Siren Island was not really an island. It was little more than a large, flat rock that just barely broke the surface of the ocean. It and the rocks which were just under the surface around it were quite a threat to ships, as all the ones which had sank around it could attest. According to legend, the island was named after a group of sea monsters. The sirens would emerge from the water and lay on the stones, singing a magic song. Sailors, hearing the song, would become mesmerized by it, and turn the ships toward it, crashing them upon the rocks. As the ships sank, the sirens would take to the water, eating the sailors.
However, some time over the centuries, the sirens had disappeared, supposedly wiped out by a powerful Equestrian unicorn.
In a way, it was a shame. If the sirens could be negotiated with, their abilities would be extremely useful in battle.
Silverstream stood on the island, facing out into the night. One forelimb rested against her breast, slipping under the pearl shard she wore and gripping the locket. With no moon and the clouds overhead, it was too dark to see the pictures inside, but she had no need to. She had stared at them so often, studied every detail, that she knew them perfectly.
"Highness," one of the soldiers with her said as he approached, stopping to salute. Silverstream did not know his name. She made a point of not learning them. Learning a soldier's name meant getting to know them as an individual, as an actual hippogriff, and getting to know someone meant caring about them. That made it all the worse, made it hurt so much more, when they died.
"Report," she ordered.
"Scouts have spotted a ship approaching from the east. It is confirmed they are flying Storm King's colors."
Gripping the locket tight, Silverstream closed her eyes.
Skystar watch over us, she silently prayed. And please, let me find Terramar. Silverstream slipped the locket under her breastplate and turned around to face the others. Straightening up to her full height.
"Standard two prong attack," she declared. "I'll lead the aerial squadron." Her wings flared out as she held up a claw, eyes narrowing. "Remember, any storm troopers are to be executed immediately and swiftly. Any other species may be subdued or allowed to surrender, but don't get killed trying to give them the opportunity. Understood?"
There was a snap of salutes and shouts of "Aye-aye!" from the collected troops.
"Move out!" Silverstream ordered. With a hard flap of her wings, she launched herself into the air. Half the soldiers did the same, following after her. The other half dove toward the water, a flash of golden light encircling them as they transformed from hippogriff to seapony.
The aerial team climbed higher and higher, making their way into the sky. By the time they reached their cruising altitude, any creature from sea level would barely be able to see them. They would be little more than silhouettes in the sky. With the night, clouds and dark blue armor, they were all but invisible.
The ship came into view. Its main sail was black, with two electric blue lines, somewhere between stylized lightning bolts and two curved daggers, with the curves facing each other. The symbol of The Storm King. The mark he placed on everything he claimed as his own: ships, both sky and sea; lands; soldiers...
Slaves...
Silverstream motioned for the others to hold back. Once acknowledged, she made her way downward, circling slowly. Her eyes focused on the crow's nest, checking for a lookout and making sure her own approach went unnoticed. As she got closer, she caught sight of movement. A patch of white.
A look out. One of the Storm King's troopers. On closer inspection, he was looking forward, head resting on one fist. As she got closer, Silverstream caught the faint sound of snoring.
Silently as she could, Silverstream floated down toward the crow's nest and her target. Her right talon reached down to her waist, pulling out the dagger that was there. She squeezed it tightly, feeling The Storm King's insignia pressing against her palm.
Carefully, quietly, she landed on the edge, her back hooves not making a single sound as they came down onto the wooden edge. Her free hand shot out, grabbing the storm trooper's face and covering his mouth. With practiced ease, Silverstream brought the blade to the trooper's throat and pulled. With a singular motion, she sliced through the arteries in the throat, and severed the vocal cords.
The creature grabbed at its throat as it fell to the floor. A wet, gurgling sound came from him. The masked face turned to look up at his attacker. It was easy to guess that there was terror and confusion hidden beneath it.
Silverstream stood there, watching at the trooper died, and felt nothing. In a way, it was a reminder of how much had changed. When she had first killed one of them, Silverstream had vomited, and wound up crying herself to exhaustion until passing out. Now, after... well, she did not know how many. She had never really tried to keep count, and they all looked exactly the same. Still, it had been enough that she had become used to it. Could watch one of them die and not feel anything. No guilt, no remorse, no anger, no closure, and no satisfaction.
