vortex. The mares leapt over and under the spiraling whips. They barely avoided the sharp barbs that sliced off portions of their hair.

As he spun faster and faster, Korsan rambled to himself. It was incoherent, but vivacious enough to warrant some sort of sick joy. It was like Korsan had found the meaning of life.

Rainbow Dash tried to fly up and away from the whips, but Korsan caught her in his sights. He slung a whip at her and snagged her by the leg. Dash squeaks before quickly grabbed onto by Korsan’s cape as well. She was slowly dragged into his open hind hoof. Korsan grabbed her by the neck and held her up to his face.

Terror took hold of Dash as she looked into Korsan’s ballistic eyes. The other mares tried to reach her, but couldn’t sneak past the spiraling whips. Korsan cackled, tightening his grip on Dash’s neck, hearing her chokes and gags barely escape her collapsing lungs. Joy pumped throughout his body as he exercised his mighty power on such a lower being.

Just Korsan could finish Dash off, a powerful force instantly struck the back of his head. Korsan lost his hold on his prey and dropped Dash. He tumbled off of the platform along with his whips.

Rainbow Dash collapsed on the floor, gagging for several seconds. She looked up and saw Twilight Sparkle watching over her. She was panting, as if she had just run a marathon.

“Thanks, Twilight!” Dash applauded before coughing.

“No problem.” Twilight replied.

Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie joined the two at the center of the arena.

“Twilight! Korsan’s got a single anti-magic container on him. If we destroy it, we can finish him off.” Rarity said.

The electric platform then started to violently shake. At the bottom of the platform, they could see Korsan flying right below them. The mares braced themselves as Korsan lifted the platform into the storm. Lightning smashed into the platform, causing it to warp and occasionally have parts of it burst in electric blasts.

Once deep inside the storm, Korsan threw the arena up and flew over the mares.

“Time to end this!” He declared.

His horn glowed as Korsan casted a new spell. A giant, electromagnetic magic sphere formed around the entire arena, trapping the mares inside.

The mares looked around for an exit, but nothing could be found. A bolt of magic suddenly leapt from the magic sphere. Twilight created a shield in time and deflected the projectile. The mares looked over to the source of the attack, finding a red dot on the shield.

“Know my power!” Korsan roared.

Soon, hundreds of red lights dotted the sphere of the arena. They fired and endless barrage of magic bolts. The mares sprang into action, perfectly synchronized. They rapidly dodged and deflected the endless volley. Twilight and Rarity used their magic to deflect. Rainbow Dash summoned her lightning and zapped the magic bolts. Applejack and Pinkie Pie kicked and punched the bolts, deflecting their blasts. Fluttershy threw pieces of The Perfection on the platform into the air to draw fire.

The six mares turned into a glowing blur as they became untouchable the magic. The electric arena and surrounding sphere of energy lost rising momentum and plummeted back down to the sea, but this doesn’t hinder the mares. Korsan rapidly circled the sphere, casting as many projectile spells as he could fathom. Yet, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy remained strong together. The magic projectile the six deflected back started to pierce the electromagnetic magic sphere, disrupting it. Slowly, the mares shredded the whole thing apart.

Korsan saw this and was in both absolute shock and total ecstasy.

“They’re demons!” He madly exclaimed to himself. “No pony could do this even with all the magic in the world! Is this some ability they had together that I didn’t know about?! Some sort of, Ultimate Hex Technique? No! Just die!”

Korsan dove back down to his wreckage. He threw his two whips-swords into the water. He used each of his four hooves to grab four massive electric blades from the water. He was straining himself beyond his limit, but he didn’t care. He rose back up to face the heroes with the swords in his grasp.

“Now that’s stupid.” Dash commented.

Korsan unleashed a forward strike with all four of the swords at once. The mares rolled between the blades. The blades slashed through the electric platform, creating sparking geysers in their wake. Korsan then raised his swords and performed a horizontal slice. Applejack, Dash, and Pinkie grabbed the lowest incoming sword and brought it down to a halt. Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rarity snuck through the swords thanks to their friends. Korsan aimed his horn at the three mares and fired a powerful beam. They quickly climbed over the halted sword, barely skimming the edge of the ray.

Korsan reset his stance and the mares grouped together again.

Korsan held two blades at each end of the arena and slid them together like a massive, double-bladed jackknife. The mares tried to hold back the compact blades. They were instead shoved to the middle of the arena. Both side started crushing in on their hooves and bodies. The strength of all six ponies combined was no match for this move. Korsan’s raw strength, his magic prowess, the mass of the blades, and the leverage combined made an unstoppable pincer attack.

Slowly, the jagged electric edges drew in closer and closer to the ponies. As their muscle-power melted, the closer the blades drew. Eventually, all six were lined up right in front of Korsan. Korsan aimed his horn down at them, ready for the ultimate kill shot.

But as he was about to fire, a fifth electric blade dropped down from the heavens right in front of him. His horn fired and the beam was deflected by the anti-magic steel of the sword. The beam ran away from the mares and right into Korsan. Korsan instinctively backed away and dove below the wild beam. Korsan’s swords followed their wielder, freeing the mares.

Twilight and the others looked Celestia, Luna, Cecil, and many other pegasi holding the sword by anchors and tethers below them. On Celestia’s back was Spike, rooting for his friends.

“I believe in you, Twilight! We all do!” Spike cheered.

“Take this!” Cecil roared. “Kick his butt!”

The sword was released from the flying squadron and fell down to the six heroes below. They quickly grabbed the sword and stood to the ready.

Korsan floated back up and attacked. He slashed at the mares with a fury of massive strikes and jabs. Quickly maneuvering their own sword, the mares blocked off the barrage of attacks. They struck at an opening. Korsan darted above the sword as it jabbed forward. He blitzed forward and continued to attack. The mares quickly twisted their sword around, throwing Korsan off of their sword. He shielded himself as the mares then struck at him. The single blade smashed against the four others. The electric blade edges grinded into each other and locked together.

Korsan instantly gained the upper hoof and pushed the mares’ sword back. However, unexpected by Korsan, the mares suddenly pulled their blade away. He fell forwards in the air due to his momentum.

This was it! Korsan was wide open for the finishing cut.

Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie, flipped their sword in a complete circle, slicing through the arena, and stabbing Korsan’s revealed chest one last time. The massive blade disintegrates the final anti-magic tank. In a flash of light and colour, Korsan’s body internally erupted, separated from his anti-magic power. He fell from the sky and down to the sea.

The mares jumped off the dissipating electric platform and followed the fallen alicorn. Korsan saw them approaching and fought back. He dropped his massive swords, relying on his raw might. The two sides leapt from falling debris piece to other debris piece in their final assault. They exchanged punches and blocks as they leapt from platform to platform.

Despite Korsan’s furious speed and power, the mares countered with their greater tenacity and teamwork. Magic bolts and beams of all colours pierced the skies. The rain and red fog bent to the will of the flying ponies. Shrapnel from battle was hit by lightning, exploding to make even more shrapnel. Gravity became practically meaningless in the fray. Fury, fear, determination, and the lust of victory consumed the seven ponies as they smacked into each other all the way back down to the sea.

Eventually, Korsan lost track of the speeding mares. He was immediately overcome by the fighting might of the mares. One after another, Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie unleashed their ultimate combos. They sent Korsan from one side of the debris field to the other. Metal, wood, magic, wind, rain, lightning, and everything else was thrown at Korsan in one grand finishing sequence. The “all-powerful” alicorn could do nothing about it.

As hard as he tried, Korsan couldn’t summon his magic any more. It was at this moment, he knew, he used it all up. It was at this moment, he knew, he messed up. It was at this moment, he knew, he lost.

The ocean below drew near quickly. The heroes decided to end this assault with a bang. Locking together, the heroes rose above Korsan. He watched in terror as they instantly charged down, delivering an earth-crushing combined kick into his exposed chest. The surrounding air collapsed and exploded in a sonic boom as Korsan was catapulted down into the ocean at breakneck speeds.

But as he fell, Korsan had something on his mind.

This was a final resort to secure revenge.

Korsan suddenly regained himself midway. He smacked down and landed on top of the water. The surrounding ocean burst from the force, almost capsizing the surrounding pirate ships several hundred metres away. Korsan suspended himself on top of the water with electromagnetism. He aimed his horn at the incoming mares. It glowed brighter than any of his previous attacks.

“He isn’t!” Twilight exclaimed.

He was. Using the very fabric of his alicorn being and the electricity around him, Korsan would fire a final beam attack, one certain to vapourize anything in sight. Korsan would be certain to die if he did this.

“If I’m going down, I’m taking you with me!” He roared.

The air screamed in agony as Korsan’s horn turned into what appeared to be a cannon of electrified darkness. Twilight and the others prepared themselves as the blinding light and darkness combined into one singularity.

“Die!” Korsan screamed.

At that moment, an enormous magic beam of death and destruction blasted from his horn. The air distorted and shattered as the beam disintegrates everything in its path. Not even light and gravity seemed to be safe from Korsan’s final move.

As Korsan’s beam races towards her and her friends, Twilight quickly charged up and fired a magic beam of her own. The two rays of magic, energy, and plasma collided into each other, setting off a sonic boom. The two magic beams pushed against each other with each of their masters’ might, swaying up and down in the sky and vaporizing the red night sky.

Korsan’s super massive power beam soon overpowered Twilight’s small purple beam. His beam traveled up into the sky, pressing Twilight’s beam back towards her. Korsan’s beam accelerated faster and faster with each passing second.

As the beam drew within a dozen of metres of Twilight and the others, Rarity decided to take action. Despite how little power she had, Rarity was determined. Still clutching tightly to Twilight, Rarity fired her own magic beam into Twilight’s, turning the beam into a spiraling tunnel of purple and light blue light. Korsan’s beam stopped accelerating, but still charged forward.

Rainbow Dash joined as well. She built up electricity from the surrounding air and charged it through Twilight and Rarity. Twilight’s beam grew larger, even sporting electric sparks crackling throughout. Korsan’s opposing beam soon slowed down.

Fluttershy quickly wrapped herself around her friends and held them even tighter together. This tightened bond and stability, plus electricity gathered in the pegasi, further strengthened them. The beam attack became less chaotic and thickened.

Pinkie Pie pulled out her large umbrella and held it open above the group. Lighting madly attacked the metal tip of the pole. The electricity traveled through Twilight and the others into the beam, strengthening. The beam started launching loose lightning bolts of energy into Korsan’s beam, weakening it.

Soon, Twilight’s beam turned from a simple purple beam attack into a massive ray of purple, light blue, dark cyan, pink, and yellow. The cyclone of magic, electricity, and pure friendship and determination rivaled Korsan’s maddened power. The two beams came to a complete stop. Korsan didn’t take this lightly, though. Howling in rage, Korsan held his front claws to the beam and summoned lightning into his metallic suit and into his beam. His beam of destruction slowly expanded and starts to close in on Twilight’s group.

The collision of the two beams drew in only three metres in front of Twilight’s face. The thing between Twilight and death was Twilight’s beam, growing thinner and thinner. Despite its massive power, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie together couldn’t beat Korsan’s final suicide attack.

Applejack looked over this seemingly unavoidable fate, coming to the conclusion that there was nothing she can do to help. She didn’t have Twilight’s and Rarity’s unicorn magic. She didn’t have the pegasi power of the storms like Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. She didn’t even Pinkie Pie’s abnormal tricks. She was also an Earth pony, a mere physical strength boost.

Despite what she said before, Applejack’s mind rapidly started to ponder about the truth of Korsan’s words. Strength was practically useless against the untouchable power of magical gods in comparison. Slowly, Applejack closed her eyes, and waits for the inevitable.

However, at second glance, Applejack soon came to a sudden realization.

I may not have the super-physical or magical abilities of my friends, she thought to herself. But I have been one of the strongest members of our friendship, we all are actually. Pinkie Pie’s laughter has helped us through dark times of sadness. Fluttershy’s kindness has helped us remain humble, and help everypony we can. Rainbow Dash’s loyalty to our friendship almost never fails, and has helped us stay together. Rarity’s generosity and mercy has helped us make more friends which have helped us in the long run, way before she was kidnapped. My honesty has helped us keep true to our word and keep our friendship strong.

Not only do we trust each other, but believe each other in the end, despite all odds. All combined with Twilight’s magic of friendship, our friendship, we are unstoppable. You hear that Korsan?! We will never lose to you! Never in a million years! We are equals, friends, family, all to the end of time!

Now bursting with a sense of determination and hope, Applejack climbed down to Twilight’s side. She held her hoof up to the beam. With all of her strength and might, she concentrated into the beam. She felt as if it was her very essence going into it. Her hooves firmly press into the beam and held it and Twilight as firmly as possible. It was a this point when the friendship of these six friends was put to the test.

In a flash of light, the beam instantly doubled in size. It emitted a golden aura, rife with the golden magic of friendship. The beam shattered Korsan’s beam in a blink and charged straight down at him. Korsan fell back from the annihilation of his final attack and watched in horror as the golden ray of light asylumed his vision.

“Noooooooooo!” Korsan’s screamed, which instantly died as his body vanishes in the golden beam.

The surrounding water flew upwards as the beam plummeted down into the bottom. Ship fragments and remnants of battle flew everywhere, even as high as the sky. Twilight and the others continued to fire the beam for a solid 30 seconds, extinguishing any trace of Korsan.

Eventually, though, the beam died down on its own. The mares became exhausted from the long fight as well as the entire adventure. The sea below silently returned to normal, revealing not a hint of the pirate captain’s presence other than the surrounding debris. The natural waves and winds flowed across the area once more. The skies cleared from its red haze to reveal the black sky and white stars above.

Korsan had been defeated.

The mares returned to the world of gravity and slowly began to descend to the planet surface. A royal ship sailed over to them, ready to bring them home. Several ponies inside quickly got to work and picked up the six. Twilight and the others were escorted to disposable medical beds.

While Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie immediately fell asleep on the air-filled mattresses, Twilight and Rarity remained awake. They turned their sore heads to the open doorway to look over the remains of Korsan’s work. As the ship passed over the wreckage, wood and metal parts bubbled up to the surface. The parts of the head of Korsan’s airship form bobbed up to the surface in. Korsan’s original and new cutlasses washed onto a thin sheet of wood. His old, ragged cape was plucked from the water by the wind and fluttered off into the horizon. The only thing recognizable to them that was in one piece is a single black sail floating in the water, with a red gear symbol woven in the center.

A sense of victory silently triumphed inside Twilight as she saw what was before her. The world was safe once more. The same grand feeling also flourishes inside Rarity, of course. But a much deeper was inside her also. A sense of pity could be felt.

Rarity remembered how Korsan was once simply an innocent foal like herself, Twilight, their friends, and everypony else. She remembered how a string of bad luck had turned such a foal into this insane, bloodthirsty monster. As much as she, Twilight, and everypony else wished it was possible, the sad truth was undeniable: Korsan would never be redeemable from the clutches of madness and evil. The ship finished its cruise over the wreckage and slowly sailed back to Equestria. The remaining boats followed home as well, leaving The Perfection and its captain to peacefully sink to the bottom of the sea alone.

An hour had passed, and everypony had exited the scene by the horizon. One of the electric blades slowly floated up and surfaces. It was drained of electricity and anti-magic, and barely resembled a sword. There, impaled by the tip of the blade, was Korsan’s body.

His armour was completely destroyed. His mane was in a frizzled mess. His flesh and fur were extremely burnt, still sizzling from the mares’ final attack. Over a dozen other disfigurements were present in the stallion, but the details would be overly grossing for anypony to hear. The burning body remained slumped over the sword inside his chest. His eyes were closed, perhaps the most peaceful form for them to be.

Suddenly, Korsan’s scarred eye sprung open. His breath gasped. His body jolted to life. Korsan instantly began to sputter and choke. Water, mixed with a small bit of his own blood, spewed from his mouth. A metallic taste and smell reeked throughout his body.

His bare hooves dug themselves into the blade and pushed. In his desperate grasping for life, Korsan pulled himself off of the blade and climbed onto the top of it. He laid himself onto the metal cover and continued to gag for several minutes. It felt like an hour at least. In time, he was able to actually breathe the salty night air around him. Despite it being filled with the fumes of his burning ship, Korsan found it heavenly.

He attempted to climb onto his hooves, but his back suddenly shrieked in pain. His large body instantly collapsed back onto the metal floor. Groaning, Korsan slowly turns his head and looked at his backside. It is a wreck, with his back at a razor sharp angle. A large metal rod was going through the part of the severed spine and even more metal debris and scraps piercing through his mangled wings.

Korsan opened his other eyelid and placed his hoof over the eye. He quickly pulls out upon feeling nothing but a hole. Unable to scream, Korsan sputtered and gasped some more. He felt for his horn next. He found a massive gash running through the front of it, all the way from the base to the tip.

His back was gone, his wings were gone, his good eye was gone, his horn was gone, his magic was gone, his power was gone, his sanity was gone, his ship was gone, his riches were gone, his mare was gone, his crew was gone, Juliana was gone, his career was gone, his legacy was gone, his infamy was gone, everything that Korsan has ever valued was gone.

As Korsan stares off into the horizon, he subconsciously laughs to himself.

“Hah. Hahaha… Hahahahaha...”

His mind recalled the previous events the led to his downfall. Among all of those memories was Twilight Sparkle, staring at him.

“It’s surprising what you live through... Isn’t it, Princess Twilight Sparkle? Perhaps I had just enough anti-magic mixed in my blood to survive that final blow you gave to me… Haha...”

Slowly, Korsan started to drag himself across the sword and onto a large piece of quarterdeck still remaining.

He rambled on, “You sure did a number on me though... I can’t deny that… Ya demon you… But don’t worry Twilight… I’ll be back… These wounds, they are only temporary… I can fix myself… No… I will fix myself… And when I do, oh when I do… ‘What will I do?’ you may ask…”

“…” The night breeze gently hummed back in response.

Korsan chuckled, still exhaling water from his lungs and insides.

“What I’m gonna do… I’m gonna destroy you… But not in the way you think of it, Twilight… That would be mercy… No… I’m gonna destroy you as you’ve destroyed me… I’m gonna take away everything you’ve ever valued… Your friends, your family, your kingdom, your world, it’s all gonna suffer and die… Right before your very eyes as well! You’re gonna weep… You’re gonna weep even when you no longer have any water in ya… And before you die, I’m gonna pump more water into ya! You’re never gonna die until I see that everything you know turns extinct… No… Not extinct, non-existent!”

The wooden floor below his destroyed body groaned and screamed.

“You hear me, Twilight?!” Korsan screamed, climbing onto his hooves. Despite the incalculable pain now searing through his body, the brown alicorn continue to rise.

He roared, “This is only the beginning! Vengeance will be mine! For as long as I live, this will never, ever, ever, end-!”

The floor suddenly collapsed from Korsan’s weight. His body instantly fell through to the floor below and landed in a shallow pool of water. Korsan cried in pain and slowly tried to regain himself. However, as he was getting up, his eye looked forward to see a poor sight. A crossbow cannon was right in front of him, tracking him. The machine purred, delighted to find new prey. Its gears rapidly accelerated. It roared.

It fired.

Chapter 059: Homebound

As the royal ship sailed, Equestria’s coastline came into view. After weeks of travel on the barren sea, it was like coming upon gold. After all the conflicts, fighting, and battling the ocean, soon, everything would go back to normal.

“Land ho!” Cecil declared, poking his head out from one of the hull windows.

“Thank goodness,” Jarvis groaned from the adjacent window.

“I’m going to get sick at any second now, get me off!” Maurice whined from the back of the ship.

Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Spike, and Rainbow Dash looked over the incoming harbour from the main deck. A warm sense of relief was felt in each of them.

“We did it. Our adventure is over.” Twilight said.

“Until the next one,” Spike replied.

“I can’t wait to get home and finish ’Daring Do and the Lost Kingdoms of Trihearth’.” Twilight said.

“Oh yeah!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, “That book was awesome! Who would’ve guessed that Daring Do’s mother is a member of the Four Knights’ Counsel?!”

Twilight silently slid a hoof to her face in frustration.

“Oh, sorry Twilight…” Dash said.

“No… hard feelings…” Twilight mumbled below her hoof.

“What’s that?” Spike asked Dash.

Dash replied, “Well…”

She stopped for a moment, thinking of the simplest way to explain to a non-fan.

“The Four Knights’ Counsel is a group of ponies that seek out the Items of Death that belonged to the Tetrad after defeating Lord Muerte in his Draco Incarnation form.” Dash said.

“…” Spike was confused.

“Yeah, it’s fairly complex, but I think I summed it up pretty well.” Dash said.

“What about the Philosopher’s Legend: The most important thing to the Four Knight’s Counsel?” Twilight asked.

“Not after Wolf took the Philosopher’s Legend.” Rainbow Dash replied.

“It’s still being used as black money to fund the creation of Iron-Lock Gears.” Twilight retorted.

“Oh please, that isn’t canon. Even A.K. Yearly said it was just speculation.”

“How else do you explain the fourth clone?”

“There are multiple theories to it.”

“Look, ‘Daring Do Reascendance’ might not be the most well-received book, but it is canon!”

As Dash and Twilight continued to argue, Spike turned to Applejack. Applejack silently shook her head to him, a sign not to get involved. Rarity stood up to move to another part of the ship and away from her friends, but accidently bumped into Slasher behind her.

“Oh! My apologies, Slasher, I didn’t see you.” Rarity exclaimed as she turns to face her.

“It’s fine. This place isn’t all that big compared to The Perfection.” Slasher replied.

“Quite right, quite right. Are you going to be alright, without The Perfection and Korsan?” Rarity asked.

“Yeah. November and Nitin are thinking of hiring me along with a few other crew members, give us a change from criminal life.”

“What about prison?”

“I’ve heard that Equestria has some nice prisons, at least better than Ti. With some of my friends with me, it can’t be too bad to spend a few months there.”

“Well, good luck to you.”

“What about you, Rarity?”

“What?”

“Are you going to be fine, even after Korsan?”

“…” Rarity turned quiet, too lost to answer.

“Yin and Yu told me about it. They said that it looked like you two were… you know…”

“I’ll be okay. Korsan was a-, a conflicted pony. I just thought I could bring out his better side.”

“Were you actually in love with him?” Slasher asked.

“I… don’t know. How are you and Yu doing?” Rarity asked, changing the subject.

“Wait, what?”

“Oh, right, names… Yu Shou. How are he and you doing?”

“We’re doing fine. There’s always been something going on between us, I guess. I hope when we get to the slammer, Yu and I get the same cell.”

The two mares instantly giggled. Behind them, Twilight and Rainbow’s argument grew louder. Soon, some of Korsan’s ex-crewmembers joined in. November Gale became the most vocal, yelling about how a character won’t get in the giant machine.

“What’s going on over there?” Slasher asked.

“Just some silly debate over Daring Do, lore and whatnot,” Rarity replied.

“I see…”

Out of nowhere, Slasher screamed out into the debating crowd, “Side note; Duo shot first!”

