The Festival of the Dead

Chapter 8: The End of the Pirates

(Pirate's life: Final part)

Cheers echoed from the ship over the victory. Oddly enough, even the other crew was cheering despite their boat quickly beginning to sink from all the water flowing in from the gash left by their Captain.

"Why are they cheering? They lost." Asked Rainbow Dash, looking at the enemy boat that was covered in partying skeletons of both pony and human origin, sinking into the black water, not even phased as they continued to dance with glee.

"Because now they get their participation prize." Avnas was sitting on the floor of his ship, hardly bruised but very exhausted from breaking through a boat with his body for the last twenty minutes.

"We get a participation prize?" Asked Pinkie, hoping there would be a party involved in the gift-giving.

"Oh no, you guys get the first-place prize, that comes with a party."

Pinkie leaped into the air and started to announce the news of parties and prizes to the battered crew, lifting their spirits after the hard fight.

After Rainbow left as well, Avnas motioned for one of the few humans on his crew to come to him. Once he was nearby, Avnas spoke quickly and quietly. "Is it still all set?"

"For the last time, yes."

"I won't do it if this is going to leave a bunch of dead ponies on the bottom of the sea."

"Don't forget who you are talking to. That would make me look just as bad."

"Did the test with the other team go well?"

"Of course! They all went through, no problem. Can we get on with this already? I'm getting antsy and I can't promise anything if I have to go another minute without spoiling anything."

Avnas always hated doing other people's jokes. They never really seemed to satisfy him like his own and this was no different. "Fine, just wait until my signal. I'm guessing you want it as dramatic as possible?"

"Of course! Well, good luck then, Captain!"

"Aye, cabin-boy Focalor."

Fluttershy was running around the ship in a frenzy, readjusting the rooms of all of her patients when the captain walked into the same room she was using to treat a tired unicorn. Without a word, he walked over to the unicorn, pulled on it's tongue, and twisted it's left ear counter-clockwise. By some bizarre magic, the unicorn immediately jumped out of the bed, filled with energy unseen since before the fight. As he left the room, Avnas spoke while heading to another patient. "Do that with the rest of 'em, should work for the next hour or so, after that, don't bother trying to use it again." Fluttershy had no idea what he precisely did but figured that results were results and started 'treating' the other patients, drawing odd looks before her wards all made similar miraculous recoveries.

All of the crew was gathered in the dining hall of the ship, enjoying their meals and their now immaculate health which still nobody understood but decided to not question a good thing. The elements, along with the princess, were all enjoying a meal at the Captain's table and discussing the events of the last day. Everyone was trying to ignore the princess who was, by Avnas' estimate, smashed. After her sister had switched to using tea during meetings, her tolerance had suffered dearly, she now swayed with the ship, loudly laughing at every little comment.

Avnas wasn't excited about his next trick at all, most likely, he would be blamed for the resulting panic, nevertheless, he owed Focalor more than he could have ever hoped to repay in his many years as a lord. He stood up, spilling his drink over the princess. Focalor, attention drawn by her yell, turned and saw the signal and with a parting word, left to do what he did best.

Luna was clenching onto Avnas' collar, partly to try and intimidate him, partly to avoid falling over from her blurred vision. She was about to continue her angry slurring when a large *BOOM*, followed by a violent shake of the boat, threw her back in her seat.

"I'll go check outside!" Announced Avnas, clearly trying to be heard over the room. As he turned to the door, he lowered his voice so as to only be heard by the girls sitting next to him. "When I come back, stay in your seat, I don't care if the room is on fire, stay in your seats." Avnas knew about Focalor's track record as being both a water demon and the god of shipwrecks, and wasn't going to let any of the girls at that table out of his sight. Trusted that horde of pirates more than I trust him... still.

The girls were shocked by the warning but could hear in his tone that he was not going to accept outside opinion at the moment. As soon as he took his second step from the table, he went back to the goofy face that he wore moments before. He is certainly experienced in hiding his intentions. Thought Luna before collapsing onto Applejack.

After a few minutes, Avnas returned to the dining hall and, after motioning to his band that were conversing with other guests, rose to the podium at the front of the room. "My friends, I have some bad news but I assure you that there is a silver lining!" His band knew where this was going and began setting up with speed that only came from decades of practice.

"I would like to ask you to all remain in your seats until the end of the announcement".

A gargantuan hole in the bow, will the ocean to enter allow.

Oh but more a sin than letting it in it's letting our good fortune out.

The nest to the storm did succumb, while the crow hid his fear in the rum.

And the mast, it broke and threw out the bloke and well now he's surely my chum.

Many of the crewmen (and women) were getting worried as to the meaning of this 'sudden announcement'.

Love letters from under his bed, holds the cabin boy over his head

A futile try to keep it dry what tears have already wet.

They were penned by a girl in Merak, and the Javanese value their tact.

She'll conclude he's horribly rude 'cause he's sure as hell not writing back.

'Cause the ship's going down

All on account of the weather

Though we'll drown

There's no need to frown

'Cause we're all going together

And I won't say "Woe is me"

As I disappear into the sea

'Cause I'm in good company

As we're all going together

The crew was now panicking, trying to get to safety as quickly as possible. "Where do they think they'll run to?" Asked Twilight, trying to fight the urge to join them in their frenzy. Rarity almost rose out of her seat but was quickly frozen by a quick glare from Avnas before he continued.

I've had women of every kind, but the only one truly was mine

Is the one at home who'll be alone when I am full-up with brine.

For my son I had always a plan, for to raise him as best as I can.

Oh well you can bet, my only regret is to not see him grow to a man.

Water was now slowly flowing into the room, causing the elements hooves to become soaked. "I'm not gonna let us drown here!" Yelled Rainbow Dash as she flew outside to find a raft of some kind. As soon as she made contact with the rain, she fell to the floor with a loud thud. The rain was like lead falling onto you, effectively making any flying useless.

'Cause the ship's going down

All on account of the weather

Though we'll drown

There's no need to frown

'Cause we're all going together

And I won't say "Woe is me"

As I disappear into the sea

'Cause I'm in good company

As we're all going together

I was sinking down into the brine, when a curious sight caught my eye.

Seaman Shaft had found him a raft and was makin' a speedy goodbye.

At the risk of sounding absurd, I have always been good as my word.

So a fish gig I lanced into his eye and I knocked his ass overboard.

Luna looked around, trying to think of what to do. Could we teleport? No, we don't know where we are right now, we could be much farther from land than we think. She glanced at Avnas and saw him looking at her pleadingly, silently urging her to do as he asked before turning back to the crowd with a smile, trying to get them to calm down. "Sit down girls, trust the Captain."

'Cause the ship's going down

All on account of the weather

Though we'll drown

There's no need to frown

'Cause we're all going together

And I won't say "Woe is me"

As I disappear into the sea

Oh hell!

'Cause you've all been so good to me

So we're all going together.

As the last word left his lips, a ferocious wave broke through the room, submerging the girls, the crew, and the Captain in the inky-black water.

Focalor, feeling the presence of all the crew member's firmly within his grasp, concentrated for a moment on their presence and then released a sigh. "I'll join them later, this has to last me the entire trip after all."

He went back to smashing apart the ship with the rain and thunder he had been using prior.