Advent Of A Gunslinger

Back in the air above the Southern Hemisphere…

Celaeno and the individuals on board her vessel weren’t aware of the fact that another airship was nearby. Hidden among the clouds, this ship was silently chugging along using a diesel-powered engine that helped mask its presence. While it was a bane on the pollution of the air, it allowed for far better, quieter operations. A stealth blimp of sorts.

The captain of this ship laid eyes on Celaeno’s and had made it a point to tail them.

“So this is where you’re hiding…” said the captain, gazing out of the window of the ship, “If the rumors are true, then Remington is with you. My brother really knows how to pick his friends, doesn’t he?”

One of the ship’s crewmates approached the captain. “Ma’am. We’re approaching The Harpy now.” Which was the name of Celaeno’s airship. “What are our orders?”

“Close in and attack. Leave Remington and my brother alive…”

Meanwhile, on Celaeno’s ship…

Celaeno and Vido continued to make friendly conversation on the bow of the ship. Chang was resting in his quarters after the long string of battles that he had endured. Rose was still holed up in her own room as well.

At the same time, Monocrow and Axel had finished their conversation, and the osprey had taken his position on the port (left) side of the ship where he started his patrol session.

Which left Axel to himself. The gunslinger had begun to reflect on what he had experienced thus far, and continued to wonder if he really should bring Vido and Kora into this dangerous fight. “...Hm...what are they gon’ say? Even if they wanna do this, it won’t guarantee that they’ll live. Gah--why’s everythin’ gotta be so damn difficult?”

His thoughts would soon be interrupted by a certain she-cat. “Lord Remington...is everything alright?” Kora asked as she climbed the steps to the stern of the ship. “I noticed you were off by yourself so I decided to come see you.”

“Yeah, just...thinkin’,” he sighed, and started to explain himself, “Truth is, I don’t think I want ya’ll involved in this. Ya’ll don’t deserve to die…”

Kora fell silent, and stared at the ground for a moment. Then she glanced up at the hippogriff with a cold, confident stare. “Axel. You have no need to worry about such things. I’m doing all of this of my own free will. If I die in an attempt to bring justice to those who killed my sister and put us both through such a thing...then I will be happy.”

But Axel was anxious, and replied boldly, “Don’t you dare say stuff like that. You ain’t gon’ die. Yer sis wouldn’t want ya sayin’ things like that, so don’t start!”

“...” Kora’s ears quivered and her tail flicked as she flinched. Taken aback by what he had said, she had to take a moment to gather herself by adjusting her glasses. “I...see…”

Axel had calmed down in order to speak clearly. “...I mean, I just...I just don’t want no more of my close folks dyin’ on me, alright?” he admitted while scratching the back of his head, “This ride’s been a tough one--drainin’ on my soul. Tony didn’t...he shouldn’t have…”

“I understand completely,” the she-cat replied with a small purr, “And I appreciate the fact that you want to look out for Vido and me as much as possible. But...we’re not children. We, like you, make our own decisions. And I’ve made mine. Do you understand, Axel?”

The hippogriff gave a defeated huff. While that was true, part of him just couldn’t accept the possibility of any of his acquaintances dying. As a result, he came to one conclusion. “...Just gon’ have to prevent ‘em from kickin’ the bucket. Even if it kills me.” He nodded. “I cotton. I’ve already made mine as well.”

“Hmmm…” she tilted her head and shot him a teasing cat-grin, “Don’t tell me you’re trying to keep us alive because you love us.”

“Hmph,” Axel scoffed as he turned his head away, “‘Love’ is a strong term. I just...don’t wanna see nobody hurt. It’d make things harder than they already are.”

Kora purred, and wrapped her arms around him in a quick hug. “I appreciate the sentiment. That is why you are Lord Remington to me. You deserve the title.”

Axel rolled his eyes, but accepted the embrace. “Git offa me before I toss ya.”

“You like me too much to do that,” she shot back as she let him go, “Now come on. I think I have an idea on how we can lift Madam Rose’s spirits.”

That caught his attention. If there was any way to help the minotaur he saw as a sister figure through her depressive state, he was all for it. “Really now?”