Instantly, the gathering on the deck erupted with argue and fandom rage. Slasher snickered to herself as the yelling echoed in her ears.

“Hehehe, it’s true though Rarity. He did.” Slasher stated.

“I’ll keep note of that.” Rarity replied. “See you when we land.”

Rarity left Slasher behind with the army of angry Daring Do fans and walked to the front of the boat. Along the way, Yin and Yu joined with her, trotting by her side.

“Hello, Ms. Rarity,” the two brothers said to her at once.

“Hello.” Rarity replied.

“Is Twilight getter better?” Yin asked.

“A little scarred up, but Twilight’s fine.”

“Have we told you yet about how awesome you and your friends were when fighting Korsan?” Yu asked, almost jumping in place.

“Yes, two times before.” Rarity answered.

“Oh.” Yu said.

“But it’s fine. I’m still a little overwhelmed from the fight as well.” Rarity reassured Yu.

“Aren’t we all? This should be worth of celebration.” Yin proclaimed.

“Quite right, Yin.” Rarity replied.

“Wait, you figured out which one of us is which? How?” Yu stammered.

Rarity answered, “I have a hunch that you wouldn’t usually use bigger words like ‘celebration’, Yu.”

“I hope that wasn’t an insult…” Yu stated.

“Oh course not, dummy. That’s my job.” Yin joked.

“Oh ha-ha, I hope we get cells at different ends of whatever jail we’re pent up in.” Yu said.

“Not as much as I do. Do you know how loud your snoring was to the cabins right next to yours back on The Perfection?” Yin asked.

“Not as loud as whatever you were doing in the toilets.” Yu retorted.

“Wait, what?! I thought those things were sound-proof.”

“It’s wood. I’m pretty sure loud clopping-or-whatever can get through it.”

Uncomfortable about where this conversation was going, Rarity said goodbye to the brothers as stoically as she could.

“Alright, he-he, I best be going now.” Rarity frantically said.

“See ya.” Yin and Yu replied before promptly returning to their own business.

Rarity galloped ahead into one of the more lavish areas of the large ship while Yin and Yu turned around and head back. She entered a parlor room, coming across, Sweetie Belle, tightly hugging onto Butch Taylor’s leg. Princess Cadence was with them, but didn’t really bother the two others. Noticing Rarity’s arrival, the Cadence held hoof up to her lips. Rarity nodded and quietly watched.

“Please, I don’t want you to go to prison. I don’t want you or any of our friends to do.” Sweetie Belle sobs into the dark blue fur she held.

Butch calmly whispered to her, “Look little one, I did a lot of bad things during these past years as a pirate. We all did.”

“But you’re good now. You helped us.” Sweetie weeped.

“I know we did, but…”

“But what?”

“…Not everypony is going to be happy if we were just let loose... Some debts need to be payed… It’s very complex.”

“I won’t be happy if you go to prison.”

“I know. Look at it this way; we good guys are only going to be gone for a couple of months. And then, it’s back to normal for everypony, like hibernation.”

“All the way back to ‘normal’?” Cadence burst in, curious.

“Well, save for a few habits, mostly.”

“…” Cadence was a bit suspicious, but bought his word.

“What?” Butch asked.

“Well, I guess I understand. I am still going to miss you, and all of our other friends.” Sweetie sniffled.

“I’ll miss you as well. One more hug alright, your sister’s waiting for ya.” Butch said.

“No, no, no rush at all.” Rarity replied.

“See you later Butch.” Sweetie Belle said.

A magic aura surrounded the filly and slowly lifted her up to the large stallion’s chest. Sweetie and Butch gave each other a final hug before Sweetie was set back down.

“Heh, I’d like to see some of the younger crewmembers deal with this.” Butch happily groaned.

“I’m pretty sure it would’ve taken them a fair while.” Cadence replied.

“Geez, Louise ,that was too much to handle.” Applejack muttered between herself and Applebloom, “All of that talk about Gears and stuff. It really tires out your head.”

“You said it ‘sis.” Applebloom replied.

As the two Earth ponies walked around the ship, Maria approached them from the other direction, holding something in her mouth. Maria’s red eyes were glued to the floor as the three mares stop in front of each other.

“Howdy there,” Applejack greeted her. “You’re…”

“Maria.” She mumbled back.

“Maria!” Applejack exclaimed. “That’s right. What’s that you have in your mouth?”

Slowly, Maria lowered her head to the floor and dropped out the object from her teeth. It was a black strip of fabric with a green glow to it. Applejack recognized it immediately.

“It’s one of Korsan’s anti-magic straps. The guards got it off of Chopin, the mime.” Maria explained.

“Oh. What are you doing with it?” Applejack asked.

“I’m giving it to you. Well, more specifically, your sister.”

Gently, Maria grabbed the strap with her hooves and firmly wrapped it around Applebloom’s right leg as if it were a bracelet. The two sisters examined the small device now on Applebloom.

“You wanted to protect your family, right? Here you go. If you want to disable it and take it off, just get a small needle and poke it into the lock in the middle.” Maria said.

“T-thanks.” Applejack stuttered, unsure on how to react to something like this.

Her gaze turned to face Maria once more. Maria had returned to her solemn staring of the carpet floor.

“Hey, what’s eatin’ you hun?” Applejack asked.

“…I’m sorry. I’m sorry for what I’ve done to your friends and your kinds. I was at Korsan’s side. I let him force me to hurt Earth ponies and pegasi. I didn’t think twice when he told me what to do for no good reason. I don’t know how I’ll ever be forgiven for the way I treated you and your friends.”

Maria’s voice broke down before eventually turning into sobs.

She cried, “I’m so sorry! I have no excuse for it! I was too cowardly to do anything! I was too gutless to stand for what is right, risking what can only amount to a beating in exchange of another’s life! I-”

“Hey, hey, hey,” Applejack shushed Maria. “Don’t beat yourself up like that. You’re not the only one. Even I joined Korsan. I was so scared of my family getting hurt, I forgot about the lives of others. At least you stepped up to Korsan in the end.”

“But-b-but-”

“Maria, I forgive you.”

Maria sniffed, “…Really?”

“Yeah, and besides, your life ain’t over yet. After a few months’ time, you’ll be back on your hooves, and can start your life anew.”

“True… Thanks.”

“No problem ma’am.”

Applejack and Maria gave each other a small hug, embracing each other from their woes.

In the corner of Applejack’s eye, she could see Applebloom fiddling with her new bracelet.

“Actually, can I get a small needle off of ya?” Applejack asked Maria.

“Huh?! S-sure…”

Maria and Applejack parted from each other and Maria pulled out the skinniest dagger from her saddle. Applejack grabbed the knife and carefully jammed it into the anti-magic strap. The strap immediately snapped and fell to the floor. Applejack picked it up and lent it to Maria.

“What are you doing?” Maria asked.

Applejack mumbled in response, “You know, after some thinking over these past few weeks, I realize that I don’t need this thing. With my friends and determination, I can protect my family just fine. Just give this back to the guards you stole it from. Those Equestrian royals can study it and whatnot.”

“Oh… Okay.”

“Take care, Maria.”

Maria took the anti-magic strap and tucked it into her saddle. Applejack walked around Maria and continued on her walk, only to have Rainbow Dash, Twilight, and a bunch of other ponies cut her off.

“Uhh… Can I help you?” Applejack asked.

“Applejack, were the Federalists in cahoots with Renegade during the Shadow Noah Incident?” Twilight and Rainbow Dash asked.

“…”

As ship landed in the harbour of Vanhoover, everypony on board picked up their belongings and prepared to exit. The ramp to the outside opened, and the land-reflected sunlight immediately poured onto the crew. Ponies, guards, and pirates flooded out onto the stone ground of the harbour.

Maurice and Yu jumped out to port and immediately bent over and kissed the ground. However, the sudden urging in their stomachs caused them to instantly stop.

As Twilight and the others stepped out of the vessel, were are immediately greeted by their friends and family from Ponyville. Except for Applejack, who walked away from the crowd and towards the princesses.

Princess Celestia noticed Applejack walking to her and she and Luna turned their attention to her.

“Princess Celestia,” Applejack said.

“What is it, Applejack?” Celestia asked.

“You know what Korsan was sayin’ about pegasi and Earth ponies, right?” Applejack asked.

“Yes…” Celestia nervously nodded.

“Well, don’t let it get too deep alright.” Applejack said, surprisingly optimistic.

“Sure.”

“Even though ya might not have the happiest of beginnings, or born with what you want, or anything like that, you’re still you. You can still do great things. Everypony can. Ain’t that right?”

“Correct. You have made many friends and have done so many things.”

“I just need to make sure that everypony knows that.”

“I’m sure that will be the case, especially with you around.”

“Thanks, Celest’.”

“Alright then. Sister?” Celestia said, turning to Luna.

“You go on ahead.” Luna replied. “I’ll just check on Twilight one more time and see how our pirate friends and foes are doing.”

“Very well then, Luna”

With a flick of her horn, Celestia vanished in a bright flash of light, leaving behind Luna and Applejack.

With her sister gone, Luna flew over above Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Spike, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. In front of the ten ponies were guards transporting Korsan’s loyal pirates, including Chopin, Horus, Ivan, and Pip to the barred coaches waiting for them. Tightly held by the guard’s anti-magic spells, all the villainous pirates could do is give their evil glares at the onlooking mares, who simply brushed off the invisible threat.

“Well they’re not going to be seen for another thirty or so years, I can tell that.” Luna muttered out loud.

Hearing the comment, Twilight looked up and saw Luna.

“Hi Luna!” Twilight exclaimed.

As Luna descended, Twilight scooted over to make room for her in the crowd.

“Quite a humble departure, isn’t it?” Luna asked.

“Expecting something?” Twilight asked.

“Not yet anyways. Tomorrow most likely is when the ceremonies will take place.”

“I’ll remind the girls to wear their formal outfits tomorrow. Since somepony ruined the twist on one of my books, there isn’t really a purpose to finishing it so soon.”

Twilight then suddenly exclaimed, “Shoot!”

“What is it?” Luna asked.

“I forgot the Diamond Eye! Now it’s probably at the bottom of the sea next the wreckage of Korsan’s ship. The other half of it is also right there as well… Bah…”

“Don’t fret over spilt milk. We can always find the Diamond Eye some other day. We know where it is now.”

“You’re right, you’re right. Say, speaking of the Diamond Eye, do you know anything about someplace known as Alicorn Island?”

“Hm… Not much comes to mind. Sorry.”

“Oh well.”

After Korsan’s loyal pirates hopped into the wagon, the pirates that fought alongside Twilight, including Slasher, November, Yin, and Yu, marched under the aid of the guard. They were taken to their own prison carriages. Unlike their rivals, Slasher and the other heroic pirates were smiling, waving goodbye to their friends.

“Don’t worry about your friends, Twilight.” Luna reassured her. “They’ll be well taken care of. Hopefully these other nations Korsan has messed with will understand and forgive them.”

“If you say so,”

Twilight and her friends all waved back to the pirates as they were whisked away to prison, but only for a short time before coming back just as happy and free as ever.

All that was left to do now was readjust to home life. The battle of the skies was over. The war for the fate of the world was over. The threat of the pirate pegasus was over.

Chapter 060: Back to Normal?

“’And as Daring Do stood at the edge of the cliff, looking over the great blue sea, she took one final breath of the air, so rich in salt. She may not have found the true island known as Trihearth, but she was one step closer to find it and the treasures that it held.

‘One day’ she uttered beneath her breath. ‘One day, I’m going to find the truth about her, and him.‘”

Twilight sighed, closing the book before her. She placed it on her bed and went down to the main room of her palace. She found Spike sitting in a chair and reading a book. In his claws was a copy of ‘Daring Do and the Serpent Hunter’. A confused face was imprinted on Spike’s face as his eyes slowly glossed across the open pages.

“Sheesh, this stuff is hard to follow.” Spike muttered to himself.

“What is?” Twilight asked.

Spike turned his head around and saw Twilight.

“Oh, hi Twilight.” Spike said. “So, are the Federalists the good guys or the bad guys?”

“Uh…”

“Also, what’s with this sudden focus on micro-machines?”

“Well… It’s complicated.” Twilight said bluntly.

“I figured.”

Slowly, Twilight walked around Spike to the open window of the palace and stuck her head out into the day sky. As she took in her surroundings, a peculiar feeling tingled inside.

Instead of smelling the thick salty air of the ocean, she smelled the sweet zephyrs of the landlocked Ponyville. Instead of seeing just blue, white, and brown colours of the sea and ships, the entire rainbow of colour bathed the land. Instead of feeling cold water and brutal winds bash into her flesh, a soft breeze and the sun’s warmth brushed through her fur. Instead of hearing the endless waves of ocean sloshing around aimlessly, the calm rustling of the leaves entered her ears.

“You know, Spike, it feels like only a month ago when we were sailing the seas and fighting pirates.” Twilight said.

“It was a month ago. We even marked the day of Korsan’s defeat on a calendar.” Spike replied.

“Oh.”

Spike then exclaimed to himself, “Water Tiger?! What? Maybe I shouldn’t have skipped those chapters in the last two books…”

“That’s what you get for binging on those ridiculous comic books. You get bad novel-reading habits.” Twilight blissfully informed him.

“Ridiculous? Try saying that about ‘One Buck Mare’.”

Twilight simply rolled her eyes at Spike’s retort and continued to enjoy the peacefulness of the outside world. With Canterlot Castle in the distance, Twilight wondered how things were going with the princesses.

As Spike continued to read on, a sudden queasiness was felt in his stomach. In a split second, the dragon dropped the book and belched out a small burst of green flame. A scroll emerged from the fire and landed on the table. Twilight heard the commotion and turned around to see the scroll.

While Spike recovered from the message delivery, Twilight opens the scroll and read the letter.

Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,

I hope you have recovered well from your injuries from Korsan. Although those deeper scratches may still be visible, they should be healed and only be scars at this point. The same goes for your friends as well. However, I do advise you and your friends to keep an eye out for any… psychological troubles that may still linger.

In regards to the castle, although the original ballroom was heavily damaged from the attack during the gala, it is nearly fixed. We’ve decided to reinforce the structure, as well as the exterior of the castle, with some of the super-steel salvaged from The Perfection (well, Korsan, technically speaking). I must say, the metal is thicker than what it looks like. Scientists claim it is five times thicker than standard reinforced concrete. Just imagine what that type of metal can do in buildings, vehicles, armour, and the list it quite extensive.

Speaking of Korsan’s technology, we’ve managed to reverse-engineer Korsan’s anti-magic substance to a degree where we can create a pseudo-anti-magic substance. It can’t really block more powerful forms of magic and spells, but it works. I can’t really get into details, but it involves a TON of cold-worked iron. In a year or two, the anti-magic is going to be everywhere in Equestria, helping further advances in technology, medicine, transportation, defense. It is only a matter of time.

In regards to Korsan himself, we’re unclear at the moment. The salvage search teams haven’t been able to find a body. That can mean a few things. Either his body disintegrated, his body drifted out somewhere, or he might’ve swum away a little bit before passing out. Luckily, there looks to be absolutely no chances that he’s still around at this point. There’s no need to worry.

Your ‘pirate’ friends here are doing fine. From what I’ve heard from the guards, they’re not causing too much trouble. In his words, they’re actually helping in providing ‘tight management’ of the other inmates. The small red unicorn is said to be the most effective. As for the other pirates, the ones that were loyal to Korsan, the other nations around the world have approved of their well-secured confinement. I was almost surprised how enthusiastic some of these kingdoms were in taking these pirates. They must’ve had a high value or something, though I question the clown’s actually value, he didn’t look as bad as they said he was.

One final note, Twilight, keep your eyes out for any suspicious activity going on in Ponyville. I’ve heard a few reports of some ‘spacial paranormal activity’ in the area. It’s not Korsan, but there is the chance whatever’s causing this activity is tough. Stay safe, feel better soon, and remember: Your friends will always be there for you. Keep the magic of friendship strong, my dear student.

Your loving teacher,

Princess Celestia.

“Looks like all is right with the world once more,” Spike remarked.

“Well, for the most part,” Twilight replied.

“What do you mean?” Spike asked.

“There are millions of ponies in this world. By statistics, at least one of those ponies would have a similar uprising as Korsan, a similar, terrible childhood. Give or take a while and we may have to deal with another supervillain, one that could take away something worse than what Korsan’s goals were.”

“Chill out, Twilight. Enjoy the peace while it lasts. If another bad guy shows up, we just stick together and take care of it like usual,”

Another mare spoke up from the other side of the room, “No matter how many philosophical speeches the next guy’ll throw at us, we’re still friends to the end.”

Twilight and Spike looked over and see Applejack, lazily resting back in a chair.

“No matter how many final forms he has, we can take care of it.” Rainbow Dash added, revealing herself in another chair.

“No matter how many times we’ll be separated, we’ll always be super-duper close each other in heart!” Pinkie cheered.

“No matter smart he acts or how dashing he looks,” Rarity chimed in. “If he’s a bad guy, we’ll stop him.”

“Yeah, what they said.” Fluttershy meekly announced. Her lines were inadvertently stolen by her friends.

“To friendship!” Twilight declared.

“To friendship!” The others cheered.

The entire room filled with laughter and cheer as their declaration echoed throughout the large room.

“…Now seriously, how’d you all get in here without me noticing?” Twilight asked.

“It’s surprising how effective boxes are in hiding ponies.” Pinkie casually answered.

Meanwhile, back at the slowly sinking wreckage of The Perfection, a small fleet of boats scavenged the area. Circling around the grounded behemoth, the pony crew scanned over the wreckage. They searched the floating wood, metal towers, and random debris, searching for anything salvageable.

“Hey, Ms. Parker,” one of the stallions on board one of the boats called out to the mare next to him.

“What is it, Rob?” The mare teasingly asked.

“It’s Mr. Goni, ma’am. You know I don’t like being called that.” The stallion coldly remarked. “But anyways, look at that.”

The stallion pointed a hoof at one of the larger pieces of airship floating by them. Ms. Parker examined the piece in question and noticed a large mechanical object inside.

“Looks like one of Korsan’s gadgets.” She replied.

“Didn’t they say something about some giant-machine-cannon-things back at Vanhoover?” Mr. Goni asked.

“This might be one of them. It looks like it’s still in one piece.”

“Finally, something we can get a good cut for.”

Mr. Goni yelled out to the captain behind him, “Bring us in towards Echo Seven!”

“Aye-aye.” The captain’s voice echoed back.

Their ship drifted towards the mechanical object. Ms. Parker slowly flew up to the cannon.

“Be careful.” Mr. Goni yelled out to her.

Ms. Parker turned around and teased Mr. Goni, fluttering closer and closer to the cannon.

“Don’t panic, Rob. It’s not like it’s alive.” She said.

The cannon instantly roared to life and aimed at her.

“Look out!”

The machine’s barrels whirred rapidly. Ms. Parker ducked. Everypony below scrambled into hiding, waiting for the worst to happen. However, after a few seconds of loud whirring, nothing happened. The crossbow-cannon didn’t do anything besides spinning and making noise.

Parker slowly hovered back up to her vantage point and examined the cannon from afar.

“Oh, it’s empty.” She sighed.

“Must’ve unloaded all of its ammo during the fight a few weeks ago,” Goni replied.

“Seems so, Rob.”

“…”

“Oi! We better hurry up and get that thing locked down and onboard. The weather pegasi said that a really bad storm’s comin’ our way soon.”

“How bad are we talking?” Ms. Parker asked.

“Apparently requiring the A.W.E. if I remember my flare colours right.” The captain replied.

“Alright!” Mr. Goni proclaimed. “You heard the captain. Load this thing up and let’s get out of here!”

The white hospital room contrasted greatly with the grey prison compound surrounding it. To Maria, it was like another world. This wasn’t the first time she was in here, but the feeling was still there.

She quietly lay on the soft hospital bed, waiting for a doctor to come. While she waited, she stared out of the window, out into the world beyond the prison. She only had another month before her parole. She thought about what she was going to do once she was released.

“Alright, Ms. Vanshwitz, I’m here.” Her doctor said.

Maria turned around in her bed and saw her doctor, sitting on a chair next to her bed. He had a pen in his mouth, and a clipboard in his thick Earth pony hooves. She giggled at the sight. It had been a while since she saw a non-unicorn do stuff like that.

“Hello, Doc.” Maria whispered from the pillows.

“Have you had a PTSD episode in the past week?” He asked, holding the pen in his teeth.

“Please, just get to the point.” Maria calmly demanded.

“Right…”

The doctor shuffled around his clipboard and lab coat. He was anxious.

Maria looked down at her right hoof. It was wrapped in a tight bandage to keep the infection from spreading. At first on The Perfection, it only appeared to be a black stain on her fur. At that point, Maria thought of it only as a spill of one of Korsan’s bizarre artifacts.

Then, the black stain was absorbed in her veins. Two weeks after in prison, her hoof started to deform or something. Maria wasn’t sure what it was, for she passed out when it happened. When she woke up, she was told to keep the hoof bandaged at all costs. Researchers, doctors, and scientists occasionally came by to examine the hoof. Now, two weeks after that first incident, Maria was getting answers.

Finally, after an awkward minute of fumbling, the doctor explained to Maria what was going on.

“You see, the ‘black goo’ you were handing was absorbed into your skin and blood. We aren’t sure how, but the goo is somehow sentient. It’s parasitic in nature, clinging to you, its host.” He explained.

“I have a parasite in me?!” Maria exclaimed.

“Don’t panic! We don’t want another episode… We tried our best to extract all of it from your bloodstream. You should be safe, but keep the wrap on.”

“I see… Anything else I should know about this goo?” Maria asked.

“No. Anyways, have you had any episodes of PTSD over the past two weeks?” The doctor immediately asked.

He was lying. The way he changed the subject, going back to something relatable, it was obvious he was hiding something. Maria wanted the full answer to what the black goo was. What did it do to her hoof? Why did she faint? Why were so many scientists interested in her?

Maria wanted to know.

However, as her train of thought returned to reality, she found herself on top of the doctor. A large needle was being rammed into her neck, prison guards were running right towards her, and her hooves were being wrapped around the doctor’s neck. It took only a moment to realize that her mouth was foaming, filled with curses to Hans, Korsan, everypony whoever had and whoever will abuse her.

In only half an hour, her parole was moved back a month, her body was chained to her cell wall, and her mind was back to shattered.

She needed a resolve. Her story would continue until this resolve came.

Author's Note

👍 Remember to add this story to Tracking and follow me for updates regarding Ultimate Equestria.

Chapter 061: Unanswered Questions

“You know, there’s this one thing that’s been pecking at my mind recently. How come that Fountain of Balance didn’t work on Korsan?” Applejack asked her friends.

An awkward silence faded in as the girls and Spike pondered on the question at hoof.

“I don’t know…” Rarity muttered.

“Wasn’t there some requirements that had to be done?” Spike asked.

“Like a blood ritual?” Pinkie asked.

“I just thought that was merely mumbo-jumbo.” Applejack replied.