At least, when she was awake.
But what was one more bloody and gore-filled nightmare among the dozens of others she already had? What was one more ghost added to the dozens that already chased her?
After wiping the blood from the blade, Silverstream double-tapped the small pearl built into one of her bracers, sending a signal to the others. A second later, it gave a series of flashes, acknowledging that the message had been received. Soon, the hippogriffs would come down from the sky, while the seaponies would come up from below, and enter the lower decks from any opening large enough. Any enemy troops would quickly be dealt with, one way or another.
Silverstream peaked over the edge of the nest, looking down. Several troops stood at the bow, drinking and laughing to each other. One even shoved another. Two more patrolled the main deck, lanterns in hand as they each walked in opposite directions on opposite sides. One more was at the helm, steering.
Alone.
A quick double-check to make sure that the two patrolling were not paying attention, and she launched herself. A high arc to make sure there was plenty of height, then coming down low behind the stern, and finally, gliding toward the helm from behind. All to allow her to silently sneak up on the helmsman.
The storm trooper turned around, spotting her.
No longer needing to keep completely quiet, Silverstream flapped hard, speeding toward the creature. One foreleg stretched out in front of her, talon clenched into a fist as she aimed for his face. The creature's arm shot up, its hand grabbing her forelimb. There was a burst of pain as he yanked up, nearly pulling the shoulder out of its joint. His free hand reached to his waist, pulling a sword from the sheath.
Before he could finish, Silverstream brought the dagger down into the arm, making him cry out. She quickly followed it by slashing up at his wrist, forcing him to release her foreleg. Wings flaring out wide, she shifted, bringing her hind legs up and slamming them into the trooper's chest. Hooves slammed against armor with a loud metallic noise.
Being smaller, and lighter, as well as having no ground to brace herself against, the blow sent Silverstream flying backwards.
Screams filled the air.
Her muscles froze, keeping her from changing direction. Her back slammed into the deck, knocking the air from her lungs even through the armor. Her helmeted head hit the edge.
Weird ships. Furry monsters. Fear. Confusion. Why are the grown-ups scared? Run. Fly. Mom? Dad? Shouting. Skystar! She will know what's going on. Run! Fly! Water. I'll keep you safe! Terramar? Blades. Chains. Screaming. Terramar! Screaming. Blood. Skystar? Crimson staining yellow. Run! Water! Screaming. MOM! DAD! Run. Fly. Escape. Hide. Empty eyes. Terramar? Blood. Screams. Monsters! I want my brother. I want my cousin. I want my FAMILY back. Pain. monsters. Run. Hide. Where's my brother? His fault. Give them back.
Give them back!
GIVE THEM BACK!
"Your highness!" a voice cried out as something gripped Silverstream and shook her gently. One of her soldiers was standing over her, looking at her with concern.
"I'm fine," Silverstream stated, pushing the claw off her. She moved to stand up, and quickly wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Report."
The soldier gave a salute.
"The attack was a success, ma'am. No fatalities on our end, and injuries are minor. All storm troopers have been executed, as per your orders." His wings gave a flick as his eyes softened. "No reports of any other creatures on board," he added softly.
Silverstream gave a nod. The ache in her heart throbbed fresh and sharp once again.
Just like it always did.
"Do we know what they were transporting?" she asked.
"Still checking the hull, ma'am."
"Right," she gave a nod. "Well, standard orders on whatever is found: weapons and munitions destroyed; any supplies taken to the refugee city; and scuttle the ship after. Understood?"
"Aye-aye," the soldier said, giving another salute.
"Dismissed."
He turned and took off, flying down to the others to repeat the orders and help in the checking. Silverstream did not follow. She picked up the dagger took off, heading back out to sea. Back toward the island.
Another success. They have damaged The Storm King's abilities.
Another failure. Still no Terramar.
Silverstream had to plan. First, find and free her brother. Bring him home. Second, hunt down The Storm King. Finally, make him pay for what he did to Skystar.
Maybe then, one of them could finally be at peace.