Up on the bow…

Celaeno continued to make small talk, but their conversation was about to be interrupted…

“...and that’s why I think Griffonstone and Ornithia should establish relations,” Vido said, “I know it may take a while, but…”

“That’s actually not a bad idea,” Celaeno replied, “Assuming the royal family is willing to actually meet with them of course. The stereotypes really aren’t true at all.”

The griffon chuckled. “Heh...well, some of them are, but not all--”

With a swoop and a thud, Monocrow landed upon the upper deck near Celaeno. “Excuse me. Sorry for the intrusion, captain. But we’ve got company on the port side.”

The bird woman stopped dead in her tracks and pressed a button that was next to the ship’s wheel to engage the autopilot. She then turned to face the osprey. “Do we now? What’s the nature of their disposition? Friendly? Hostile? Are they in a vehicle?”

Vido looked out to the right side of the ship. Sure enough, he could see another airship that was similar to Celaeno’s in size but moving rather slowly. “Mira--left side. They don’t seem to be looking for a fight...yet.”

Celaeno walked down the steps of the bow and headed to the right side of the ship with a claw ready to draw her pistol and cutlass at any second. With steeled eyes, she stared at the ship that approached them--flying parallel to her own. “Hm…”

Soon after, Monocrow and Vido would fly down after her to check as well.

“What’s the verdict?” the black and white osprey asked, “Do they have any weapons at the ready?”

“No--not yet,” Celaeno replied, “But be on your guard. This could be anything from an attack to someone simply asking for directions.”

An expert in the field of navigation, Vido was more than willing to provide assistance if necessary. “Directions?” he said hopefully, “I can help with that no problema. All they need to do is ask.”

“Well, aren’t you the adorable little optimist?” Celaeno teased, and focused her gaze upon the airship, “Whatever the case, we need to be ready. All hands on deck. Let’s go, people!”

“Yes ma’am,” Monocrow saluted, and flew off towards everyone’s quarters…

Soon enough, the ship would approach close enough to where they were able to get a good look at it. A simple boat painted with wide red, white, and blue stripes across its body. The blimp carrying it was patterned with gold stars as well. However, there were no signs of any weapons present…

Eventually, Monocrow would return with all those he could get ahold of. His fellow crewmates: Rusty and Chang. As well as Axel and Kora.

“Rose is still…”

“It’s alright, Mono,” Celaeno replied before he could finish his statement, “I know she’s still in a state of grief, so I won’t bother her.” She glanced at her crew and Axel’s group. “But I want you all to be ready for anything.”

“Think they out’ta attack?” Axel mused.

“No, they had ample time to do so as they approached us,” Celaeno reasoned, “I’d like to think that this vessel isn’t hostile, but there’s no guarantee here.”

“Alright lads, stay on ya feet,” Rusty called out to everyone, “No tellin’ what the blokes on that ship want from us.”

Chang stood with his weapon at the ready. “If it’s anything out of order, I will be ready.”

“That’s the spirit we like to see, mate,” Rusty smirked at the primate, and looked at Monocrow. He could feel a sense of unease within the osprey whose wings shivered with a few feathers falling out of his body. “...Chap. You alright?”

“This ship…” Monocrow whispered to Rusty, “It’s...extremely familiar. Like I’ve seen it somewhere before.”

“Bloody hell...well with a design like that it’s hard’ta miss, I’d say,” the red vulture replied with his eyes steeled in the direction of the airship. “...Think ya may know the captain?”

“Probably...but I really hope that I don’t,” the osprey muttered as he balled his shaking claws into fists.

At last, the airship was close enough to where one could simply jump from one deck to the other. Eerily enough, there was absolutely no sign of a crew at all…

“Any eyes on movement?” Celaeno asked while shifting her eyes left and right, to which everyone responded with various murmurs of a ‘no’ or ‘nay.’

Thankfully, they wouldn’t have to wait long.

A few moments passed before they were greeted by someone. An Ornithian woman--an eagle to be exact. A tall woman with brown body feathers and white head feathers. She was dressed in classic pirate “queen” attire. Complete with a traditional pirate hat that had a pink feather stuck in it, a black corset that clung to her upper body to the point of her ample brown bosoms almost spilling out of it, matching black tights that ran down her legs, and black boots that were gilded with small bits of gold along the seams.

The Corsair

With her gold eagle eyes, she looked Monocrow dead in his gray ones. “Nice to finally see you, brother.”

All he could say in response was one word, “You…”