“Both you and Korsan weren’t able to transform...” Twilight said. “The Fountain of Balance had to work at least once.

“What do I and Korsan have in common that makes us unworthy?” Applejack asked.

“Unicorn magic?” Fluttershy bashfully suggested.

“No, that not it. The fountain’s said to give magic to non-magic users.” Twilight replied.

“…”

The gathering of ponies turned.

“How about we backtrack?” Twilight suggested to the group. “Perhaps we’re looking over something we encountered on our adventure?”

“The island! What about the island? Its origins, how it made the fountain, how it even got into the Breach in the first place?” Rarity replied.

“I’ve been curious about the same thing. But after checking almost all of my books, there doesn’t seem to be any records of an island that far away. The Breach, up to this point, was nothing more than the edge of the world. I didn’t know it went farther.” Twilight said.

“What was with that sandworm? Heck, what was with that ‘breach’ altogether?” Dash asked.

“Is anypony else wondering how some pony found Alicorn Island the Breach in the first place and put it on a map?” Pinkie chimed in.

Twilight’s memory suddenly sparked and recollections of Alexander Maden’s writings burst into thought.

“He’s related to Korsan!” Twilight exclaimed.

“What?!” The other mares asked.

“Alexander Maden, he’s the stallion that found the Breach and found a translator for the Diamond Eye! He’s Korsan’s uncle if I recall correctly.” Twilight said.

“That’s right!” Rarity screamed, recalling how Korsan translated the Diamond Eye on his ship.

“What was the language called though… it’s on the tip of my tongue,” Twilight muttered. “It most likely came from a long dead civilization. Such a typeface that the Diamond Eyes and the fountain had on them is probably centuries old, maybe even millenniums.”

“Older than Equestria?” Rarity asked.

“Perhaps, the civilization might as well be even before the three ancient pony tribes.”

“Speaking of ancient ponies, where do you think Korsan heard about this ‘Alicorn Era’ he was blatherin’ about?” Applejack asked.

Promptly, Twilight answered Applejack’s question, “There’s an old tale of an island of alicorns that disappeared a thousand years ago. It’s not really talked about often.”

“Do you think there’s some sort of connection between that island and Alicorn Island?” Applejack asked.

At that moment, the entire room erupted in frenzy. Everypony was now talking at once, speaking out loud whatever theories, ideas, conclusions, questions, retorts, and demands of silence came from their minds. Some agreed with each other, some had polar opposite ideas, and some couldn’t even hear the pony right next to her or him. The havoc continued for several minutes, getting louder and louder with each word being spoken over the other.

Twilight finally got fed up with the noise and took action. With the flick of her horn, the entire room went mute. The ponies found each other’s mouths not producing any sound and turned their attention to a search for the source of this, quickly reaching Twilight.

With the six others now quiet and focused on her, Twilight removed the audio spell and spoke, “Alright, there are a lot of questions from our journey that have been unanswered to this point.”

“That’s an understatement.” Spike remarked.

“And as it seems, just us standing around and bickering is not going to answer any of them.” Twilight said.

“So, what do you suggest we do? Go out on another adventure?” Dash asked.

“…Actually, that sounds like a great idea.” Twilight replied.

“What?! We just came back from one!” Fluttershy exclaimed. “Can’t we take a break?”

“Who said anything about it being over?” Rainbow Dash slyly remarked.

“Yes, Dash. We all can use a break by now.” Applejack replied.

“How long of a break?” Pinkie asked.

“However long it takes for some new big-shot to try to pick a fight with us,” Applejack said.

“Sounds about right,” Rarity replied.

“Hey! Maybe we can take a trip to the beach!” Pinkie cheerfully suggested.

“Yeah!” Twilight, Spike, Rarity, Dash, and Fluttershy cheered in agreement.

“Oh, no!” Applejack strongly remarked. “I’ll just take a long nap at home. You girls and dragon can go without me. I’ve had enough of seawater.”

“What? Too salty to join us?” Pinkie joked.

The mares and Spike giggled for a quick moment.

“It’s fine, AJ,” Twilight replied, holding back her laughter.

As the harsh memory of Korsan’s terror disappeared over time, so did his scars upon the world.

Although the Diamond Eye weren’t recovered from their adventure, our heroes’ hopes were still on a high note. Every once in a while, be it a month or two, the ponies would return back to the wreckage of The Perfection and search around the ship. And everytime they would search, they either would learn something new or find a valuable artifact from Korsan’s trove, perhaps even both.

Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were able to catch up in school after many weeks absent. The experiences they gained on this adventure gave them a fantastic advantage in projects.

The pirate friends that joined our heroes were released from prison one by one. With help from Twilight, her friends, and the princesses, the pirates were able to move on from Korsan and hold stable livelihoods for themselves.

Cecil became a traveling bard, gaining a large following from many kingdoms. However, he still enjoyed the quaint bar at Thieves’ Hold. Every once in a while, he’ll visit Ponyville and join Twilight and the others in whatever misadventure they were in.

Maurice became an international mail-pony, delivering letters across the seas to kingdoms across the globe. He was never caught for stealing from the Cervidas ship, despite Maurice’s constant bragging about it.

Jarvis returned to his life of piracy. With a large amount of competition now gone, he quickly became a very successful pirate. He even became the new Pirate King, reforming the pirate form to be kinder to the innocents of the sea.

November Gale, Nitin Gale, Slasher Gutzoult, Yu Shou, Grivs, and several other pirates returned to Thieves’ Hold. They finished the tavern renovations and reopened soon after. Within a month, it had become the most popular location of interest at sea, with pirates and even regular seafaring ponies visiting in tens of thousands per day.

Craig Y’ol Timber became a world-wide celebrity due to his knowledge of the underground tunnels. However, he preferred to stay out of the limelight and kept to a mostly tranquil position at the bar of Thieves’ Hold as a bouncer.

Yin Shou became a teacher of martial arts and swordplay, running his own dojo in the Crystal Mountain. Yu and Slasher occasionally visited Yin and helped teach students, effectively become co-owners of the dojo.

Alexander Grevious used his wealth and became one of the most respectable and honored citizens of Canterlot. He suffered from occasional hearing loss for an undisclosed reason.

Butch Taylor joined the Equestria military and quickly graduated into a captain after his successful capture of the infamous Phantom Blob.

Juliana adjusted to her new life alongside Princess Celestia, Luna, and Philomena. Juliana had a particular fondness in Luna.

Aran Ryan and Lilis Jewmerin also returned to a life of crime, but restricted their work to stealing from criminals and the disrespectfully rich. When not committing crime, Aran worked for an iron mill and Lilis worked as a doctor.

Maria Vanshwitz escaped from authority. During relocation from her prison to a mental institution, Maria lashed out against her handlers and vanished. No pony knew where she was or what she was doing. Not even rumours could accurately guess where Maria was now.

Shortly after Korsan’s defeat, many sightings of “polluted waters” were reported all across the world. The water appeared to be a puddle of black goo that moved on its own accord, regardless of current. Authorities removed the mysterious water shortly after.

After six months of searching, Korsan’s body could not be found. He was declared dead by the world. It is estimated that over 20 billion bits worth of treasure had been stolen by him. Over 7500 casualties are the result of him and his crew. Without the aid of Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Spike, the death count might’ve been in the billions. His anti-magic was successfully reverse-engineered, and now awaited to be mass-produced.

Korsan’s immediate family could not be located. During Korsan’s pirate career, it seemed like the Madens had disappeared off the face of the planet.

The Breach, and henceforth, Alicorn Island, was never found by authorities. Due to its chaotic nature, its uncharted location, or the anomalous effects it has, the Breach may never be charted. However, individual seafarers claimed to have seen it.

To this day, the Diamond Eye and the secrets that it held have never been found. There’s an unlikely chance that it ever would be found for the rest of time.

…As I write this letter to you, it has been seven months since our battle with Korsan, everything appears to be back to normal finally. I will never forget that adventure we had and what came from it. We might not have found the Diamond Eye and answered the questions that we still have to this day, but we gained something much greater. My friends and I, both the Elements of Harmony and the ones we made on our journey, have grown stronger. Our friendship is greater than any pony, or villain, or monster, or race, or magic, or power, or ideology that dare seeks to tear us apart. As many times it is put to the test, I will always remember that journey I took with my friends, and remind myself of how powerful it truly is once more.

About the language that the Diamond Eye and the Fountain of Balance: Rarity and I are still trying to recall it. We have not forgotten it, just can’t grasp it like we did before. Maybe it was one too many bumps to the head back then that’s giving us trouble. Until the Diamond Eye is recovered or some clue comes around, I will continue checking every language in existence until I find it. Even if it takes a hundred years, I will continue to persevere and answer those questions, and reclaim our ancient history. The world and its ponies deserve to know where we came from, and what is out there. And who knows, maybe a little understanding of history might take care of the next villain to come chasing after us. Happy holidays, Princess Celestia.

Your faithful student,

Twilight Sparkle

Chapter 062: Meanwhile...

Far away from the coast of Equestria, far into the endless waves of the ocean, stood the stone towers collectively known as Thieves’ Hold. At the top of one of these grand stacks was once an old, decaying tavern. But after a miracle upon the seas, an enormous tavern took its place.

It stood three stories tall, almost doubling the height of the stack it stood on. Over half of the floor-space dangled above the sea below. However, the colossal building stayed firm as stone thanks to the large steel beams that connected the cantilever deep into the mountain below. The tavern was made of a beautiful structure of stone and wood with cement interior support. Large windows shone the golden light of inside out over the entirety of Thieves’ Hold. The tavern could’ve been easily mistaken for a lighthouse.

On this hour of midnight, the sky was clear. The shine from the towering bar is at its greatest. Roars and cheers from the tavern echoed throughout the tall rock towers and surrounding waters. Below the bar, down the winding ramp, at the edge of the harbour, a pony, dressed in a dark cloak, made his way to the bar. As he slowly walked down the long wooden walkway of the harbour, he looked to his left and right. He examines the hundreds of ships that were parked throughout the many docks. It was like being in a wooden web, with bridges intertwined, but beautiful when complete. His lone self was a speck compared to the web he stood on.

The soft winds flowed through his cloak were just as salty as ever. But, for some reason, the wind had a bitter, metallic stench upon entering his nose. The water that occasionally splashed onto him felt cold, but really nothing else. The night was as clear and sharp as ever, but the pony saw only a blur.

It was a troubling time for the pony, but all too familiar.

He hobbled his way up the slowly rising ramp. The moist, yet firm wood below relieved the stallion from what he had been through to get here, though not enough for his hooves to feel like metal. As he climbed higher and higher, the sounds of the tavern above his head grew louder and more audible. After several long minutes of climbing, the cloaked pony reached the massive balcony before the front of the tavern. Several large dining tables and even a billiards table were set up on the balcony, but not a pony in sight, most likely due to the recent rain.

To the stallion’s right, his eye caught a glimpse of the massive pair of double doors that lead to the inside of the tavern. Slowly, he shuffled to the set of doors and pried them open.

He was immediately enveloped in the golden glow and rambunctious voices of inside.

The first thing the stallion saw upon entering was the massive golden chandelier just above his head, showering the majority of the bar in warm light. The stallion’s view traced the wires that held the lights in place. He saw the indoor galleries of the second and third floors that looked down to him. At least a hundred ponies could be seen from the stallion’s perspective of the galleries. A wide array of pirates, dignitaries, and regular sea faring ponies could be seen conversing with one another, playing games with one another, examining their charts and maps for the eleventh time, and eating and drinking massive rations of food and drinks.

Behind him, just above his head, the stallion saw a gigantic stain glass window that took up almost the entire wall. It showed six ponies defeating a massive monster. The monster was an airship with the head of a stallion, all made of metal.

Below the cloaked stallion was a massive red carpet that gently brushed his soggy hooves. It was almost overwhelming for the pony to take in so much atmosphere.

The sights and sounds slowly set in. From every angle, the whispers and shrills of laughter, rage, happiness, and just ordinary words and sounds entered the stallion’s ears in one grand symphony of voices. With the exception of only a few loud screams or swears, the vast majority of the voices could not be understood from this open location of the tavern. However, the stallion could hear something coherent rise to his ears, one coming from the second floor above.

Leaning back against the front wall, the stallion looked up over the edge of the second floor to see a large group of ponies. They were surrounding a blue pegasus in a striped shirt and a brown trench coat and his small band of musicians. Focusing his senses on the stallion and his team, the cloaked pony heard the music erupting from the instruments, and the voices that sung.

They all chanted in unison,

“Yo! Ho! Ho!

Here we cheer again,

For the sinking of the demons,

And the drowning of our woes!

Yo! Ho! Ho!

Check your sails my friends,

The wind is in our good favour,

And the storms are all away!”

After chorus was sung, the violinists performed their duo. The audience that sung along now danced with one another along to the whimsical whirring of the strings. The cloaked observer below stretched during this time before returning his sights on time to see and hear the blue stallion in the center sing his verse. The instrumental quieted down to give him the limelight.

“Now the captain of the Deadly Storm,

He was not the kindliest,

Had a quick temper and terrible lust,

For blood of the wing and might,

He made a crew of criminal scum,

And spread his terror out to sea,

Attacked all who he did not enjoy,

Pray him sinking from one good storm.”

In a matter of moments, the chorus started again and the music roared to life once more,

“Yo! Ho! Ho!

Here we cheer again,

For the sinking of the demons,

And the drowning of our woes!

Yo! Ho! Ho!

Check your sails my friends,

The wind is in our good favour,

And the storms are all away!”

“All thought he would never be stopped,

But then in the day of fate,

He crossed paths with the wrong good land,

Heroes they had, a matter of fact,

Quickly deployed and set off to sea,

The heroes soon gave a quick chase,

To the very ends of the world,

They didn’t care, them heroes be blessed.”

“Yo! Ho! Ho!

Here we cheer again,

For the sinking of the demons,

And the drowning of our woes!

Yo! Ho! Ho!

Check your sails my friends,

The wind is in our good favour,

And the storms are all away!”

“Sirens, krakens, giants, monsters all the like,

The heroes stayed true to their soul,

And chased down the evil captain’s ship,

No matter how the odds were stacked,

The heroes fought to the bitter end,

Made traitors of the captain’s own men,

And as all ponies took their sides,

The battle to save the world begun!”

“Yo! Ho! Ho!

Here we cheer again,

For the sinking of the demons,

And the drowning of our woes!

Yo! Ho! Ho!

Check your sails my friends,

The wind is in our good favour,

And the storms are all away!”

“The battle was tough, lasted three hours,

The Deadly Storm turned to a wreck,

The evil captain of the dying ship,

Revealed his inner demons upon his foes,

But the heroes stood their solid ground,

The heroes fought and gave their all,

One last shot, they took him down,

And the evil captain is dead!”

The entire bar screamed out in rejoice of the final line. The windows rattled from the force of the sound, almost shattering them. The cloaked stallion stayed frim however, remaining stoic as now the entire tavern sung along,

“Yo! Ho! Ho!

Here we cheer again,

For the sinking of the demons,

And the drowning of our woes!

Yo! Ho! Ho!

Check your sails my friends,

The wind is in our good favour,

And the storms are all away!”

For the final verse, the singing stallion slowed down the tempo dramatically. He delivered the final lines,

“And here we are, safe and sound,

From the captain of the Deadly Storm,

The heroes are now known as legends,

For the rest of time and sea,

Though some questions have stayed as questions,

There is hope they will be answered,

Drink up me lads, and stay safe,

Quite a good pirate’s life for you…”

The tavern roared in applause of the song. The stallion and his troop backed into the unseen reaches of the gallery. Soon, the crowd calmed down and returns to the casual bustle that the cloaked stallion first saw.

As the stallion lowered himself from the wall, the reason of why he came returned to his mind. His gaze lowered down back to the floor ahead of him and onto the large serving bar in the center of the area. Slowly, he walked over to the bar, with his sight dead-set on the barmaid there, a dark blue unicorn with long, ice blue hair.

“November Gale,” The stallion whispered to himself, not letting out a squeak.

As he drew closer and closer to the serving bar, unbeknownst to him, several of the patrons seated nearby started to stare at him. They conversed with each other about him, escalating in volume, as do most conversations in the tavern. The cloaked stallion started to hear the gossip. Words about his stature, his movements, his unseen objects that caused his cloak to jut out at certain points swept throughout the floor of the tavern. These words did not alter his progress.

Eventually, he made the long walk to the bar, and sat himself down. He patiently waited and watched the mare as she conversed with a pair of stallions on the other side of the square bar.

“…and then I said, Oatmeal? Are you crazy?!” Jarvis exclaimed, unknowing of the cloaked stallion listening in on him.

“Hahaha! Jarvis, that is actually pretty genius.” Maurice laughed.

“Thank you.” Jarvis not-so-humbly replied.

“If only that genius were to extend to your common sense, I tell ya, mate.”

“What do you mean, Maurice?”

“Come on. Eating a bowl of dry rice and then drinking boiling water?”

“It gets cold in Pingwin.”

“So what? I heard you throwing up all the way from the Hooviet Union.”

“That’s ridiculous. What type of mail would you be delivering to those guys anyways?”

“…Special kind of mail, packages.”

“…”

“…Anyways, heard the latest rumour about Maria?” Maurice asked, changing the subject.

“The one where she’s a descendant of one of the Tetred Knights?” Jarvis asked.

“No, you haven’t. Alright, there’s a new rumour going around that she’s been cursed by La Pesadilla.”

“…Who?”

“La Pesadilla is a mythical being said to curse little foals into making their nightmares come true. Apparently, Maria is either a ‘foal’ being cursed, or is being controlled to fulfill a nightmare. That’s why she’s gone missing.”

“That’s stupid.”

“But wait, this one might check out.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me…” Jarvis groaned.

“I’m being legit with you alright. A while ago, somepony in Reno thought they saw Maria in a specific building, the same building where another pony claimed to have seen the one of La Pesadilla’s nightmares.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah.”

“What would Maria, a well-trained pirate assassin, who knows when to pick a fight, be anywhere near a children’s ghost story? Isn’t that right, November?”

“Yeah, it really is out of Maria’s character.” November agreed.

“I’m telling you, I’ve read the letters, this could be what Maria’s been up to.” Maurice proclaimed.

He then snapped his head to the ceiling and yelled above, “Hey, Cecil! Is the latest rumour probably true?!”

A mumbled voice answered back, “No.”

“What?! Craig believes me, Cecil!” Maurice exclaimed.

“He pretty much believes everything.” Cecil calmly replied.

“Excuse me Maurice, Jarvis,” November interrupted the stallions. “There’s somepony waiting for me.”

November turned around and hurried towards the cloaked stallion.

“Hello there sir. Welcome to the Thieves and Heroes Tavern. Sorry to keep you waiting.” She said.

The cloaked stallion stayed silent for a second before replying, “…No issue.”

“Oh dear. Are you okay?” November worryingly asked.

Upon hearing his extremely gravelly and tired voice, November thought he sounded as if he was dying.

“…I’m fine.” The cloaked pony croaked.

“Can I get you anything, sir?” Maria asked.

“First… a drink.”

“Anything in particular?”

“…Whatever’s cheap, I guess…”

“Had a bad day?”

“…Yeah. Lost a bit…”

“Well, how about I get you this one free?”

“Sure.”

Quickly, November got to work and began to fill a large mug with fresh cider. While she was doing this, the lone pony stared at her, tracking her every motion in great detail. November slowly started to feel this presence behind her. She shrugged it off, the best she could. She handed over the brimming cup to the cloaked stallion. He simply nudged it around with the shadowy tip of his nose.

“Need some help there?” November asked.

“…” The stallion stayed awkwardly silent.

“…Sir?”

“…Let me ask you something… How long has it been since the fall of The Perfection?”

“You mean Korsan’s defeat? Hm… Seven months.”

“Huh, it’s been that long…”

“I know how you feel. Feels like almost yesterday when Twilight Sparkle and her friends showed up and gave that pirate a piece of all of our minds.”

“…”

“…Sir? Are you okay?”

A moment of silence fell between the two. The surrounding noise seemed to dull as the two ponies focused on each other.

Finally, the cloaked pony, the lone stranger, spoke,

“…Yeah, ‘a bad day’, call it that. It isn’t the first time something like this has happened to me, having everything I’ve strived for, what I deserved, taken away from me. But, what else would you expect in the type of world we live in today? One moment, you’re at the top of it all, with your life-long dreams finally achieved, and nothing standing in the way. The next, you’re back down to the bottom of the barrel, more hurt than ever before.

“It happens to all of us. It not now, then tomorrow. If not by nature, then by fate. If not by some villain, then by your own petard. Heh, if you’re lucky, then both will doom you at the same time. I’d kill to see that happen to my foes. They should’ve been what I’ve been through. I’ve gone through Tartarus twice, and they’ve only given an unwavering glance at it. I’ll show ‘em. I’ll take away all they have…”

“…”

“Is there a problem?” The stallion asked.

“No, no. I just wasn’t expecting it.” November replied.

“Oh.”

“You sounded almost, familiar to somepony I know, but different.”

“Who was this pony I might ask?”

“Oh, no pony special, just an old… pony of interest.”

“…I see.”

“Do you need help with your drink, sir? How about a straw?”

“I’m fine. I, am, completely, perfect... …And second, I want just one thing…”

As the stallion reached his hoof towards the handle of the mug, his black cloak accidently slid down. A metal bar was revealed, piercing through his burnt and withered hoof. Red boils of practically destroyed flesh covered whatever skin was revealed beneath the matted fur.

November jerked back in surprise and nearly puked at the sight.

“Oh my-! We need a doctor!” She quickly called out.

As she scrambled to try and fix the terrifying hoof with her bare hooves out of instinct, she accidentally tugged on the stallion’s cloak too hard. The black cloth ripped away to reveal the stallion’s wings, withered and serrated with hundreds of metal objects, large and small. Everypony around gasped at the horrid sight of the jagged stump of bone that poked out on his forehead.

But the stallion, now revealed, stayed perfectly still and silent amongst the chaos.

“…” His breath was shallow, clinging to life, but still fruitful in might.

His one remaining eye, his scarred, rough, glazed-over eye, stared into the frightened blues of November. As her mouth quivered, her hooves shuffled back, and her eyes and body tremble from the being before her.

“And second…” The stallion choked, unable to finish his demands.

“...Revenge,” It spoke.

Chapter 063: Your Regularly Scheduled Beach Episode (Part 1)

It was a beautiful summer day on the Loyal Palms Beach. There was not a cloud in the sky, leaving nothing to hide the endless blue. The wind was fair, the waves were perfect, and everypony was having a good time.

The sun illuminated the golden beach and the crystal sea. The soft sand glistened as it reflected the sun's ray. The water sparkled as it casually strolled up against the shore, leaving the rocks and sea-shells glinting. The ocean stretched far into the horizon getting darker and deeper, however maintaining serenity effortlessly as it transitioned into the sky.

As Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Spike, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie breathed in fresh air, the smell of the salty sea tingled their noses. The cold and refreshing breeze gently eased up against their fur and glided through their manes. The rustling of the swaying palm tree leaves, the twittering of birds large and small, and the delicate splashes of the seas soothed in their ears.

The sensations of the beach atmosphere took them back down Memory Lane. It took them back eight months ago when they were on the high-seas, fighting pirates and exploring the world.

But now was not the time for quarrel, it was a jubilee of relaxation.

Twilight was dressed into a purple and pink striped swimsuit. Rainbow Dash had a sports bikini and her mane was tied back in a ponytail. Rarity wore a luxury bikini covered in spangles. Pinkie Pie had on a pink polka-dot swimsuit, complete with a frilly swimming tutu. Spike wore his favourite shark swim-trunks. Fluttershy wore nothing. She didn’t really think of bringing anything to the beach other than snacks for the animals.

Upon arriving at the beach, the mares and Spike separated and enjoyed their time in their own way. Rarity pitched an umbrella and sun-bathed. Spike joined a bunch of other foals and ponies and built sand castles. Fluttershy went down to the sea to snorkel and play with the sea life. Rainbow Dash grabbed her surfboard and surfed on the rolling waves. Twilight and Pinkie Pie grouped together and played volleyball on the shore.

Spike eventually got bored after his sand castle was washed up and went back to Twilight and Pinkie Pie. Spike took a seat and sunbathed next to the mares’ game, serving as sort of a referee.

For the moment, everything felt as if it were perfect. However, a pair of troublemakers was amongst them.

As Spike watched the mares play, an unusual feeling suddenly stirred in his stomach. He shook this off as merely acid reflux or something just as trivial He continued to rest and relax, watching the ball bounce over the net and off of the playing mares.

“Take this!” Twilight exclaimed, spiking the ball.

“Taken…” Pinkie replied, catching the fast ball. “…I’d like a refund!”

She returned with an equally powerful spike, catching Twilight off guard. Twilight kicked the ball just short of the sand and flung the ball high into the air with aid of her wings. The ball soared in the air, climbing dozens of metres in the air. This was Twilight’s time to shine, her moment of victory. She looked over to Pinkie’s side, looking for the best place to drive the ball into.

The back left corner! Twilight yelled at herself.

The ball flew down at terminal velocity. Twilight jumped in the air. She prepared her hind hooves. This would be the finishing move.

BOOM!

Before Twilight could kick the ball, a monstrous set of claws burst from the sand and grabbed it. The claws were made of tentacles. They were long, black, and veiny, sporting razor-sharp blades as fins. The sight almost scared Twilight frozen. The hideous claw pulled the ball with it under the sand and out of sight. Twilight ended up kicking nothing and fell flat on her face.

Twilight pulled herself up and looked at the ground ahead of her. All that remained of the giant claw was a small crater of sand.

“What was that?!” Twilight exclaimed.

“Where’s our ball?!” Pinkie exclaimed.

“You mean this thing?” A mischievous mare called out to them.

Twilight and Pinkie looked over to her, coming face to face with trouble incarnate. Standing before them were a pair of mares and the giant claw, holding the ball next to them.

Their fur was blood red and their manes and tails were coal black. They had horns more gnarled than the deadest tree. Their wings were bat-like, but utterly enormous. Their bodies were curved and erotic, but pulsed with sheer muscular tension. Their eyes were cat-like and glowed gold. Their single-bangs hid one of their eyes each, with the exposed other locked onto their prey. Their tails were humongous, almost giving the illusion that their bodies extended into fish tails.

They were dressed in extremely tight, black latex that covered only small parts of their torso. Most of the actual “clothing” were semi-transparent frills of black cloth that decorated their outfits. Backless, sleeveless, legless, midriff exposed, their outfits looked more suitable for a risqué party than a casual beach venture.

Despite being nearly identical, they had key differences to tell them apart. The one on the right had pink highlights in her mane. It freely flowed in the air, frillier and spikier than the other’s. The one on the left had light-red highlights in her mane. Her mane was held back in a long pony-tail, neatly kept.

The tentacle claw dropped the ball, which the mare with red highlights caught with her hoof.

“Who are you two?” Twilight asked, extremely cautious of the two.

“I’m Libidine.” The mare with pink highlights said.

“I’m Ira.” The mare with red highlights said. “And we are looking to make a bet with you.”

“Oh no, I’m not falling for that.” Twilight replied.

“Fall for what?” Pinkie asked.

“They’re up to some fishy stuff, I can sense.” Twilight said.

“Hm, how can you tell?” Ira asked.

“Because your sirens.” Twilight answered.

Ira and Libidine gasped. They moved their hooves around and behind their necks, parting their manes away and revealing the gills on their neck. The two started to smug, like they were excited to be caught.”

“The purple one’s clearly had experience with our type.” Libidine told Ira.

“Perhaps, but she’s only half-right.” Ira replied.

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked.

“We’re half-demons and half-sirens, owning the best of both worlds.” Libidine told Twilight and Pinkie.

“We’re pulchrum equum daemonium: The Demons of Pulchra, for your primitive ease.” Ira explained.

“Primitive?” Pinkie exclaimed.

“If you can’t tell by our burning presence, we’re basically demigods amongst you mortals.” Ira said.

“Don’t you have a bunch of other demigods in an echo chamber you can be with?” Twilight asked.

“Oooh! She’s feisty! I like her.” Libidine told Ira.

“Hmph. Not even half of an hour on this beach, and rage is being thrown at us.” Ira said.

“I told you: You bring out the fury in ponies.” Libidine replied.

“Regardless, we simply want to strike a bet with you mares.” Ira told Twilight and Pinkie.

“…” Twilight stayed quiet and listened. She was interested.

“We will face off against you and your pink friend in a game of volleyball. If we win, you must forfeit your souls to us.” Ira explained.

“What?! That’s ridiculous.” Twilight replied.

“I told you they wouldn’t be interested without some persuasion.” Libidine told Ira.

“Exactly, which is why I grabbed some leverage on the way,” Ira replied.

Ira then levitated Spike’s body in front Twilight and Pinkie. His eyes were pure white, empty. His soul had been plucked from his body.

“What did you do to Spike?!” Twilight exclaimed, enraged.

“I pulled his soul from his body and added it to my collection.” Ira plainly explained.

“Give it back, or I’ll-”

“You’ll what, alicorn? Beat me up? If you do that, Spike dies.” Ira replied. “The only way you’re getting him back is to play against us and win.”

“What do you need these souls for?” Pinkie asked.

“We don’t need them for anything. We collect them because it’s fun.” Libidine told Pinkie.

“Then why don’t you take my soul on the spot as well?” Twilight asked.

“Don’t give them ideas.” Pinkie whispered.

“It’s more rewarding when we earn them. Especially what we do to them after we beat them. It makes me restless just thinking about it,” Libidine naughtily cooed.

“So? Do we have a deal?” Ira asked, extending a hoof.

“…Wait.” Twilight said. “First, we need some rules.”

“Rules?! Rules are Ira’s thing!” Libidine worriedly exclaimed.

“Doesn’t matter. Let her talk.” Ira replied, her forehead scrunching in mild frustration.

“Rule #1: No magic.” Twilight declared.

“Rule #2: No flying.” Ira counter-declared.

“Rule #3: No underground or underwater shenanigans like that tentacle-claw.”

“Rule #4: No assists beyond the court.”

“First to fifteen points win.”

“All other rules of common beach volleyball remain in action.”

“Is that it?” Twilight asked.

“Depends, are you ready to submit your soul?” Ira asked.

“I am!”

Twilight slapped her hoof against Ira’s, accepting the deal and ready to play.

“It’s on!” Ira and Twilight roared.

A red aura surrounded the four mares. Twilight’s, Ira’s, and Libidine’s horns and wings turned to wireframe and sublimated into invisible dust. The aura faded away, leaving the four ponies without any wings or conduits of magic.

“What did you do?!” Twilight gasped.

“The deal was set. No magic. No flying. Now, let’s get to the court.” Ira said.

Twilight and Ira galloped towards the volleyball area and evened out the sand on their sides. Pinkie and Libidine watched as the two worked.

“So how are you and Ira related?” Pinkie asked.

Libidine, struggling with the exact wording, answered, “We’re… sisters, but we’re also cousins… maybe half and half… I’m not sure. Explaining it isn’t really safe-for-work, if you know what I mean. Just refer to us as sisters.”

“Let’s get going!” Twilight and Ira yelled out to their partners.

Pinkie and Libidine joined their partners and the game began.

“It’s ponies versus sirens… Let’s win this.” Twilight told Pinkie.

Twilight served the ball over to the sirens. Ira caught the ball and passed it to Libidine. Libidine attacked, spiking the ball over to the corner. Pinkie dove in and saved the ball. Twilight set up the ball while Pinkie got up. Pinkie then attacked. Libidine caught the ball and passed to Ira.

This back and forth between the four continued until the ponies surprised them. As Pinkie spiked the ball, Ira jumped up to block the shot. When the ball bounced off of Ira’s hooves, Twilight jumped in and finished the attack. The ball smashed into the sand right behind Ira. The ponies won a point.

“This is actually pretty much!” Pinkie cheered.

“Don’t get too comfy with Spike’s soul, we’re getting it back.” Twilight taunted the sirens.

“Don’t get cocky! We’re just warming up!” Ira warned them.

“That’s it, just vent. I love it when you get angry.” Libidine told her sister.

“How about we show these suckers our true potential?” Ira asked Libidine.

“Yes, we should. We’ve teased them enough.” Libidine replied.

“Here it comes!” Ira roared.

Ira served the ball to Twilight and Pinkie. Pinkie set up and Twilight jumped to spike. She looked over to the sirens and where they were.

They’re just standing there…Twilight told herself. What are they doing?

Twilight spiked the ball right in front of the net, far away from the sirens. However, Ira suddenly bolted forward and saved it. She didn’t even need to dive. Ira just bolted forward at an almost invisible speed. Libidine then set up the ball and Ira attacked. The ball rocketed at the ponies at blitzing speed, too fast for them to catch it. The ball drilled into the center of their field, burying itself in the sand.

As Pinkie went over to dig out the ball, Twilight went to the net and give the sirens a piece of her mind.

“Oh, I’m sorry, you seemed stunned.” Ira smugly taunted Twilight.

“What was that?! You’re cheating!” Twilight yelled at the sirens.

“Cheat?” Libidine teasingly asked.

“We didn’t cheat.” Ira replied. “Don’t you know anything about demons? While your friend’s strength is good and yours is… passable, it’s nothing compared to a demon’s.”

“And that’s not even mentioning our hoof speed.” Libidine chimed in.

“You might as well forfeit and save yourself the humiliation.” Ira told Twilight.

“Or not!” Libidine exclaimed. “I have a thing for that…”

Ira rolled her eyes from her sister’s comment.

“Pinkie, huddle up.” Twilight said.

She and Pinkie pressed together at the far end of their field and talked.

“I don’t think beating them will be easy.” Twilight told Pinkie.

“But will it be fun?” Pinkie asked.

“I’m not sure ‘fun’ is our objective.” Twilight told her.

“Come on. As long as we keep a positive attitude and work together, we’re sure to win.”

“You’re right, Pinkie. By the next five games, we’ll be crushing them!” Twilight declared.

BAM!

BAM!

BAM!

BAM!

BAM!

“Six to one!” Libidine declared.

“I can see why you’re into humiliation. It’s so rewarding.” Ira said.

“…We’re boned.” Twilight groaned.

“Next ball!” Pinkie roared, ready to play.

Chapter 064: Your Regularly Scheduled Beach Episode (Part 2)

Things weren’t looking good for the ponies. As hard as they tried, they couldn’t catch up to their demon rivals. Their demonic powers allowed the demons to move at ridiculous speeds and hit at insane power.

The score was 6-1 in favour of the demons.

BAM!

The score was now 7-1.

“Pathetic!” Ira chortled.

“I can taste their souls already!” Libidine exclaimed, barely able to contain her excitement.

“You two are filthy cheaters!” Twilight madly exclaimed.

“The sea is looking a bit sort of salt. Mind taking a dip, Twilight?” Ira taunted.

“Gr…” Twilight growled.

Twilight walked up to Ira at the net. She tried to punch the demon, but a red magic barrier appeared and blocked the attack.

“Right, we’re stuck on our sides of the field till the game ends…” Twilight groaned. “I can’t even go to my saddle-bag to get water.

“Twilight! We got this!” Pinkie told Twilight.

“We don’t! They have a six-point lead. In eight more rounds, we’ll be dead.” Twilight explained.

“Nope.” Pinkie plainly said.

“What?”

“Nope. We won’t die. We’ll win.”

“H-How?”

“Indeed, how?” Ira asked.

“Just keep playing and find out.” Pinkie told the two.

They were all curious. What was Pinkie doing? How could it beat perhaps the best volleyball players on the beach?

“Coming up!” Pinkie exclaimed, serving the ball to the demons.

The game continued as normal, with the demons using their absurd powers and attacking while the ponies barely keep up with them. Twilight played on the extreme defense out of fear. Even if the ponies were to attack, the demons could easily catch it and attack back before they’re able to move in defense.

After a minute of back and forth, the ponies seemed to be gaining onto the demons despite the power gap.

“Hey, Twilight!” Ira called out, panting in exhaustion.

“What?” Twilight choked.

“You surprise me. You know that?” Ira asked.

“I didn’t. Thank you.”

Libidine attacked. Twilight caught the ball and passed to Pinkie. Pinkie launched the ball in the air, set to attack. It was only for a minor attack, something to keep the game going.

“I never would’ve a fatty to keep up with us.” Ira said as Twilight jumped to attack.

“Fatty?! You think I’m fat?” Twilight exclaimed.

Overcome with rage, Twilight turned the minor tap to a full-blown spike.

“Eat this!” Twilight yelled.

She launched the ball right towards Ira’s face. Libidine caught the ball, bouncing it up into the air. Before Twilight could even react, Ira attacked back, firing the ball right behind Twilight and into the sand.

BAM!

“8-1, half-way there,” Ira pridefully declared.

“What happened?” Pinkie asked Twilight.

“I-I don’t know. I just felt like changing my attack on the spot. I guess I just got sick at looking at Ira’s face.” Twilight replied aloud, aiming her response to Ira at the same time.

“What? Jealous of my beauty?” Ira asked.

“No, out of disgust.” Twilight retorted.

“What was that?! You’ll regret that insult, you little twerp!” Ira immediately yelled back.

She turned furious on a dime, almost like how Twilight was a moment ago. Libidine seemed immune to this toxicity. Even if there was rage, it was heavily covered by her seeming infatuation with her opponents.

“Make this one count!” Libidine yelled out.

Libidine served the ball and the next game began immediately. It followed the same formula as the one before, with Twilight and Pinkie enduring the demon’s tiring barrage.

The sun battered the mares as they played. Twilight and Pinkie could feel their fur burning as they played. The sirens, however, looked horrible. They only had a light covering of fur, exposing their siren-like flesh to the blasting sun. They looked desperate for a swim.

Twilight caught the demon’s attack and passed. Pinkie set up the ball for a minor attack. Twilight jumped.

“Don’t muck it up, tubby!” Ira taunted.

“Grr…!” Twilight hissed.

“Remember! Only minor! Pinkie exclaimed.”

Twilight suppressed her rage and followed through. She performed a minor tap, sending the ball just over the net. The demons worked quickly and fired the ball back. Twilight dove just in time and saved the ball.

The demons were now exposed. This was the ponies’ time to act. Twilight passed to Pinkie, signaling her to set up a strike. But as Pinkie set up the ball and Twilight prepared, the moans of Libidine reached their ears.

“I can’t wait for this game to end.” Libidine fussed. “After this, I’ll go home and take a nice, cold shower…”

Twilight jumped for the ball, ready for the finishing blow.

“…I’ll feel wonders as the cold water runs down my silky skin…” Libidine continued, wrapping her hooves around her bare barrel.

Twilight and Pinkie were immediately distracted. So much so, that Twilight nearly missed the ball, hitting just the bottom of it. The ball staggered forward and was quickly caught by Ira. Libidine snapped into action and attacked.

BAM!

“Score one more for the demons.” Libidine taunted.

Pinkie looked at Twilight. Twilight was blushing out of embarrassment.

“Sorry, I couldn’t hit the ball straight on.” Twilight said, humiliated.

“Don’t feel bad. We all make mistakes.” Pinkie cheerfully told Twilight.

While Pinkie and Twilight talked, Ira and Libidine got into the corner and whispered with each other.

“Look at them, thinking the sun got in their eyes. I know they were looking at me.” Libidine pridefully told Ira.

“Unknown to them, the powers of our siren ancestors allow us to inflate their emotions to the point of dysfunction.” Ira said.

“One off-word, and ponies are drooling for my pleasurable form.” Libidine smugly declared.

“One off-word, and they’ll will throw away everything to hurt me.” Ira said, equally as smug.

“Don’t you have that same problem?” Libidine asked.

“Wha-? …No, I don’t! Can’t you go five minutes before wanting a bath or somepony to play with?” Ira snapped back.

“It’s hot! I don’t think we can last any more than twenty rounds of this.”

“Are we playing or what?” Twilight yelled at the two.

“Grr…” Ira growled.

“Let’s just finish this.” Libidine said.

“Game on!” Twilight yelled, serving the ball.

The ponies and demons shared the ball back and forth. It felt like every other round, with the demons destined to win. However, unbeknownst to three of them, the tides have turned.

Twilight attacked the ball. Ira caught the ball and passed to Libidine. As Libidine set up, Ira could hear Pinkie snicker.

“Hey, Ira!” Pinkie called out. “My friend, Rarity, would call your outfit tacky.”

“Tacky!” Ira exclaimed.

With the ball set, Ira jumped to it and attacked, spiking the ball right at Pinkie’s smiling face.

“Learn your place, weakling!” Ira yelled.

The ball bounced right off of Pinkie’s face, going high into the air. As Pinkie was flung back, she yelled out for Twilight to attack. Twilight did so, spiking the flying ball right behind Ira.

BAM!

“…” Ira was absolutely struck, frozen in place, without words.

The ponies scored a point.

“Woo! We did it!” Twilight cheered.

Twilight went back and helped Pinkie up. She wasn’t bruised or anything, just a bit stunned from the hit.

“…L-Libidine, why didn’t you catch that?” Ira asked, stilted on the sand.

“I-I couldn’t catch the ball in time. I didn’t know you couldn’t do it.” Libidine replied, almost equally as shocked.

Instead of bursting into a violent rage, Ira held it in. She took a deep breath and padded her sister on the shoulder.

“It’s fine. We only lost one game. This just makes our prize all the more deserving.” Ira said as calmly as she could, which is not much.

“Right. Won’t let it happen again.” Libidine obediently replied.

“And don’t get cocky, you two! We still have a significant lead!” Ira told Twilight and Pinkie.

“Let’s see if it sticks!” Pinkie told the demons.

“Weakling!” Ira yelled, serving the ball.

BAM!

BAM!

BAM!

BAM!

“Wha…” Ira and Libidine moaned, unable to comprehend the situation.

“It’s 9-6. You may have the lead, but we’re catching up.” Pinkie said, still celebrating hers and Twilight’s most recent win.

“She-she has to know!” Libidine exclaimed to her sister.

“She stopped Twilight from having a tantrum.” Ira quietly said.

“…She called me cute, I couldn’t help it…”

“She definitely knows.”

“Knows what?” Twilight asked.

With no warning, Ira exploded into a manic fit of fury, roaring in rage.

“How do you not know?! You’ve been winning and haven’t questioned why?!” Ira blasted at Twilight.

“…Good teamwork?” Twilight guessed.

“Agh! Eat it!” Ira screamed.

She slammed the ball into play. The ball practically burned when Pinkie caught it. She passed to Twilight, and Twilight went in for the attack. Ira jumped in front of Twilight as she attacked. Ira punched the ball as it left Twilight’s hooves, smacking her in the face with the ball.

“Ha! Now we’re getting somewhere.” Ira smugly said, her previous rage suddenly gone.

“You hit me!” Twilight yelled in pain.

“It’s not my fault the ball hit your fat head.” Ira replied.

“Twilight, are you okay?” Pinkie asked.

Twilight replied, “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Don’t give up.” Pinkie assured Twilight. “You’re going to win this!”

“Libidine, show no mercy to them!” Ira commanded.

“Gah! I’m not sure how long I’ll last!” Libidine moaned.

“If we lose this, don’t expect any favours from me for the next year!” Ira warned Libidine.

“Ugh, fine. You’re cute when you’re angry, but this is just mean.” Libidine groaned, rolling her eyes.

The next couple of matches were absolute bloodbaths. The ponies and demons threw all they had at each other, including intellect, power, endurance, and words to push their buttons. Insults, compliments, threats, burns, and all matters of language were exchanged across the field alongside the ball. It was the sisters’ demon strength and siren manipulation against the ponies’ friendship and determination.

As each side scored points, the closer victory came. The closer victory came, the less certain who was going to win. The less certain who was going to win, the more desperate each pony became. By the end of the madness, everypony knew it could be any pony’s game.

BAM!

“14-14.” Ira panted, barely wielding enough mental strength to keep score.

“Match point.” Twilight said, equally as exhausted.

“Ready to be my new playtoy?” Libidine asked, barely able to taunt now.

“I don’t know, ready to be my new sucker?” Pinkie weakly retorted.

Ira didn’t bother to say anything and served the ball. This was the final game. Everypony was quadruple checking their every step. There had to be no mistakes. Everything had to be perfect. The insults had to be super effective. The teasing had to be dripping with fluids. This was a battle for the souls of loved ones.

Finally, came the end to it all. Ira spiked the ball to the back corner of the field. Pinkie dove in and caught it. Twilight got hold of the ball and kicked it high into the air. She pulled Pinkie up and threw her up to the ball. As Pinkie prepared for the ultimate Spike, Ira threw Libidine up to join Pinkie. Pinkie spiked the ball. Libidine blocked it. The ball dropped towards Twilight’s side.

“Game set!” Ira preemptively declared.

“Not on my watch!” Twilight replied.

She ran up to the net and jumped. Just before the ball went below, Twilight spiked the ball to the other side. However, Ira was on the other side, ready to punch the ball back.

“You’ve never had to punch your way out of a scrape in the wilderness, so I hold the advantage! Take this!” Ira roared.

Ira drove her hoof deep into the ball, almost popping it. The ball lurched forward, smashing Twilight’s head in. The falling bodies of Pinkie and Libidine seemed to stop in time as Ira looked down onto Twilight’s smooshed face.

“I’ve won.” Ira congratulated herself.

“Not yet.” A mumbled voice replied.

“What?! Twilight?!”

As if some miracle from above, Twilight hadn’t blacked out. In fact, she now had control of the ball. Even if for a moment, Twilight now owned the game.

Twilight rammed her head into the ball. The ball rocketed forward. It smashed into Ira’s gut, causing spit to spray from her mouth. The ball, Ira, and Libidine collided in the air and smashed down onto the end of their field. A huge waft of dust veiled the air, blocking all sight. Had the ball gone across the foul line, or did it score?

The dust slowly rolled out, clearing the area. Ira’s body was spawled out on top of Libidine’s, over the foul line. The ball had rolled of her, and kept in the field. The ponies had won.

Suddenly, Spike sprung to life. He coughed and gagged for a brief moment, getting back in his body.

“Spike!” Twilight exclaimed, running towards and hugging Spike.

“Wha-what happened? Where is your horn?” Spike groaned.

“It’s a long story.” Pinkie replied, sprawled out against the sand.

“Oh, sorry, Pinkie.” Twilight apologized.

“It’s fine, I landed on my head.” Pinkie replied.

Twilight helped Pinkie onto her hooves and the two approached the Demons of Pulchra. The demons slowly came back to consciousness, being greeted by the smug grins of Twilight and Pinkie.

“We… lost, didn’t we?” Ira sighed in humiliation.

“That, you did.” Twilight replied.

“Gr….” Ira quietly growled.

“And just so you know: I’ve punched my way of things way worse than scraps. A ball to the head is nothing.”

“Good game.” Pinkie said.

“…” Ira didn’t reply, unable to agree with Pinkie.

Twilight’s, Ira’s, and Libidine’s horns and wings slowly materialized onto their bodies. With the game over, the four regained their full bodies.

“So, what do we do with you two?” Twilight asked them.

“Nothing,” Ira said. “My sister and I are going to our realm.”

“Hey, Ira,” Libidine weakly whimpered out from under. “Can you get off of me? I might pee or something if you don’t…”

“Ew…” Twilight groaned.

A red, glowing circle of magic appeared under the two demons. It was a portal to their realm. A tentacle-claw emerged from the portal and grabbed the two.

“Just so you know, Twilight. I don’t forgive you. I will hold a grudge until your soul is mine.” Ira warned.

“Well, see you later.” Twilight replied.

“I will have revenge! I have never lost a bet!” Ira loudly declared.

“That’s a lie,” Libidine groaned.

“Shut up or I’ll pinch.” Ira threatened.

“Hm!” Libidine whimpered.

The claw pulled the demons through the portal and the portal disappears above them. What’s left behind of the Demons of Pulchra are a set of hoof prints on the vast sandy shores of Loyal Palms.

“So, what now?” Pinkie asked.

“I’m taking a nap.” Twilight replied. “Maybe after, I’ll look into these ‘demons’, see what’s known about them.”

“I’m going to build sand castles.” Pinkie replied.

With a spring in her step, Pinkie hopped off to where the sand castles are being build and played, leaving behind Twilight and Spike.

“Well, aside of the whole ‘soul bet’, that was actually a pretty fun game. I wonder if they’ll be up for a rematch…” Twilight told herself.

“Again, what happened?” Spike asked.

Chapter 065: The Ghost Pony

“He is real!” Applebloom yelled.

“Nope,” her older brother, Big Mac, disagreed.

“He is! The Ghost Pony does exist!”

“Nope, there is no such thing as some flaming-skeleton-ghost thing.”

“Big Mac, if it’s in this here book, then it is real!”

“Applebloom, don’t be ridiculous, that book probably says that the world is flat as well. It’s older than Granny, for Pete’s sake.”

“So what if it’s old, it’s true!”

“Nope,”

The bickering between two siblings downstairs echoed throughout the house, reaching all the way upstairs and into Applejack’s ears. What was supposed to be a peaceful sleep-in soon turned into another rude awakening by something caused by her siblings.

All Applejack wanted to do was sleep. Even eight months after the defeat of Korsan, Applejack was still exhausted from her high-seas adventures. She had obtained a collection of broken and bruised bones during her battle with pirates and it took well over a few months to heal them all. She could barely get any sleep during recovery due to the pain. Now was her perfect chance to sleep and recover her mind.

But, as usual for the Apple house, silence was a rare sight.

With a heavy yawn and a brief stretch, the mare crawled out from her soft bed. She then slowly walked down to where the fighting was taking place, in the living room of all places.

Another yawn exits her mouth before confronting the arguing siblings.

“What is going on down here?” She asked.

Big Mac started, “Applejack, would you kindly explain to Applebloom that whatever this ghost pony is most certainly not real?”

“Big ‘sis, would you kindly explain to Mac that he is real and admit that I was right?” Applebloom retorted.

“Nope,” Mac replied.

“I wasn’t asking you!” Applebloom exclaimed.

“The Ghost Pony?” Applejack replied in confusion, still tired from her abrupt stir. “How the hay did you hear about the Ghost Pony you two? I know this story, and it is not one you should know at your age, Applebloom.”

“I got it from this old book I found on a shelf.” Applebloom explained.

The filly retreated around a corner into the hallway and quickly returned, holding the book in her mouth. It was old and dirty brown, covered several rips and tears. Every inch of the large book was destroyed practically. The pages appeared to be not made during this time, but from a time centuries ago.

“Historic Tales of the Appeloosan Desert, I see.” Applejack said.

“How about you read it to us?” Applebloom suggested.

“Yeah, I haven’t actually read it…” Big Mac guiltily stated.

“Ha!” Applebloom taunted.

“...But based on what you’ve been spouting to me for the past few minutes, there’s no way it’s real.” Big Mac finished.

“I ain’t reading this.” Applejack said. “It’s way too grody for a filly like you to hear.”

“Pff, that’s nothing from what I’ve heard from those pirates a while ago.” Applebloom replied.

“Yin and Yu…” AJ hissed.

“What?”

“Nothing.” Applejack moaned. “Okay, if it means quieting you two down and letting me go back to sleep, I’ll do it.”

Applebloom gently placed the old book down and opened it to the beginning page of the legend. Applejack cleared her throat and read out loud.

The Legend of the Ghost Pony begins one hundred years after the fabled banishment of the queen of the night. The city lands were stricken with poverty throughout during this dark time. Ponies were desperate for some money, no matter the risk or how much it would screw ‘em up in the long haul.

At this time, a poor mare gave birth to thirteen black, sickly unicorns, the youngest of these children being Blaze Rider. This is his story. Having their father died in the mines shortly after the twelve brothers were born and their mother dying of sickness, the young Rider Brothers had to work in the coal mines. As their sick mother slowly died away, the brothers struggled to make ends meet between themselves. The brothers constantly fought one another, but their mother was there before they killed each other.

However, before the first born brother could get his first tooth, their mother passed away, leaving them by themselves in the untamed world of the city. Without a guide to break up their fights, they unleashed war upon each other in the workplace. They were quickly fired from the mines, leaving the thirteen unemployed and homeless. One by one, the unicorns turned to a life of crime, seeing it as their only chance of survival. Only Blaze kept to his mother’s words of righteousness and loyalty, and stayed away from crime.

Eventually, the law gained on them. Crime wasn’t paying up as the poor and easily robbed became even poorer. Things were looking desperate for the brothers. Slowly though, rumors of treasures, hidden in the distant deserts, rose after early explorers entered the South. These rumours spread like wildfire in every direction imaginable.

The rumors of treasure in the desert soon hit the town and the brothers took this opportunity of fortune. They went out on the hunt for riches in these unexplored lands. They headed towards the Stampeding Mesa and mined there, using their prior experiences as fillies.

They mined, day and night, searching for a fortune. Every day, they came up empty, with only more hunger and thirst to show. Despite their common goal, they only got angrier and angrier with each other. Many lost their minds, turning against the group and trying to eliminate each other. Blaze kept quiet during these conflicts, but was scarred by the violence and abuse the brothers gave to each other and him. It seemed like everywhere they went, Blaze was competing with his others for mere survival.

Years later, when only seven brothers remained, while mining, they came across something great. A massive vein of gold was dug up in their mine. It was foal’s gold, but due to the insanity that devoured them the years, they believed it to be real gold.

For the first time ever, the brothers could have a stable life. They could afford things unimaginable back then. Though, a question then came. How much should be shared?

Out of selfishness, Blaze’s remaining brothers shoved him into a small dried ravine. They ran back into the mine to collect the gold. With one less brother in the way, they could buy more stuff. For an entire week, the poor unicorn starved and dehydrated in his prison, trying to find a way out while his brothers took his share of gold.

Finally, having enough of this torture and wanting the gold to himself, Blaze mustered all his might and crawled out of the canyon. He pushed a bunch of large boulders over the entrance of the mine, sealing his brothers in. While his brothers continued to dig deeper for more gold, Blaze loaded the covered wagon with as much of his brothers’ upturned gold that he could steal. Blaze fled the scene, leaving his brothers with nothing but their hole.

They all died from each other within a week, and the only remaining pony of the Rider family was Blaze. But, like all tales of redemption, this selfish glory never lasted long. A tornado came and crossed his path. Torched in fire, claimed to be sent by the gods, the tornado took Blaze with it. Blaze had practically entered Tartarus, locked away for his crimes and sent into a fiery prison. Instead of killing the unicorn, the flaming tornado burnt off his flesh, his wagon, and his gold. He looked upon the eye of the tornado and saw the dastardly deed he did as his eyes turned to dust.

When the sandstorm died down a year late, all that was left of Blaze was a skeleton and his soul, trapped inside. For decades, the skeleton spirit traveled across the badlands, searching for some reason why he’s this. Why was he sucked in and spat out by that firestorm and not suffering for his crimes in Tartarus? He wandered, thinking, but came to no conclusion that resolved him.

Until one night came, a hundred years later. While looking upon the buried mine in which his brothers lay, he came across a group of settler ponies. He witnessed as an Earth pony mare, fur pink as beauty roses, being attacked by her six brothers. He noticed a pair of wooden coffins in the back of the wagon. She was just like him, hundreds of years ago. At that moment, Blaze knew his destiny.

Fire erupted across his bones as he charged at the confrontation, looking for a fight. Blaze stood between the mare and the attackers. Upon seeing the flaming spirit, the six brothers were horrified. They turned to stone from total shock. Blaze had saved the mare from, as he knew, certain death.

The mare asked for the hero’s name after witnessing such a selfless act. He turned to her and said this:

“I was once a black-hearted sinner, a killer, but now I am, and forever will be a savior of the desert. I am a pony that shall smite the wicked and provide the light of which I lacked. I am the Ghost Pony, the Spirit of Redemption.”

With that said, he ran off into the sunrise, off to redeem himself. To this day, they say that he continues to wander the desert, searching for more lost souls to save. They say that if you look upon Stampeding Mesa at the final hours of night, you’d have a slim chance of seeing the red glow of the Ghost Pony, running into the East and beyond the horizon.

“There, y’all happy now?” AJ asked, having finished the story.

“Yep… now I know, for certain, that this is fiction.” Big Mac declared.

“What?!” Applebloom exclaimed.

“He doesn’t die from a flaming tornado after having his flesh burnt off. How does that sound real? I had a higher chance to believing your rambles before actually knowing the story.” Big Mac said.

“It’s magic.” Applebloom replied.

“It’s stupid.” Mac said, rolling his eyes.

“Big ‘sis, you said you knew this story before us. You think he’s real right?”

“Watch Applebloom, Applejack’s going to side with me on this one… Right?”

Applejack hesitated for a moment before answering, “Well, I don’t really know.”

“C’mon Applejack, does it even sound remotely real to you?” Big Mac asked.

“Well, it could happen, strange things always come about here in Equestria. I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed, so I’m not sure if there is this type of magic. I could ask Twilight.”

“I can rest assure you, he is not real.” Big Mac declared.

“He is too!” Applebloom retorted.

“Nope!” Mac barked.

“Yep!” Applebloom yelled.

“Nope!”

“Yep!”

“Nope!”

“Quiet, you two!” Applejack yelled, immediately silencing the two siblings. “Tell you what. How about I go out and try and find the Ghost Pony? I’ll spend an entire day and night searching for him, and if I can’t find a single hint of his existence, then he’s not real. Then, will you two stop fighting?!”

“Wait, Applejack, you sure you know what you’re getting into?” Big Mac asked.

“What do you mean?” AJ asked.

“The desert’s a very dangerous place. There’s a high risk that you’ll get lost, or even worse.”

“What’s the worst that can happen?”

“Venomous snakes, bandits, heat, dehydration, quicksand…”

“They’re just fictional Mild West tropes. The chances of me encountering any of that stuff would be one in a million. And besides, I would probably take care of them easy if I even came across it.”

“I’m just saying, I don’t want you to get hurt out there.”

“If it means hushing you two for once in a while and giving me some actually sleep for once, then I’ll take whatever risk.” Applejack said.

“Can I come with ya? I can be of some good help.” Applebloom asked.

“After that stunt you pulled on the ocean, nope.” Applejack replied.

“Aww, drat.”

“I’ll see y’all the next day. Bye, y’all.”

Applejack rushed back upstairs into her room and packed her saddlebags. Searching around the fairly large bedroom, she sifted through her things and put what she’ll need into her saddlebag. Five bottles of fresh water, ten apples, a brush, a mirror, a compass, a half-empty bottle of sunblock were what she started with.

Then the necessity dropped when AJ reevaluated needs from wants. She then packed an old magazine, the old book, her diary, a quill, a small bottle of ink, a puzzle block, a lamp, some oil in a glass bottle, and a small collection of random objects to help pass the time. It took some effort to stuff everything into her tight bags.

After finishing her packing, Apple noticed that her bags were about to burst from their seams. She shrugged it off, considering how long they’ve been in her possession and having an educated guess on how much they would carry.

“That should do it.” She told herself.

With a swift motion of her hips and tail, Applejack slid the saddlebags onto her back. Immediately, the full weight rushed through her spine, nearly causing her to collapse. However, Applejack was quick to recover. As she left home, she grabbed her iconic hat from the coat hanger on the way out.

Walking along the dirt trail from Sweet Apple Acres to the main town, Applejack looked to the fields of apple trees to her left and see Big Mac and Applebloom bucking at them, already hard at work. She looked back to her home to get one last look at the giant red barn she called home. It was going to be the last of colour she’d see for a while.

With the barn now long gone and the town just before her, Applejack made her way to the train station at the far side of the town. Along the way, she managed to cross paths with her friends along the way. Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Twilight, and Spike were also heading to the train station. Based on their attire, it was obvious all six of them were heading to the beach. Each had their own swimsuit and had brought individual items for the beach.

“Hey, AJ,” Twilight called to her.

“Oh, hi Twilight,” Applejack replied.

Applejack joined alongside the others and they walked together to the station.

“What are you doing?” Twilight asked. “I thought you were ditching the beach.

“Oh, I’m just going on a little trip, that’s all.” Applejack replied.

“Where?” Twilight asked.

“To Appeloosa. Well, to be more specific, outside of Appeloosa.”

“You mean the barren desert? Isn’t that dangerous?”

“Not too dangerous for me.”

“I guess… May I ask why?”

“Meh, just to look for the Ghost Pony, see if he’s real or not. You remember the legends right?”

“…I think.”

“Hm… Hypothetical question: Could magic turn a pony into a flaming skeleton?”

“What?”

“With a soul inside.”

“A ghost?”

“Completely hypothetical,”

“Well, nothing known that would do that oddly specific thing. There could be some sort of soul-binding spell, but based on our current understandings on magic, it’s nigh impossible. It sounds more paranormal than scientific.”

“Do you believe ghosts are real, though?”

“No, but it would be interesting if they were.”

“I guess.”

“AJ, are you sure you don’t want to join us? You would make a great volleyball teammate against Pinkie.” Twilight persuaded.

“Nah, I’m sick of water.” AJ replied.

“Come on, what’s the worst that can happen? A bunch of sirens hop out of the sand and try to tear out our souls?” Rainbow Dash joked.

“Nah, nah, I just want something more… landlocked.” Applejack replied.

“Well good luck.” Twilight replied.

“Good luck to you too.” Applejack replied back.

“Mind the pole!”

Applejack immediately stopped in place, soon realizing that she and the others were at the train station. A mere inch separated her nose with the wooden pole in front of her.

“You might need the luck more than me...” Twilight said.

“Ha.” Applejack chuckled.

Twilight and the others stayed back in town to wait for their train.

Applejack, now back to being alone, entered the station, bought her ticket, and hopped aboard the train already parked at the station. She seated herself in one of the more empty cars near the back of the train. Applejack looked out the window and gave one final glance at Ponyville. In a matter of minutes after being seated, the train suddenly jerks forward and ran out the station. Applejack watched as the town exited her sight. Rolling fields and forests darted by her vision from then on.

Eventually however, the sights began to bore Applejack. She found herself slowly becoming sleepy. Her flank sunk into the soft seat below and her back tightened into a strain. The bags on her sides, as well as her eyes, started to grow heavy as she lied down onto the white plush seats. Before she knew it, AJ was dozing off. In only seconds, the senses of reality escaped her mind and the comforting warmth of nonexistence flowed through her. Visions danced before her, visions of meadows, trees brimming with apples, and absolute peace under the warm, yet not hot, sunlight.

She mumbles to herself in the body of the real world, “…That’s it… …This is what I want to sleep to…”

Hours seemed to pass by with nothing but rest and peace inside her dream. However, in the blink of an eye, the dream came to a screeching halt as her body jerked forward. Nearly slipping from the seat, Applejack jolted up. She realized she’s back to reality and that the train was stopping. In the corner of her eye, she spotted the desert town of Appeloosa.

Stumbling from her seat, Applejack rushed to the doors and hopped off onto the platform of the train station. Taking a moment to catch her breath, Applejack looked around to saw the vast desert surrounding her and the small wooden town. Brown mountains and plateaus lined the horizon, with miles of wavy sand before them. The sun scorched the sky with thick yellow hues and turning everything a kilometre away from a pony’s sight into a wavy distortion of colours.

As she’s viewed her surroundings, a familiar stallion’s voice echoed.

“Cousin Applejack?!” It exclaimed.

“Cousin Braeburn?”

Chapter 066: Seeking the Legend

“Applejack, what are you doing here?” Braeburn asked.

“I’m just off on a little search. Don’t mind me.” Applejack replied.

She turned away from the town walked along the tracks ahead. Braeburn quickly trotted to her side with an intrigued look on his face.

“Searching for what?” He asked.

“Just something in the desert.”

“Something in the barren desert? You won’t find anything but hundreds of acres of nothing.”

“I’m going to break away from the tracks a kilometre or two ahead. I’ll just be out there for a day.”

“A whole day? Are you okay?” Braeburn asked, now concerned.

“Yeah, I can take care of myself.”

“I’ve heard many ponies say that before going where you’re going.”

“How many?”

“A few. Though, even fewer return…”

“You’re joking, right?” Applejack asked, holding back a snicker.

“No. I’m serious. There’s a whole load of trouble out there.”

“Pfff, nothing I haven’t dealt with before.

“What the hay are you even looking for?”

“The Ghost Pony,”

“Oh my- Are you purposefully trying to get yourself killed?!”

“What, is he not real?”

“I rest assure you, he is real-”

“Have you seen him or even have any evidence he exists?”

“Well, no, but from what I’ve heard, I most certainly believe he is. But look-”

“I’m sorry, but I just can’t fully believe you on that. I’m going out there to find him myself. Big Mac and Applebloom have been fighting relentlessly about it. I’m putting this whole mystery to an end.”

“Applejack! As your cousin, I can’t let you go out there alone.”

“You’re coming with?” Applejack sneakily asked.

“Wha-no!” Braeburn gasped.

Braeburn galloped in front of Applejack and stamped his hooves in front of her.

He told her, “You’re going to die out there in only a couple of hours. Ever since Appeloosa had been around, we always keep away from the deep desert. That Ghost Pony you’re looking for is in the deepest, deadliest place in the entire area. The native buffalo are scared to death of it, calling it La Tierra del Diablo. No pony has gone there and come back the same.”

“…” Applejack raised a suspicious eyebrow.

“I mean it. There are monsters in that place, things beyond comprehension.”

“Please, I’ve taken on a megalomaniac alicorn that had fused a gigantic airship to his body. Whatever ‘monsters’ are out there, I got ‘em.”

The determined mare walked around Braeburn and resumed her hike forward, never looking back at her cousin.

“It’s your funeral!” He told her.

“That’s nice.”

“I’m not going to chase after you into there!”

“Okay.”

“I mean it!”

“You’ve already said that. Have a good day.”

“Gr…”

Braeburn shrugged and turned back towards the town, pondering about Applejack’s sheer willpower.

Braeburn said under his breath, “Well, if you’re going to do it… As we say to all the daredevils that go out there: ‘Good luck, and beware the Demon of Despair.’”

“This seems like a good spot to split.”

Applejack looked to her right and saw the vast and empty desert. There was absolutely no sign of anything made by hooves, perfect for hiding an ancient spirit. Her pace turned to that direction and walked. Eventually, she found herself out in the middle of nowhere, with no sight of both the railroad and the town of Appeloosa. Time seemed to slow down as Applejack walked around aimlessly throughout the wasteland, looking in every direction for the Ghost Pony.

“Hmm… now what would he look like? Other than just a flaming pony skeleton I mean,” She told herself.

Her stomach rumbled before she could put much thought into his appearance. Applejack stopped and reached around to her back. Flipping open the large bag with her nose, Applejack sifted through her things until finding the set of ten ripe red apples near the bottom. She picked one up with her mouth and ate it. She continued to think out loud while chewing the juicy fruit.

“Maybe… maybe he wears some type of clothing to keep him hidden… but what could he wear that doesn’t burn from his body? Actually, why’d he need to hide anything? He’s already a ghost in the middle of nowhere. Perhaps he’s embarrassed?”

With one final gulp, Applejack finished the apple and continued her stroll.

An hour passed and the sun had nearly grown to its peak. The heat of the desert had grown drastically, and was now taking its toll on Applejack. Beads of sweat started to seep from under her hat and run down her face. Her lips grew stiff and dry, having to be licked every once in a while just to keep the awkward feeling at bay. Her chest started to cramp and tighten with the lack of food and water given. Her lungs felt as if they were starting to wither away.

Having grown tired enough of her body’s woes, she reached into her right saddlebag and pulled out a water bottle. She unscrewed the lid in one swift motion and lifted the lip of the bottle to hers. Immediately, upon the first drops of liquid hitting her, a glorious sensation pulsated through her body as moisture purged the sick dryness. The feeling was nearly euphoric for Applejack. However, she stops herself halfway with the bottle.

“I have to conserve.” She warned herself.

She screwed the lid back onto the bottle and slowly set it back into her pouch. However, just as it was nearly set back from where it was initially packed, the clear liquid inside started to swirl around. It was practically hypnotizing Applejack with its freshening appearance.

Without finishing that other half of the bottle, surely the heat would strike quick. Applejack couldn’t trust herself to last long before taking another break. She had no pony but herself. She must play safe or be doomed to the desert’s skillful card tricks and gambling techniques.

“Well, maybe one bottle won’t hurt me that much.” Applejack said.

Quickly, she yanked the plastic bottle back out, unscrews the lid once more, and gulped down the second half. After which, she continued forward, now with one less bottle of water.

Another hour passed. Applejack was now climbing up the side of a steep hill, trying to get to a vantage point. The loose gravel and sand shifted around her hooves as she attempted to reach the top. She stepped onto a large boulder lodged into the hill. Suddenly, the boulder slipped and slid down the hillside. Applejack fell and crashed into the ground below, landing knees first on the rocks several metres behind her.

Sharp pains spiked across her body as she landed. The mare shouted and whimpered in response to the horrific pain.

“Ow! What happened?!” She yelled.

Carefully, she stretched out her right front hoof and nearly vomited on sight. Her knee was bruised and decorated with large cuts across it. Red blemished all of her orange fur and pink flesh, with small pebbles mixing with the blood that was about to pour from the wound. She could only imagine what her other parts looked like.

“Gah! It hurts so much!” Applejack exclaimed.

She knew what had to be done. She had to get back to Appleloosa and get medical attention.

However, a voice in her head reminded her why she was there. If Applejack didn’t finish this expedition, she’d let down Big Mac and Applebloom. How would she prove anything if she couldn’t last three hours in the deep desert?

“I have to continue.” She commanded herself.

Despite her pain, Applejack regained focus and continued her climb up the hill, as agonizing as it was.

Half of an hour passed as she struggled to climb up. Finally, at the top of the steep hill, Applejack pulled out another fresh water bottle. She poured it on each of her clotted, yet brutal scrapes and cleaned them.

“It’s nothing. I’ve been through worse…”

Her stomach growled again, only this time being much more brutal.

“Aw, for Pete’s sake! Well… I guess it’s lunch time. Might as well get my bearings straight while I’m at it,”

She unloaded her saddlebags onto a large flat rock and took a moment to recover. Four apples were eaten as she examined her compass for directions and her surroundings for any sign of the ghoulish spectrum.

“Let’s see, if the needle is pointing east, then I must be facing east, right? I think that’s what Twilight said.”

A haunting feeling soon crawled up her spine, the feeling of being lost. A feeling a failing, but much worse than not finding the Ghost Pony or getting a worthy drink break.

“What if I’m… No! I’m not lost! Whatever heebie-jeebies this desert is trying to pull on me, ain’t gonna work! I just need something to cool myself down that all,”

After a quick scan of her begs, Applejack pulled out the random magazine she stuffed back home.

“I wonder what I brought anyways…”

One quick glimpse of the cover was all she needed.

“Oh, one of Rarity’s fashion brochures…”

She stuffed the magazine back into the bag and pulled out the puzzle block. However, after looking at it for a minute, Applejack was immediately frustrated.

“Where the hay do I even start with this darn thing? Twilight said it would be easy… I need something that’ll calm me down my way.”

Retuning the block to its proper place, Applejack blindly grabbed a mirror and brush. Upon pulling them out, a seemingly disgusting thought entered her mind. She glanced into the saddlebags to find Rarity’s magazine crinkled near the bottom of one of the pockets.

“Well, I’m alone. Might as well…”

Another half-hour passed upon the hill top. Applejack, now fully entranced in the mirror and one of the pages of the magazine, was brushing her mane to fit the curled style of the model on the page. She had not noticed the amount of time that has passed.

“Hm, doesn’t feel that bad. I might actually like this time. I wonder what Rarity would think of it...”

A queasy feeling started to build in her stomach, but she knew it was not hunger.

“Gosh, I think I may be getting a little homesick. I wonder what my friends are doing right- No, stay focused Applejack! You got a mission, and like an Apple, you gotta stick to it. You will not fail the family!”

Applejack cleaned up her spot and continued on, deeper into the desert. Her knees started to buckle from the return of the weight and the recent accident that has happened to her. A heavy groan escaped her throat as Applejack strained to stand upright once more.

Taking one last look at her surroundings for any signs of the Ghost Pony, she prepares herself for the next leg of her trek.

“Nothing in sight… The journey is still young, though. Maybe somewhere else outta give me a better view.”

Slowly, yet surely, Applejack walked once more and headed down the hilltop and across the barren valley.

An hour ticked by. Applejack was now walking across a dry lakebed. No mountains or anything close of a landmark were in sight. It felt just like the vast ocean, but hotter. The sun had finally grown to its brightest. It seemed to be beaming its entire wrath upon the orange mare.

The bottom of her hooves started to burn from standing on the heated clay and the top of her spine boils from the still heat. Promptly, Applejack pulled out another water bottle from her saddlebags and drank it, bringing only a temporary relief to her body.

“I swear, if there’s no Ghost Pony, I am going to be crossed beyond belief.”

As she continues to walk, her eyes manage to catch a glimpse of something in the distance. It was bright red, surrounded by a shady aura. It looked like a shelter, waiting for Applejack. Newfound energy and adrenaline rushed through her system as Applejack darted towards the red dot in the distance. Her tongue slipped from inside her mouth and flopped around her chin like a dog. The shady object was getting closer and closer.

Now, only a hundred metres away from the thing, Applejack saw that it was a shelter she in the midst of the dry basin. Her speed almost doubled. Her mind could barely catch up to the body, now running by its instincts. Just as she drew close enough for the blur to go away, the red entity vanished before her eyes. Only the cracked clay ground and a few, meager hoof prints, could be seen as far as her eyes could see.

“A mirage?! Gosh darn it to heck!”

Applejack furiously slammed her hat onto the dusty floor and stamped onto it with her hoof.

“Now I be hallucinatin’! How am I ever going to make sure that I actually saw that ghost?”

However, in the midst of her fury, Applejack remembered what to do at times like this. She took a deep breath and picked up her hat.

“Calm down Applejack. You can do this, girl. All you have to do is keep your head straight. Focus on your goal. You can last the night and morning no problem. My siblings are counting on me, so I’ve got to follow through.”

Setting her dusty hat onto her head, Applejack shook her head to make sure her mind’s fully awake and set off once more. She continued down into the deep desert, closer to supposedly her doom.

Another hour of seemingly endless walking passed before the faint blur of an object in the distance caught her eyesight.

“This better not be another hallucination…” She hissed.

Her pace accelerated for a moment as she drew closer to the unknown thing. The loud clopping of her hooves against the bone-dry lakebed rattled in her ears as she grew faster and faster.

“I think… I think it’s a plateau. I could probably find an overhang and cool off! Yes! Finally, things are starting to go-”

Suddenly, a surge of pain jolted through her torso and head. Applejack screamed at the top of her lungs and fell, grinding to a halt. With a split-second turn of the neck, Applejack winces in fear. It was a long snake, decorated with brown diamonds laced upon its beige back. A rattle at the end of its tail frantically shaken, rattling so loud that that only thing to down it out would be Applejack’s galloping.

The viper had managed to leap from wherever it came from and had sunk its fangs deep into Applejack’s torso. Applejack bucked around viciously until the serpent let go and slithered away.

Panting, Applejack looked back to where snake had bitten to find two small holes in the flesh. The surrounding skin was turning black and blue. The fear inside the mare tripled as the sight struck her. Applejack’s eyes started to shutter and water in pain and anguish.

“It was venomous! I might die! If only I didn’t run so fast and loud!” Applejack cried to herself, though with no hope of a cosmic aid hearing her plees.

Applejack quickly dropped her saddlebags and pulls out a fourth bottle of water and Rarity’s magazine. She flipped onto her back with the brochure and bottle in her hooves.

“Just stay clam, Applejack, you didn’t expect to be bitten by a snake, but it’s fine. I know what to do…”

Applejack puckered her lips and held her mouth on the bite. She sucked up as much of whatever liquid was in the holes and spat it out across her shoulder before repeating. Blood, yellow venom, and red slush coated the ground over the pony’s shoulder as Applejack continued to clear the infection.

Her mind cramped up as little traces of venom made its way into her brain despite Applejack’s best efforts. After a while of only sucking up and spitting her own blood, she poured the entire bottle of water over the wound. She used the papers and applied pressure to the area. Several minutes passed as the pony held her position, unsure of what to do now.

She looked at her upturned body to get a good look at the damage she has taken. From the scrapes on her knees, to the dark flesh of the bite, to the amount of filth and dust on her body, it was obvious she was in a crisis.

“This has gone too far… I need to head back…” She slowly gasped.

Slowly, the mare got back up onto three hooves, still holding the papers to her bite with her fourth. Pulling out a compass, Applejack attempted to decipher what its saying.

“Let’s see, if I’ve been going east, then I should go west back to Appeloosa. So, should I turn until the needle points west? Or was it to point north and go right? Augh! I can’t think straight!”

In frustration, Applejack shook her head violently, even knocking against it with her free hoof. She had to get the gears going. Fear, anger, confusion, sadness, all crowded her train of thought as the mare continued to unleash her fury on whatever she can get her hooves on for what seems to be an eternity. Despair had taken hold of her, and was not intent on letting go.

Finally, after an hour of emotions and frustration, Applejack soon recollected her sanity, what little of it still remained. Whatever venom left in her system had hopefully been flushed out. Her brains felt like mush, though perhaps usable. Yet, Applejack didn’t think about her potential descent into madness. She was trying to think of what to do.

“Alright, what would Twilight do in this situation?” She asked herself. “She’s the smart one… I think… so she’d have the best answer. I think that’s how it works, being logic and all…”

Her eyes caught a glimpse of the plateau off in the distance.

“Shelter, that’s right. Don’t worry, Applejack, don’t need to be fussy. You’re just, tired, and a little thirsty. Are things hopeless? Most likely, but let’s gamble.”

Although weak and terribly ill, Applejack managed to regain some strength. She picked up her bags and slowly walked towards the plateau.

Two hours of walking in the bright sun passed by before Applejack finally arrived at the foot of the massive plateau. The snake’s venom had returned to Applejack’s already injured knees, causing them to buckle once again. In a matter of moments, Applejack’s legs gave in and her body violently hit the sandy ground below.

Now with her belly unwillingly pressed onto the desert floor, her skin started to cook from the burning sands. Applejack winced, biting her lip as the burning sensation rushed through her. She frantically searched for a way to quickly get back up. Using the rock wall as a grip, Applejack attempted to pull herself up, only to find it more strenuous and painful than just burning from the hot sand.

Eventually, she managed to pull herself up. The relief on this accomplishment only lasted for a moment before dread and despair took over.

“I hate this… I hate all of this… No Ghost Pony… Barely any water left… These bags tearing my spine apart… Lost… Scraped and battered… Going stupid… Probably infected… Hungry… Thirsty… Tired… Dying… Why did I ever agree to this?” Applejack asked herself.

Applejack slid her saddlebags off and opened them to see what she had left. Six apples and one bottle of water remained.

“My main priority now is to survive. Maybe I can make this work…”

As the sun started to touch the horizon, Applejack feasted herself with four apples and only a quarter of water in the bottle. She didn’t even dare drink a single drop more. However, her stomach still yearned for more food. Her throat still demands more water. She had to deal with it, it was hopeless to reason otherwise.

“Night’s coming fast, if I can make it to the top with the remaining daylight, I could have a safe spot to sleep for the night and figure out a way back. Maybe I’ll even feel better by tomorrow or better yet, actually find that darn ghost. I deserve to find something after what I’ve gone through…”

Chapter 067: Desert Despair

Night slowly fell on the endless reaches of the deep desert. The distant mountains were as black as charcoal. The sandy floor below glistened with silver shimmers. The sky was dotted with millions of stars, all spread on a dark blue hue. The white moon glowed vibrantly, not allowing anything to slip in total darkness. It could be argued that the desert night provided more visibility than any light.

Applejack, now at the center of a lone plateau, reflected on her situation. She was alone in the deepest desert, kilometres away from anything. She was lost, poisoned, starving, thirty, dying.

She looked up to the night sky, not in hope of some celestial miracle, but of her utter defeat and hopelessness. She was insignificant compared to the still desert, a temporary speck in its eternal being.

“The stars sure look pretty tonight.” She told herself. “I guess I can come back home with experience. Well, if I even return home… Where’s the Ghost Pony now if he’s so helpful. I’m practically dyin’ out here. Face it, AJ, he’s a fraud. You did this for no reason.”

She looked down and examined herself once more. With the faint light of her lantern, she could barely see the disgusting scars on her knees, the infected bite mark on her belly, and all the dust and grime caught in her fur.

“Yep, this is pretty much what my feelings look like, hurt, gross, sick, tired, havin’ a bad headache…”

“Applejack…” A familiar voice whispered in her ear.

Applejack’s head snapped back up and looked around for the origin of the voice.

“Who’s that?”

“Don’t be silly, you know it’s me. Hehehe…”

It sounded like Pinkie Pie. In an instant, Applejack felt hope again. For a moment, she was free of despair.

“Pinkie? How the hay did you get here? And where are you?” Applejack asked.

“I’m hiding, come and find me! Hehehe…”

Listening to the voice, Applejack got up onto her hooves, picked up the lamp in her mouth, and searched around the top of the plateau for her friend.

“I don’t see you anywhere.”

“Want me to give you a hint? Hehehe…”

“Sure.”

“I’m at the bottom of the mountain…”

“That’s a bit obvious…”

Applejack trotted to the nearest edge of the cliff and looked down. At the bottom, a small black figure appeared in her hazy image. A red-ish hue emitted from the black speck. Perhaps it was pink that Applejack was seeing.

“Is that you?” AJ asked.

Seemingly out of nowhere, the rock below Applejack’s front hooves crumbled and fells down the cliff. Applejack leapt back from the collapse screaming. She dropped the lamp just short of the edge.

“Pinkie, are you okay?!”

No response was given.

“Pinkie?!”

Another voice called out into her ears, “Applejack…”

In a split second, Applejack got a blistering headache. Either by the poison or some part of her body failing, her head pulsated in pain and random spurts of blankness. The only think constant with AJ now was the new voice entering her mind and Applejack’s splitting headache. The memory of Pinkie Pie seemed to vanish.

“Rainbow Dash?” Applejack asked, rubbing her throbbing head.

“Want to do something awesome with me?” Dash’s voice asked.

“Sure, but I’m not sure where you are.”

“Trust me, I’m at the bottom. Just jump down from the cliff and I’ll catch you…”

Applejack looked over the edge of the cliff again to see a different dark figure on top of the rumble from before. AJ caught a glint of purple on the dark figure, perhaps from Dash’s mane.

“Are you sure you’ll catch me?” AJ asked.

“Yeah, it’ll be so awesome! Come on…”

“Okay, here goes nothing…”

“Applejack…” A third unknown voice echoed.

The headache doubled in pain.

“Fluttershy?!” Applejack groaned, barely able to recognize the voice.

“Would you kindly jump off from the cliff and join me? The desert foxes would love to have somepony to play with. Please…”

“Wait, I don’t remember seeing any animals down there. Wait, what happened to Pinkie?”

Another voice speaks to her, “Applejack…”

The pain tripled the double.

“R-Rarity?!”

“Would you be such an ever great friend and search for gems? I sense there are a ton of them at the bottom of the cliff…”

“Hold on just a minute,” Applejack moaned.

Applejack slowly backed away from the ledge as her mind strained to understand what’s going on.

“Where are all you ponies, and why do you all want me to go over that cliff?” She asked.

“Applejack…”

The throbbing infinitely increased.

“Oh for Pete’s sake… What do you want Twilight?” Applejack asked.

“Look at the stars…”

Applejack follows the voice’s orders and looks up, somewhat glad that it wasn’t a request to go over the edge.

“Legends say that each of those stars is a soul that has moved on to whatever awaits after death…” Twilight’s voice said.

“So, this doesn’t answer my questions.”

“They look down on the land, and everypony on it, watching them everyday…”

“I want answers now!”

“See those two stars next to each other? You know who they are…”

“What sick game is this? What are you and the other four of the lot up to?”

“There can be a third one with them…”

“Stop it!”

“Just go over the cliff…”

“I, said, enou-!”

But before she could finish, she accidently stamped onto the laying lamp. The glass shattered and the flame was released. The burning fire set her hoof ablaze, cooking everything. The shards of glass penetrated the hoof, splicing the flesh. A sharp, blood-curling scream escaped Applejack’s mouth. Both sharp surges of pain and slow agonizing torture flooded her body and mind.

She yanked her flaming back hoof from the broken lantern and tried to put the fire out. As she frantically brushed her hoof against the sand below, she felt the glass shards now embedded in her flesh moving around and cutting even deeper into her. It was nothing but pain. It was nothing but pain in an indifferent desert. It was nothing but pain in an indifferent world.

Out of instinct, Applejack pulled out the last water bottle and poured all of its contents onto the flames. Eventually, the fire was extinguished. Applejack was left in near-complete darkness, with only the moon to barely illuminate anything.

The pain in her hoof lingered on top of her other injuries, only made worse as she tried to stand. The mare flopped to her side, only to relieve a fraction of a percent of the agony. Now without a flame for heat and light, darkness and cold winds soon took over the plateau and the weakened body of Applejack. Whimpering and crying from the torture, Applejack continued to lay there for what seemed to be hours.

The five uncanny voices returned. They taunted her.

“Find me…”

“Do it…”

“Go to them…”

“Find your treasure…”

“Join them…”

“I’m lost…”

“I want to do it…”

“I want them…”

“They are my treasure…”

“I want to be with them…”

“Jump…”

“Jump…”

“Jump…”

“Jump…”

“Jump…”

“I am in pain…”

“I have failed…”

“I could not save them…”

“They are now under…”

“I must go to them…”

“End this game…”

“Go with your gut…”

“Go with them…”

“There is no hope here…”

“Join your-”

“AGH!” Applejack hollered, an attempt to keep the voices at bay.

Of course, this was only a last-ditch fail in a never-ending brawl. There was no hope of escape.

Except for one solution…

As quick as her destroyed body could go, Applejack sprung up to her hooves, dropping the hat in the process. She charged towards the cliff edge. Although the aching in her body escalated dramatically, she did not care anymore. She speedily limped onward.

However, upon reaching the edge, Applejack stopped and looks down. What was once a silver sand floor with rocks that have recently fallen had turned into a black abyss with no bottom.

They returned.

“Tired…”

“Depressed…”

“Sick…”

“Lost…”

“Alone…”

“No, I don’t have to listen!”

“You must…”

“You have no choice…”

“You cannot avoid this…”

“You cannot avoid us…”

“You cannot avoid them…”

“Shut up!”

In a fit of despair, Applejack bashed her head into the sand and rock, trying to get rid of her ghostly friends’ voices.

“We can not…”

“You know us…”

“We know you…”

“You know you…”

“You are you…”

After a minute of hitting her head, high pitched ringing started to fill in whatever silence Applejack could feasibly identify. This only made the uncanny voices more intolerable.

A warm, yet cold, thick liquid ran from her numb forehead down her face and dripped from her chin. She knew what it was by its mere metallic taste as some seems through her lips and onto her tongue. She looked over the edge again, this time seeing a pair of figures that looked to be hovering in the darkness.

“What is this?” She asked, the only three words to come to mind.

The five answered, giving just enough information.

“You know what this is…”

“You know who they are…”

“They are waiting for you…”

“There is nothing here…”

“Go to them…”

“No, no, no! These be mind games!”

“These are not…”

“Listen to them…”

“They are calling…”

“You can hear them…”

“They are real…”

“No!”

“Applejack…” An older stallion’s voice echoed from the abyss.

“Applejack…” A slightly younger mare’s voice echoed.

“Is it?”

“Come to us…”

“Jump into our hooves…”

“I-I can’t!”

“That’s right, you can’t…”

“You didn’t…”

“You are the reason…”

“You caused this…”

“No, I didn’t mean to!”

Tears started to pour from Applejack’s eyes and mixed into the blood dripping from her face. Images and faces from the deepest and darkest parts of her memory flashed before her eyes. The voices became more aggressive in tone.

“You did this…”

“You killed us…”

“No! Please!”

The voices turned violent. The desert sky surrounding her turned pitch black with the mountains.

“You murdered us!”

“You murdered us!”

“I didn’t murder you! I couldn’t do anything!”

At this point, the only things Applejack could see with her watery eyes were the two figures in the abyss and darkness.

“Butcherer!”

“Slaughterer!”

“NO!”

All seven of the voices then joined together. It was like a demon of some kind, roaring from every angle around Applejack’s dying body.

“End it all! Jump! End it all! Jump! End it all! Jump! End it all! Jump! End it all! Jump! End it all! Jump! End it all! Jump!” It demanded.

Then, just as Applejack was about to snap, an eight voice faintly whispers in her ear, a voice sounding just like her own, “Do it…”

“…Fine.” Applejack miserably replied.

In a single swift motion, Applejack leapt forward. She fell into the abyss.

However, just as it seemed that there was no return, something from the ledge bit her in the back of the neck. At first, Applejack thought it was another snake or monster that sought to torture her. To her surprise, it is not a sharp bite, or even a painful one. It felt like that of a mother picking up her child to comfort. Her fell came to an abrupt fault as the thing holding her bit firmly into the thicker flesh of Applejack. She winced.

“Who-who is this?” She stammered in her dying breath.

The mysterious savior doesn’t speak, only gave a very warm snort. Slowly, Applejack was pulled up by the unknown pony. As she was raised, she grew incredibly tired, practically sleeping.

From the absolute torture her body and mind have gone through, she surprised herself by how long she had been awake up to this point. As her eyelids grew heavy and blinked, the beauty of the desert soon returned from the darkness. The silver sands, the stars in the sky, and even the moon returned to her vision.

The ringing in her ears and the echoes of the voices ceased to exist as the mare slowly drifted to sleep. As her back made contact to the surface of the plateau, she was already fast asleep.

“Idiot…”

Chapter 068: An Unknown Pony

A warm gush of wind flowed through Applejack’s fur, the first thing Applejack felt. She was returning to her senses. As she awoke and opened her feather-weight eyes, a golden gradient of white and dark blue filled her vision. It was the horizon, transitioning from black to morning.

A small tingly feeling could be felt all across her body. In her knees, her back hoof, and her belly, everything felt odd. Memories returned of every torture she went through yesterday. Her throat promptly turned dry and her stomach rumbled on cue. The mare groaned in irritation to her body and slowly lifted her head from the dusty rock where it rested. Her mind retraced what has happened to her as she stretched, up to the point where she was on the plateau looking up at the night sky.

A sharp pain in her head interrupted her thoughts.

“Ow, my head…” She moaned.

A stallion’s voice replied behind her, “Figures. You nearly died after hallucinating for a good couple of minutes.”

Applejack leapt forward in fright and turned around to the voice, ready for a fight. However, all she saw was a stallion, plain and simple. He was slightly larger than her, draped head to hoof in black clothing. She’s unable to see what he looks like underneath because of the darkness of the night and the shadowy clothing he wears on him. The only thing she could actually identify was a water flask by his flank.

He was standing only a few centimeters from where she slept.

“Wh-who are you?” AJ asked.

“Name’s not important. Just refer to me as the stallion that saved your life.” The stallion humbly replied.

“What are you? The Ghost Pony, I presume?”

“The Ghost Pony?”

A dry chuckle belted out as the mysterious stallion’s body shivered in laughter. It was like an old pony, hearing his grandkid say the darndest thing.

“They still use that name for-haha! I would’ve thought they’d change it by now…” He said, giddy.

“So, are you him?” Applejack asked.

“Well, that depends. Do you want me to be him?”

“What does that mean? Are you the legendary Ghost Pony or not?”

“What gives you the idea that I am the Ghost Pony?”

“I don’t know, you did save my life.”

“Hahaha!”

“What’s so funny now?”

“Can’t a pony do some good these days and not be labeled a ghost? If that’s the case, most ponies be better off dead than alive-HA!”

“Quit makin’ fun of me! You just seem to come out of nowhere and rescued me for no reason. The most logical conclusion is that you are him.”

“Logic huh? Trying to tackle paranormal ideals, or any ideals of that matter, with logic? What a laugh. If I was a logical pony at this here point, I could very simply kill you in this weak and pathetic state, take all of your valuables, and none would be the wiser. The world isn’t a very logical place, my dear.” The elderly stallion explained.

“Well, fine, I can see it like that. But if you aren’t the Ghost Pony, what are you even doing here in the first place?” Applejack asked, still as perplexed as ever.

“What are you doing out here, if you’re not the Ghost Pony?”

“Looking for him.”

“Why?”

“I have my reasons that you don’t need to put your nose into. How about you?”

“It’s a long story. Let’s just say that I have some unfinished business to take care of out here, I’m tied to this here land so to speak.”

“What business?”

“Helping idiots like you not die out here for one.”

“Excuse me? What gives you the gall to call me an idiot?”

“Well for starters, the shoddy work on your preparations. How long did you plan on staying out here?”

“A day and a night.”

“Are you serious? With this setup, I expected an hour or two at most.”

“Look who’s calling the kettle black. I don’t see any fancy schmancy gear on you except for that little canister on your flank.”

“I understand my strengths. I’ve never really needed much food or water. I’ve grown used to the barren desert so to speak. Want some water?”

“Really? After insulting me, you’re expecting me to just take your generosity?”

“Well, if you want to be dehydrated for the rest of your time here, be my guest.”

“…Fine...”

An orange red aura glowed around the black canteen on the stranger’s body and begins to hover towards the orange pony. The lid unscrewed as the water canister is caught in Applejack’s hooves. It was very warm on touch, like it was protected by the night cold. She lifted the metal canteen to her lips, and water poured into her system. It was also warm, but Applejack didn’t mind. Her body rejuvenated and her mind started to clear up for once.

After finishing, AJ realized she downed the whole thing.

She tried to apologize, “Sorry I drank the whole thing, I just,”

“It’s fine.” The stallion replied, dismissing her apology. “You’ll need every drop if you’re going to make it back to that town alive.”

“Appeloosa?”

“That’s the name of the town? I see.”

“Well, do you mind pointing to me the right direction?”

“Sure, it’s Southeast from ‘ere, a bit more to the south.”

“…”

“You have a compass with you, it won’t be that hard to find.”

“…”

“Are you saying that you don’t know how to work the thing?” The stallion asked.

“…Yes…” AJ silently answered, humiliated.

“Gah, idiot…”

The black figure lifted a hoof to the right of Applejack’s head.

“That way. About a four hour walk in your condition. Not a hoof left nor a hoof right.” He said.

“Thanks.” Applejack replied.

“Is that all?” He asked.

“Could I get a lift, my hooves are-Wait a moment…”

Applejack quickly snapped her head to her knees, finding them barely scarred. It was as if her previous injuries vanished overnight.

“How did you even-” She started to ask, only to be immediately answered.

“A lot of things can be accomplished with a little bit of magic and secrets of the desert.”

“Okay…”

“Just don’t strain yourself, I’m not too sure if I was able to get rid of all of the glass in your hoof and heal it, so take caution. There also maybe some snake poison still in ya.”

“Okay. Thanks again. Seeing as you’re not the Ghost Pony, I won’t bother you and leave you be.”

“Who said I wasn’t the Ghost Pony?”

“So you are?!”

“Who said I was?”

“Hey! Are you or are you not? It’s that simple of a question.”

“Why do you want to know?”

“Why do you have to keep it so secret?”

“I don’t know, maybe you want to exorcise me if I am him or rob me if I’m not. It’s that simple of a question.”

“Grr…”

Applejack grinded her teeth in frustration, now being trapped in a questions game that was impossible to escape from. They only way out was to just be honest and spew everything.”

“…Fine. My brother and sister back home were fighting over whether or not the Ghost Pony exists or not, so I set off to find the answer, come back home, tell them the truth, and finally get some decent sleep as part of our deal.”

“I see…”

“Can you please just answer my question?”

“I could, but would you actually believe my answer?”

“Oh my… Enough of these riddles! Can’t you just give me a straight answer?!”

“Sure I can, but what’s to make you think that your kin will believe in ya? What’s to make ya think that you’re not just hallucinating at this point and that what you just drank was your own urine?”

“Well, I…”

“You believe?”

“Well…”

“Your brother and sister can believe whatever they want, you can’t fight that.”

“Then what am I going to say to them when I get home? Any smart ideas?”

“I’ve always had trouble with... sibling problems. Never been my strong suit. Maybe I can’t help you with your siblings, but maybe I can help you with your sleeping problems. How do you sleep at night? Are you comfortable, cozy, no nightmares?”

“I have a nice bed, and life back home is safe, so I have nothing to really have any bad dreams about.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, from what I can tell during your little trip several hours ago, I could hear you mumbling to yourself about something you might have done in the past. Something you regret is haunting you both at night and day it seems. Actually, on closer inspection… maybe two things…”

“I rest assure you, I was just tired.”

“…You seem like an honest pony, I can see it in your eyes. I can see that you would rarely ever lie to anypony. However, from what I see, you lie to yourself with your pride, and you buy it.”

“No, I don’t. I am completely hundred-bonified-percent honest with everypony including myself. And what gives you the authority to tell me what’s real or not?”

“You’re right, I don’t have the authority. And yet, you still give me it.”

“Well maybe I’ll stop it and be on my way.”

“You won’t, you need to give me authority. ‘Cause inside, you know that something’s wrong, and I am the only pony you feel that can help you.”

“Is that so?”

“I’m just an old stallion in the deep desert that can’t tell anythin’ humilitatin’ to anypony and knows a few healing tricks. Even if ‘ain’t logical, it true.”

“…”

“I know how you feel, I’ve been there. I know how it felt to have dark memories haunt you for days and nights, maybe even years. But I never had a shoulder to cry on and accept what had happened, and it took me a near eternity to come to terms. Let me be your shoulder. I don’t want you to suffer.”

“W-Why? What did you do?”

“Committed a few crimes, murder, robbery. Nowadays I’ve managed to get over it and move on.”

“How did you feel?”

“I was pretty much good as dead during those times of my crimes. Considering you have a family, and are not a lone-wolf like me, I see it best you get on your hooves as soon as possible. Tell me what happened. Please.”

“Well, if you really want to know… fine.”

Applejack lied down onto her belly, followed by the stallion.

“…” The stallion was perfectly silent.

“Eight-nine months ago, a couple of friends and I went on this sort-of adventure. We were chasing a pirate that stole something valuable from us, Korsan. He had this… thing, where he thought pegasi and Earth ponies were inferior.”

“Sounds like a logic-bonehead.” The stallion commented, only to return immediately to silence.

“He was going to go on this killing spree if we didn’t stop him. However, on the way, I found myself… seeing things from his perspective. I was tempted by fear. I joined his team. I didn’t do anything! Let’s make that clear. I rejoined my friends, and we beat and stopped him. But still, if my friends didn’t talk sense into me, I might’ve done something terrible.”

“And you fear that you could slip back, that you’re hopelessly inevitable to slip into the same trap.”

“Celestia, what would my parents think of me?” Applejack silently cried.

The two stayed silent for half of an hour. Applejack was unable to speak. The stallion stared into the stars, with no pony alive to see what was going through his mind.

“They’re gone, aren’t they?” The stallion asked suddenly.

“Huh?”

“Your folks, Mom and Dad, they’re gone, right?”

“Mmhmm,” Applejack nodded.

“Your parents, what were they like?”

Applejack’s eyes start to water a small bit as memories of her parents ran through her mind.

“Well, my dad and mom ran a farm back in our town. They weren’t all that famous, but they did have an easy life raising us.” Applejack said.

“I mean, what were they like themselves. What were their souls? How did they treat each other and you?” He asked.

“I don’t really remember that well. I wouldn’t be able to give a good description for ya.”

“Still, I want to hear.”

“My father was a little cynical, and my mother was always a bit clingy to us. But overall, it was all in good love for me and my kin, like all parents, you know.”

“…”

“Right?” Applejack asked the stallion.

“…”

He was deathly quiet. Applejack gasped, worried she offended him.

“I’m so-”

“Don’t bother, you didn’t know.” He sharply replied. “In truth, I never really did know my parents that well. My father, he died in the coal mines back in the day, a common yet very unfortunate event, they said.”

“And your mother? If you don’t mind,”

“She also worked in the coal mines, even shortly after giving birth to me and my kin. My mother, she’d always break up the small quarrels me and my siblings had when we were foals. I’m still surprised she was able to both manage work and us for however long she lasted.”

“What do you mean?”

“While my siblings and I were still very young, she died of sickness, most likely from the mines. It’s an extremely common thing to happen, but tough nonetheless.”

“Oh… I’m so sorry for ya, not know what having a pa and ma feels like.”

“Don’t worry yourself over it. You have far more important things at hoof. You have a pair of dark shadows above you.”

Applejack hesitated a moment before talking.

She said, “…It was a long time ago when my parents died. Shortly after my younger sister was born, they simply up-and-vanished from our lives. We were devastated, all of us. However, we came to terms to it, and lived life as normal.”

“…Hm.” The stallion simply huffed.

“What do you mean, ‘hm’?”

“’Up-and-vanished’, aye? Sounds a bit vague,”

“I don’t like talking about it.”

“I wonder why.”

“It’s private.”

“It shames you.”

“No, it don’t.”

“It do, same as Korsan. Stop lyin’.”

“How? How does it?”

“You blame yourself.”

“…W-what?”

“You were quite young when your parents left. You were confused, and blamed yourself for their deaths. You’ve held onto these emotions for years it seems, destroying you from the insides. From what I see of you now, you have built a wall, a barrier of pride and stubbornness, not allowing anypony past and interfere with your life. If you let anypony in, they’d be surely destroyed.”

“I-I just don’t want anypony to get hurt due to me. I’m not guilty. I didn’t murder them in cold blood or anything!”

“But you feel responsible for them.”

“…Yeah. I-I just think I could’ve done something. But no, I just let it happen. It was my fault.”

“You are no murderer. You never intended to kill, not with your parents nor that Korsan stallion. Me on the other hoof, ha… I’ve killed with intent. I practically am a murderer. To make matters worse, I knew the ponies and the families I had destroyed much more than you knew your own kin. Suffering in Tartarus is what my fate should be at this point. My life of innocence ended a long time ago. Miss...”

The black figure gently grabbed the mare’s messy blonde mane with his hoof and lifted her face from the ground. Even though she couldn’t see them, Applejack could tell his eyes were looking into hers.

“Things happen.” He said. “Either it be by our own design or by our own mistakes, thing happen. Both can be devastating, and can leave a lasting negative impression on your life. However, there are millions of solutions to you problem. You can either label yourself a criminal and shame yourself as such, or, you can accept what had happened and better yourself upon these experiences.”

“How do I do that?” Applejack asked.

“Your parents are dead, and there’s nothing you could do about it. How they died was by mistake, you were never truly guilty for it. And you didn’t deal any punches for Korsan. You probably dealt the finishing blow with hooves like that.”

“But I still-”

“Shut up, you didn’t intend to kill your parents. You didn’t intend to go on a genocide route. What happened was a mistake in judgement. Was it a mistake?”

“Well, yes. But still,”

“But still what? You have no room to blame yourself. However, that doesn’t mean you’re scot-free. There is still a lesson to be learned here. If you were to replay them moments of your life once more, what would’ve you done different?”

“I’d-”

“You figured it out already, haven’t you? No need to tell me.”

“…”

“Listen. Don’t be wrapped up in whatever you’re trying to prove and listen to your folk. You not listening is the reason why you’re out here in the first place without having enough knowledge to prepare yourself. Your life is still young and innocent, don’t destroy it over your own fear or pride.”

“I guess you’re right. I think I do need to break those barriers, listen to other ponies, and let them help me through my problems.”

“Correct.”

“So, did you learn anything from your experiences?” Applejack asked.

“Quite frankly, I never truly did learn anything, not way back when, not now. I’m still figuring it out, it’s complicated, to say the least. I’m hoping that on my road to redemption, I can learn from the ponies I’ve helped and find a way to better myself from the crimes I committed o-so long ago…” The stallion replied, looking back to the stars.

At this point, Applejack had stopped her sobbing and was now only sniffling off a few more tears.

“You already have, based on what I have heard. You’ve gone from a criminal to a hero, how is that not bettering yourself?” Applejack asked.

“That’s mighty kind of you to say, Miss,” He replied.

“Applejack, call me Applejack.”

“Applejack, thank you for the compliment, but I’m afraid that I’m not quite there yet to fully fixin’ myself.”

“What do ya mean?”

“Let’s just say I haven’t moved on yet. I still have some loose ends to tie up, still gotta find my path.”

“Well, good luck on that, Mister…”

“Eldur, just call me Eldur, or the Ghost Pony if you so desperately want.”

“Eldur, that’s quite a unique name, I like it.”

“Haha, I’m glad you think so.”

“So, where again to I go?”

Once again, the stranger lifted his hoof in the same direction he did before.

“Not a hoof left-” He said.

“Not a hoof right.” Applejack finished.

“Catch on quickly, I see.”

“So wait, before I go, I just want to know. Are you truly the Ghost Pony? And can you please just give me a straight answer? A lot has happened over the past hour.”

“The funny thing is…”

“Oh dear-”

“The funny thing is, there isn’t really a Ghost Pony. Sure, you got your sand monsters, your spirits and ghouls, your despair-inspiring demon, but no ultimate ‘Ghost Pony’. The Ghost Pony these days is more of a title that the good ponies of these here deserts badge themselves with. The Ghost Pony is seen as a positive influence to all, and the good ponies that travel under his name make up that influence.

“So I guess, by definition, I am the Ghost Pony. Now, whether or the ‘original’ one, being the flaming skeleton Ghost Pony, exists or not… In this crazy type of world we live in, one with so much magic and mystery, I wouldn’t be surprised if he were amongst us at this very moment.”

“I guess so. Thank you for everything, I’m not sure how I’ll be able to repay you.”

“You don’t need to, Applejack. Thank you for letting me help you despite our past quarrels. Have a safe travel back.”

“I will, Mr. Eldur. Oh wait!”

Applejack hopped onto her hooves and dashed to her saddlebags. She poked her head into them in search for the last two apples she had.

“Let me give you an apple, I have two so we can share one each!” She said.

Applejack’s eyes finally set on the pair of red fruits and she picked them up with her mouth. Lifting her head from the bag and turning back to where Eldur was standing, the mare found that he has disappeared without a trace. Dropping the apples in shock, Applejack looked around frantically, searching for her new friend.

“Eldur? Where are you?” She asked.

A bright light pierced the corner of her eye, causing her to wince. She turned to see the sun rising from the horizon, beaming its early rays of morning.

“Is he… No, I’m going to have to think about it later. For now, I better head back home as he suggested.”

“Good luck, Applejack…” A faint whisper echoed in the morning breeze.

Chapter 069: Real of Unreal

After a long journey throughout the deep desert, fighting the deathly forces of nature, and a bizarre encounter with what can only be described as an angel, Applejack deserved this. As the train pulled into the station of Ponyville, Applejack was ready to go home and go to bed, now able to sleep soundly, no matter what.

Applejack stepped out onto the station platform, and was immediately greeted by Big Mac, Applebloom, and Twilight Sparkle. The three onlookers gasped a bit when they saw the state Applejack was in. She was heavily bruised and half of her body was under bandage cloth.

“Are you okay?!” Twilight and the others exclaimed.

“I’m fine.” Applejack nonchalantly replied. “I only got a little roughed up in the wild. The doctors in Appleloosa took good care.”

“Well, welcome back, Applejack.” Twilight said.

“Howdy.” AJ replied.

“So? Did you see ‘im?” Applebloom asked.

“Nope,” Big Mac assumed.

“I’m also curious.” Twilight said. “These two told me all about the Ghost Pony. It would be really interesting if he was real. Is the Ghost Pony real or not?”

“Well…” Applejack hesitated her answer.

“Well… what?”

“I don’t necessarily have physical or eyewitness proof that he exists,” Applejack said.

“HA!” Big Mac barked in success.

Applejack immediately explained, “However, during my travels, I met this stallion who called himself the Ghost Pony. He told me that the Ghost Pony was like a force of nature, made up of several good-doing ponies. They look out for those in need in the desert and comes to their aid. So, in a sense, he is real.”

“So, does that mean I can become the Ghost Pony?” Applebloom asks with a look of confusion.

“If we’d ever let you go out there, in the barren desert, then yes.” Applejack replied.

“Yeah!” Applebloom cheered.

“Good, now run along you.” Applejack said.

Applebloom did so, and went back home.

“Hmph, sounds like a cop-out. It still doesn’t explain the flaming skeleton.” Big Mac snorted.

“Well, you don’t have to believe in the tale of the ‘original’ Ghost Pony, but you do have to admit something.” Applejack replied.

“What?” He asked.

“Seeing Applebloom wanting to follow a role model and help other ponies, even becoming a role model herself, you want that to be her future, right?” She asked.

“I guess. I guess he is ‘real’ as a role model. There I said it. Happy?”

“Very.”

Big Mac followed Applebloom back to Sweet Apple Acres, leaving Applejack and Twilight at the station.

“What even happened to give you half of those injuries?” Twilight asked.

“Ugh. Everything! Snakes, dirt, gravel, mirages, the sun, the cold, everything,” Applejack huffed, exhausted from adventuring. “Don’t tell any of my folks about this, or they’ll have a heart-attack.”

“Of course,” Twilight nodded.

“I should’ve went to the beach with you all.”

“Oh, no! Yesterday was a nightmare.”

“What happened, Twi?”

“Where do I even start? Some demon-siren ponies took Spike’s soul. Pinkie and I had to play the most impossible game of volleyball to win it back. Those two were toxic, cheating the entire time.”

“Demons?!”

“I know, crazy.”

“My adventure was nothing but crazy. I might’ve even came across a demon, and I just forgot.”

“Looks like this weekend’s been nothin’ but trouble,” Twilight said.

“Eh, maybe not,” Applejack replied.

“Hm?”

Twilight was curious. What happened to Applejack that justified all of those injuries?

Applejack said, “I finally got some resolve for some problems keeping me up at night. Twilight, I’m sorry for turning to Korsan all those months ago. I mean it this time. I take full responsibility for my actions. I have learned my lesson. I will never betray you or our friends as long as I live. But, aside of that, yeah, this weekend was trouble.”

“So, Applejack, I guess you’re not coming with us to the Megaseed Forest next weekend.” Twilight said.

“Yep, I’m well-worn from all these adventures. I’ll just be at home, healing these injuries.”

“How about the theatre the weekend after that?”

“The theatre?”

“There’s going to be a live showing of ’The Tragedy of Queen Chrysalis’. It’s a major event in Canterlot.”

“Queen Chrysalis? Our arch-nemesis?”

“Well, one of them.” Twilight clarified. “But, yeah. I’ve heard it’s really good though.”

“I may tag along.”

“Alright!” Twilight cheered.

“Well, see you.” Applejack said.

“Oh, before I go, I want to tell you something interesting I found.” Twilight said.

“What?” Applejack asked, intrigued.

“After our little bout with those demon-sirens, I read up on some history to see if we knew anything about ‘demons’. I came across a book about the magic art of necromancy and it talked about something called Hades’ Breathe.”

“What about it?”

“Well, although most of it is based upon loose theories and ancient mythological recordings, there is a solid basis on what Hades’ Breathe most likely is. It is, and I quote, ‘Whenever a massive creature of great magic power dies, as their soul depart from their body, a large pulse of powerful magic, often of chaotic properties or of remnants of the creature’s most prominent usage of their magic powers, is spread throughout a vast area. This magic pulse is known as Hades’ Breathe.’”

“What does that all mean?” Applejack asked.

“If this Hades’ Breathe is real, and if a powerful magical creature with a heavy usage of fire magic were to die a long time ago, then the Hades’ Breathe created could have created the Ghost Pony.”

“Do you think that it’s possible?”

“I’m not too sure. I may have to do some more research due to the poor amount of corroboration backing up this concept, let alone that necromancy is an often disregarded topic in the common knowledge of magic. I have many reasons to doubt this theory.”

“…Uh… …Simplify it please?”

“Hehehe…”

“Nah, it’s fine. I know what you’re saying.”

“Okay, bye, Applejack!”

“Goodbye, Twilight!”

With that, Applejack went to bed. She slept for a solid 12 hours without disturbance or disruption. It was a good rest, fated to result in peak freshness.

“I can’t believe they beat us.” Ira growled.

“We’ll get ‘em next time.” Libidine replied.

“There is no next time!” Ira exclaimed before crossing her hooves and turned to the corner.

The boiling bath water lapped onto the two mares as they relaxed in their impromptu spa. The red light of lava-coated stalagmites and stalactites danced across their bodies and the walls of their cavern home. Drips of water and occasional magma echoed throughout the caves, keeping out any silence. It was damp, warm, and hidden, a perfect lair for any abominable creature.

Ira looked over to one of the alcoves visible from the hot tub. It was brimming with gold and treasures, all sparkling under the red light of molten rock. It was their other sister’s, Cupiditas’s, treasure. She always enjoyed riches, couldn’t get her hooves off of them.

“Has Cupiditas counted her treasure, yet?” Ira asked, staring at the golden coins just a tad away from the riches pile.

“No. Thinking about stealing some?” Libidine asked.

“I need some victory from this weekend. I can’t see myself going forward after losing to those two pests.”

“Look on the bright side.”

“What bright side? We’re in a subterranean lair just above Tartarus. There is no bright side to our situation.”

Libidine slowly waded over behind Ira. She placed her hooves and Ira’s hips and pressed her head against her neck.

“There’s always something to look forward to when I’m here.” Libidine slowly whispered suggestively.

“I said no favours, Libi.” Ira coldly replied.

“But, Ira-!”

“No buts. You lost the game for us.”

“Me?! I wasn’t the one who threw a temper tantrum!” Libidine shouted.

“I wasn’t the one who was too busy satisfying her endless need for pleasure!” Ira retorted.

“Go punch a demon!” Libidine yelled.

“Go inhale some lava fumes!” Ira yelled.

“I’m back!” A mare’s voice echoed throughout the cave.

“Oh, no…” Ira groaned.

“It’s Superbia…” Libidine moaned.

A red portal opened on the roof of the cave and a tentacle-claw dropped down from it. It opened its claws and revealed Ira and Libidine’s fourth sister, Superbia. Superbia whipped her large, silver highlights to the side and joined her partners in the hot tub.

“I am such a great demon. You won’t believe how many souls I snagged over the weekend.” Superbia announced.

“Let me guess, you made a bunch of ponies convinced they could jump off a cliff and live.” Ira said, rolling her eyes at Superbia’s pulsating ego.

“Come on, I’m not that predictable.” Superbia replied.

“No, it’s just the one thing you can do.” Libidine said. “Can’t even entertain me for five minutes…”

“Both of you are just jealous. Check this one I caught.” Superbia said.

Ira and Libidine looked over as Superbia summoned one of her souls. The ghostly figure of a stallion burst from Superbia’s chest, the bodiless soul of a pony. Ira and Libidine were unamused.

“He looks like an idiot. A pretty idiot, but still an idiot,” Libidine commented.

“Definitely the cliff trick.” Ira said.

Superbia replied, “I’ve been doing this successfully for over 600 years…”

“So have we.” Ira and Libidine whispered.

“…And by now, I’ve snagged about 6000 souls. I’m the best out of all of us.”

“7500.” Ira replied.

“9001.” Libidine replied.

“Over 9000?!” Superbia gasped before immediately restoring her form. “Well, I do it with consistency and strategy.”

“You want to impress us?” Ira asked. “Beat Invidia’s score: 750,000.”

“That’s impossible. I’d need at least 600 centuries to catch up.” Superbia replied.

“If it makes you feel easier, Invidia ain’t doing anything nowadays. She just keeps trying and failing to copy our tactics.” Libidine explained.

“How did Invidia even rack up that kind of soul count?” Superbia asked.

“She overthrew three kingdoms in a night. It was a fluke, pretty much.” Ira answered.

“I’m back!”

“Superbia, we heard you the first time.” Ira hissed.

“That wasn’t me!” Superbia replied.

Another red portal opened and a second Superbia descended from it. The three others glanced at each other for a moment before casually calling out the second Superbia.

“Invidia, we know it’s you.” Ira said.

The second Superbia lowered its head in guilt before her entire body burst in a green light. Her body slowly reformed and shrunk. At the end of the transformation, Invidia’s true form was revealed. Her black bangs and green highlight slowly moved forward and covered her eyes.

“Tried Superbia’s cliff-trick?” Ira asked.

“Yep,” Invidia replied, defeated, but not too deterred.

“Failed?”

“Yep,”

“How did you overthrow three kingdoms at once?” Superbia asked.

“I just did. Nothing too special,” Invidia replied.

“Always that vague response,” Ira noted.

Ira went back to her own business and dived into the hot tub.

“Seen where the others went?” Invidia asked.

“No clue.” Superbia replied.

“Try looking where they’d usually be. Castles, shipwrecks, resorts, places with a lot of food or money, Tartarus, places like that.”

“Th-that’s what I was going to say.” Superbia lied.

“You’re right. If only I had your intellect.” Invidia said.

“No sweat it, seriously.” Libidine replied.

“I’m going back up.” Invidia said.

With a flick of her horn, a portal opened above Invidia’s head. A tentacle claw dropped down and picked up the mare.

Libidine crawled from the tub and left from sight. She went off to her private alcove in the deeper reaches of the cavern lair.

“Where are you going?” Superbia asked.

“I’m getting into something comfy. I have an appointment with my souls.” Libidine’s voice echoed.

“’Appointment’, how clever,” Superbia told herself.

She looked down to see Ira, resting at the bottom of the tub. Just below Ira and the rock floor of the tub was one of Tartarus’s many magma streams. Even where Superbia was at, the heat was intense. It was a miracle that the tub had enough water in it to have it classed as a pool. The only reason Ira didn’t mind the heat was because she had the magic power to burst into flames, both figuratively and literally.

This gave Superbia an idea.

“Hey! Ira!” Superbia yelled into the water.

“What?” Ira’s voice bubbled to the surface.

“I know how to beat Invidia’s soul count.”

Ira immediately burst to the surface.

“How?” She asked, intrigued.

“We use Libidine’s magic of mind control and my magic of mass-communication to brainwash an entire town and create an army of slaves. Then, we’ll use your flame magic to ignite all of Equestria on fire! And with our combined ability to inspire the vices in ponies around us, we’ll be untouchable! It’s genius! I am the greatest mi-”

SLAP!

“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” Ira replied.

“What?! Why? The slap also really hurt.”

“Several problems with your plan: One: the maximum number of ponies you can do is maybe a hundred. Two: Libidine only controls one pony because splitting it across two ponies cuts her control in two. Three: My fire is not a tool.”

“Ouch.”

“Which? Your cheek, or your ego?”

“Well, come on, Ira. We could totally top Invidia if we-”

Ira coldly interrupted Superbia, saying, “Impossible. It’s just best we go about our casual days. Me, having my vengeance and creating complicated winning strategies. Libidine, playing with her souls and luring souls. You, luring ponies off of cliffs and bragging about it. Even if we all worked together, there are too many heroes out there.”

“Perhaps you need more villains!” A final voice echoed throughout.

“...What…?”

Author's Note

TO BE CONTINUED

Thank you for reading and following this series for so long. As of August 25, there will be a one-to-two month hiatus.

COMING UP

The Demons of Pulchra make a return, bigger and badder.

A new villain rises, much stronger than Korsan.

Some familiar faces return alongside new ones in a brand new adventure.

Chapter 054: Battle of the Skies (Part 4)

“We did it…” Rainbow Dash said, shocked.

She and the other ponies looked down the hole Korsan’s body created and saw the raging seas below. Anti-magic poured down the hole, vanishing upon impact with the white waves. Whatever trace Korsan might’ve had left on the ocean would be gone.

“We did it.” Twilight replied, even more shocked.

“We did it!” Pinkie exclaimed.

Everypony leapt into the air and cheered. They have finally done it, they thought to themselves. The battle was over, and Korsan’s army had been defeated. Pats were thrown around the group and ponies praised each other. They reminisced about their previous experiences, thinking about all the wacky things that brought them to this moment.

“Hey AJ,” Dash said. “Remember when you and I were fighting the pirates, and when we got a cannon and threw it onto a bunch of them?”

Applejack replied, “Sure do! Hey, Fluttershy, that was a special trick you pulled with the other pegasi in the quarterdeck.”

“Thanks.” Fluttershy humbly replied.

“You can say that again! It saved me and some of our friends.” Pinkie cheered.

“Speaking of friends… Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, what’s going to happen to them?” Rarity asked.

“The pirates?” Celestia asked.

“The ones that helped us; November, Nitin, Yin, Yu, the ones with us,” Sweetie replied.

“Well…” Celestia took a moment to think before actually answering Rarity’s question.

The surrounding pirates, that once served Korsan, leaned in to hear the princess’s answer. They were nervous, but obviously had a backup plan to flee on the spot.

“Can we be let off free?” Maurice loudly asked, not bothering with subtlety.

“Considering you are most likely wanted in several countries…” Celestia started.

“I never messed with you guy-” Maurice quickly stated.

“Perhaps for punishment, you all can serve lightened jail time, maybe even just community service. It’ll take a while for your amnesty to be official, after all.” Celestia said.

“Really?”

“You are all heroes of the entire world. I’m sure the world is thankful of your efforts.”

“…Sure, I can live with that.” Slasher replied.

“Wait, what about Thieves’ Hold?” November asked.

Nitin promptly asked, “What about that Craig stallion?”

“Craig?!” Dash exclaimed in an immediate wave of panic. “As in Craig Y’ol Timber?!”

“…Yes.” Nitin replied.

“He’s here?!” Dash exclaimed.

“Yes.” Nitin blankly said.

“Oh, no-”

Suddenly, a wood stick smacked Rainbow Dash in the head before falling on the floor next to her.

“Ow!” Dash groaned.

“Hehe, looks like he already found you.” Twilight giggled.

“Twilight,” Spike nervously called to her.

“What is it Spike?” Twilight asked.

“Are you alright?” Spike asked, pointing to her body.

“Huh?”

Curious of what he meant, Twilight examined herself. She soon discovered that her purple fur was now tarnished with a veil of red and pink. Her flesh was covered in bruises, cuts, and light scars, all especially noticeable around the hoof she stuck into Korsan. It was a messy sight, quickly followed by the sensation of pain that accompanies it.

“Oh, it’s just a flesh wound, nothing to worry about.” Twilight moaned, holding back the pain.

“We should get onto the other ships. This airship will hit water at any minute now.” Luna calmly replied.

“Quite right,” Celestia nodded.

“Oh yeah, we’re falling. Heh, never noticed.” Jarvis dumbly said, just now realizing their situation.

The remaining ponies on The Perfection boarded the surrounding ships. With the aid of pegasi and unicorn magic, the ponies were able to safely leave the slowly falling airship. One by one, Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Philomena, Juliana, Spike, Yin, Yu, Slasher, November, Nitin, Cecil, Maurice, Jarvis, and the rest of the pirates that helped overthrow Korsan left The Perfection, with Twilight on deck monitoring above.

“That’s it everypony. Keep it single-file, no shoving, keep all of your weapons sheaved, no stealing, make room for others,” Twilight announced.

“Twilight,” Celestia called out, hovering above the line.

“Celestia,” Twilight replied, turning to Celestia.

“I’m sorry I only left you and your friends with the SS Raindrop. I didn’t know you would need so much help.”

“It’s fine. None of us knew something like this was going to happen. And besides, it probably was better that we went alone.” Twilight said.

“Is the SS Raindrop still in good condition?” Celestia asked.

“…It served well.” Twilight cryptically replied.

Princess Celestia humourously rolled her eyes, knowing what Twilight implied.

“How about the Diamond Eye?” Celestia asked.

Twilight instantly gasped, realizing that she had forgotten why she and her friends even started this journey.

“One quick second, I’ll be right back!” She quickly replied.

Immediately, Twilight took off into the quarterdeck while the last ponies boarded Celestia’s airship.

“Alright, start pulling out! Twilight will catch up to us.” Celestia announced.

Twilight searched through the slowly decaying treasure room. She wasn’t going to leave The Perfection until she found the Diamond Eye. As she searched, Twilight noticed that large amounts of the treasure had already either been claimed by her pirate friends or fallen into the sea, indicated by the massive holes in the floors and walls. However, in the back of her mind, Twilight was sure that the Diamond Eye was still here.

Continuing to search deeper and deeper into the vault, an eerie feeling tingled in her spine, as if there was something behind her. In the massive and dark room, it felt inevitable that somepony was hiding here. Twilight shrugged the feeling and continued to search. Eventually, Twilight found the two massive diamonds in the back of the room.

She picked them up with her magic and turned to the door. As she headed for the exit, the eerie tingling returned, stronger than before. As she stepped out of the vault, a white blur suddenly passed in front of her.

Twilight jumped back and reached for an antique sword on the floor. A red aura surrounded the long blade and flung it out the vault through a hole in the wall.

“What the-” Twilight gasped.

“Stay.” A familiar mare’s voice commanded from behind Twilight’s ear. When Twilight tried to look behind, she was stopped by a small dagger pointed at her throat. Frozen, Twilight examined the levitating blade. She noticed the groove designs and the red aura surrounding it. They were the signature blades of one pony and one pony alone.

“Maria?” Twilight asked behind her.

“I said stay.” The mare repeated herself.

Slowly, Maria emerged from the unseen corner of Twilight’s vision and walked in front of her. Maria looked and acted greatly different from the last time Twilight saw her. All over her body, face, mane, and tail, were bruises, cuts, and matted fur. Maria’s eyes were glazed over, bloodshot with glowing magic. A trail of red and black liquid extended from Maria’s limping hoof and into the vast darkness behind.

As Twilight looked closer, Maria’s eyes could be seen behind the glaze, darting all around, terrified.

Horrified, Twilight asked, still at the dagger’s end, “What happened to you?”

A voice chuckled in the darkness in response, “Don’t you recognize this? Doesn’t it look familiar to a certain spell?”

“Korsan!” Twilight roared.

From the dark corner behind Maria emerged Korsan, limping towards the pair of mares. Although seriously battered, Korsan remained just as pretentious and villainous as he’s always been the past weeks.

“How did you- …You climbed the outside of the hull, didn’t you?” Twilight asked.

“Cleve-”

Korsan groaned midway through his taunting. He grabbed his back piece and shredded cape. His throat croaked in agony. As Korsan moved his claws into the light, Twilight saw that they lines up perfectly with the cuts and scars Maria had on her body.

He did this to her.

“What did you do to Maria?!” Twilight demanded.

“An exercise of my magic prowess is what I did. I taught Hans the ability to control bodies beyond your own with mind spells. Of course, Maria’s will needed to be broken down for it to work. It definitely serves well though when your suit is busted and you need a little help. Impressed?” Korsan asked.

Hans then walked out of the shadows. His horn glowed the same sickly colour that Maria’s bloodshot eyes bore. He was controlling her. He and Korsan were manipulating Maria after subjecting her to absolute horror and torment.

“You tortured her?! Let her go!”

“You should be glad. If you hadn’t messed with my cannon, Maria would’ve ended up being Swiss cheese. Don’t worry, the pain has mostly vanished In fact, to Maria, it probably feels nice, being put down into submission after such naughty behaviour.”

“You’re a monster!”

“So I am, but not for long. After seeing Princess Celestia and Luna, you know, born alicorns, in action, I am certain that they’re magic is powerful.”

“No…”

“Oh yes. Come with me!”

“Where is she?” Luna grumbled.

She and Celestia looked over The Perfection from their now distanced battleship.

“It’s a big ship. I’m sure Twilight will find what she’s looking for.” Celestia replied, trying to calm her sister down.

“I know, but I’m getting this bad feeling about this. Something doesn’t sit right.” Luna replied.

“What do you mean?”

“Did we actually see Korsan plummet into the ocean?”

“No, there was wood flying everywhere.”

“Exactly, what if he-”

“Don’t worry, Luna. Rainbow Dash gave Korsan an absolute smackdown! I’m confident that Korsan wouldn’t be able to pull off something like-”

“Attention alicorns!” Korsan’s voice roared from The Perfection’s deck.

Immediately, the two alicorn princesses looked over to saw Korsan, Maria, Hans, and Twilight, standing at the end of an outstretched plank. Twilight was completely wrapped in metal chains and three anti-magic straps were tightened around her horn. Korsan and Maria were hunched over her body, each with a dagger at her throat. Hans stood at the base of the plank, watching over and controlling Maria. Celestia and Luna gasped upon the sight, prompting everypony else on board to see what’s going on.

“Twilight!” They all exclaimed.

“Maria’s been taken over by Korsan and Hans!” Twilight yelled back, trying her best to explain the situation.

“Let her go, Korsan!” Celestia demanded.

“Turn me into an alicorn!” Korsan replied, shaking his shuttering hostage. “Do it, or else this little beauty’s gonna have her gizzard cut out! And don’t think about pulling anything fancy. I know every conceivable spell in the world. I know how to execute each and every one, so I’ll know if any funny business goes down. I just need a suspicion of something being off, and I and my puppet will kill Twilight!”

“You’re mad!” Celestia exclaimed.

“Isn’t it always the case? Hey, Twilight, how about you sing a song for us?”

“Celestia!” Twilight screamed. “Don’t give into his demands!”

“Ohohoho! Looks like somepony’s dying for some drama!” Korsan manically taunted, cackling in the storm.

“Celestia and Luna will never give in! I’d rather die than let you destroy the world!” Twilight retorted.

“Hahaha! So what’s it going be, Princesses?” Korsan asked. “You have about twenty seconds before the anti-magic completely drains from my suit, and if you don’t comply within the second afterwards, Twilight’s head is going to be mounted on Dane Jonas’ Locker at the bottom of the sea!”

“Don’t-” Before Twilight could reply, Korsan shoved his tattered cape into the hostage’s mouth.

“Tick-tock, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.” Korsan taunted before counting down. “Ten… Nine… Eight…”

“No!” Celestia screamed.

Her mind overheated as she tried to decide. Both options had disastrous consequences that will surely affect the entire world. The terrified eyes of Twilight beamed into Celestia’s soul, silently screaming for her to both not let her die, yet die at the same time.

“Seven… Six… Five…” Korsan counted.

“Luna!” Celestia exclaimed.

The two alicorn sisters looked at each other, seeing each other’s mortified faces. They looked back at their ponies, only to be met with the same response from all of them.

“Princess Cadence?” Luna asked.

“Four…” Korsan continued.

“I don’t know! I’m just as lost! I’m not a born alicorn! I don’t know what to choose! Twilight’s about to die!” Cadence rambled.

“Three!” Korsan now screamed.

Celestia turned back to Twilight.

She fanatically muttered to herself, “What do I do, what do I do, what do I do?!”

“Two!” Korsan roared.

“…”

“One!”

Finally, Celestia made her choice.

“Fine, Korsan! Luna!”

Instantly, Celestia and Luna aimed their horns at Korsan. Their horns glowed and sparkled, exactly what Korsan wanted. A white and black aura surrounded Korsan. It gently lifted him into the air and enveloped his body. A flash of light shone across the sea as Korsan’s form turned into a star of light, blinding everypony.

The raging storm circled above the star. Lightning converged onto the star, zapping it with dozens of bolts per second. Electricity rapidly sputtered around the aura. Sparkles of white, black, and electric magic pulsated from the star and soared through the air. Rain gravitated into Korsan’s being, soon followed by The Perfection. It was like a gluttonous black hole had been unleashed.

The pegasi flying around scattered away from the star, narrowly escaping the growing gravity. Twilight watched in horror as she saw the black outline of Korsan from below his transform. She watched as his body deformed and slowly grew. A small horn emerged from his skull. Sheer mass and muscles sprouted across his flesh. The remnants of his machine suit shattered into thousands of metal bits and orbited the aura along with the rain and parts of boat. The air vibrated with the low rumble of power accumulating in this star, as if the entire fabric of space and time was about to rip in two.

From the manic star of energy and magic, Korsan’s voice echoed out across the world. It was deeper, booming, and dominant, roaring in both pleasure and pain.

“Yes… The power… The absolute power! Must… Have… More!” Korsan said.

“He’s an alicorn now, pull out!” Celestia yelled out.

If they could pull this off just correctly, Korsan would only have a minimal initial spike in power. After perhaps thirty minutes, Korsan’s alicorn power would even out, leaving him a weaker alicorn compared to even Twilight and Cadence.

But, as Celestia and Luna attempted to pull out of the spell, a hellish electirc beam burst from Korsan’s star and hit the two. The beam held them in place and forced them to transfer more magic. The small white star immediately expanded into a black, yellow, and white black hole of magic.

Everypony froze in total horror, their jaws dropping and their trains of thought derailing on the spot. What was this entity Tartarus that had been unleashed onto the world?

“He knows magic absorption?!” Cadence exclaimed.

The black hole collapsed in on itself, condensing into a solid black figure at the center. The being, barely resembling an alicorn, shifted around in place. It slowly moved its limbs and examined its own body. A pair of bloodshot eyes opened from the being’s face, with the center of its pupils burning with burning energy. They looked down the onlookers, paralyzing them.

The ascended being looked down at the now exhausted princesses. It had drained every ounce of magic they had on them. It then looked at Rarity behind them. It looked down at Hans, also paralyzed. Maria then came into view, now free of her binds and wobbling around the deck.

The being finally saw Twilight, looking back at it, scared and horrified. But another emotion was sensed: fury. Even though the being exponentially more powerful and magically capable than Twilight, she was ready to fight.

The black being once known as Korsan dove down the deck and bolts into the quarterdeck. The back section of The Perfection immediately then exploded in a massive fireball. Fire and debris blasted all over the area, only to stop in midair and fly back. Massive metal beams and spiked bars sprouted from the destroyed area, reforming it, corrupting it.

The almost alive metal structure corrupted the rest of the airship, transforming The Perfection into a spiked behemoth of mishmashed metal and wood. Electricity and lightning flew and danced across the entire structure, like it was all some demonic battery.

The cannons on board burst from the sides of the ship and were turned into mechanical tendrils, flinching and taking aim at every living thing in sight. The masts remaining shattered in the middle and fell into the ocean below. Ten massive caped wings burst from the sides of The Perfection. With one flap, the entire vessel jumped high into the air.

Entire lengths of the hull broke away into separate tentacles, reformed by the being’s terrifying infection. The hull parts reformed into six incredibly long razor blades of electricity, spanning a hundred metres in length. The bow of the ship blasted off and revealed a massive cannon that replaced the interior of the entire metal and wood body.

Finally, The Perfection’s transformation ended with the quarterdeck. Electricity and magic lifted and formed various metal parts that came together to form a head. The floating metal head looked like Korsan’s, but was much more monstrous and mechanical.

Korsan’s voice roared from it, “I am reborn… I am perfected… And I am going to perfect this world… No matter the costs… I am the Judge… Jury… Executioner… I am Korsan… Perfected…”

Korsan’s head rose and sent a metal screech into the air. The screech blew away the surrounding ships with its sheer power. The storm above grew even more furious than before. Twilight, still wrapped in her chains, could only watch as one of the massive electric swords raised into the clouds above her.

It dropped down, aimed right at her skull. However, just as the blade was about to hit, Rainbow Dash soared in and shoved Twilight out of the way. The two ponies tumbled to the middle of the deck. The giant blade struck the side of the deck, creating a shockwave throughout. As Dash then proceeded to free Twilight from her bindings, Celestia’s battleship pulled over them. Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Slasher, November, Nitin, Cecil, Maurice, and Jarvis were teleported on board with the help of Cadence.

Rainbow Dash and Twilight were quickly surrounded by their friends, quick to help.

“What are you guys doing here?” Twilight asked as she climbs to her hooves, surprised of their audacity to hop onto the monstrous airship.

“You think some giant mechanical monster is going to get the best of us?” Applejack confidently replied, though a small sense of nervousness was also present in her voice.

“This is practically a Tuesday.” Pinkie Pie said.

“Let’s teach this guy a lesson!” Rainbow Dash roared.

“As scary as this is, we’re probably going to deal with worse things in the future.” Fluttershy said with optimism.

“This may be crazy, all of us doing this, but it seems to work for Korsan.” Rarity said.

“It is better to die trying than to run away.” Cecil declared.

“Here, here!” Maurice cheered.

“And besides, there isn’t really anyplace to run away to.” Jarvis bluntly said.

“For friends…” November spoke.

“For family…” Nitin said.

“For freedom, happiness, and justice to all!” Slasher exclaimed.

Twilight looked at the eleven heroes surrounding her, side by side. An overwhelming sense of confidence and pride rose in each of them as they stood before their mighty foe.

Standing at the ready alongside her friends, Twilight looked back at Korsan, staring back at her back. She knew that inside that mechanical head was Korsan, now an almighty alicorn who was thirsty for blood. The battle of the skies may have ended with Korsan being thrown under, but the battle for the fate of the world still remained.

It wasn’t going to be easy, but with her friends, Twilight knew anything was possible.

“Bring it on, Korsan.” She said.