Chapters ... Twas yet another day out on the open seas, the sound of hooves trotting around the deck, and Umbra, a new recruit of the anti-piracy foundation, a group of sailors, warriors, hunting and slaughtering pirate scum... He had skill with a blade, and a quick draw on his pistol, he was definitely a must-have... Though unused to the fact he'd have to wake early, he'd end up sleeping in often... Today... Well... Today was the one day that he'd regret not getting out early.
The waters were calm, skies clear, and the sailors moods were relatively high... That was, until he'd be awakened to a sudden, hard crash. The side of the ship he was sleeping at had suddenly been hit by a Canon ball, followed up another, barely missing him. He's stumble out of bed and to his hooves, grab his blade, and run out, unable to find where his pistol had flown off.
"Lower the sails!" would scream their captain, as the sails get hit by a chain shot, almost knocking them down, the crew finally returns fire, as Umbra helps load and aim cannons. They fire off their own cannons at last, however it does little, most missing ever so slightly, though a few do hit. The pirate's ship was smaller, weaker, slower, it would seem as if it was almost a suicide on their end... Little did they know the sheer skill of some of the ponies on there, as another cannonball fires off of the smaller ship, hitting one of their cannons dead on, not just disabling it, but also obliterating the stallion using it. The two ships fire off one after another, the smaller ship clearly showing a considerable amount of skill compared to the bigger one, soon enough, they'd get in close. As if their accuracy wasn't already terrifying, as the ship approached, thick vines shoot out of its side and grab the side of theirs, pulling the two close as pirates rush aboard. Umbra grabs his blade tight in his maw and rushes off to battle. The sounds of blades clashing echo along the ship, blunderbuss and flintlocks firing, with Umbra outperforming not just his whole crew, but every last pirate. The battle was starting to turn to their favor. They manage to fight them back and take the fight to their ship, the pirates already suffering casualties in the double digits. It was all but over, till their captain showed... Her, face. A surprisingly beautiful, well-kept mare. She had an overpowering aura of confidence, and a sly smirk across her face, joining her stallions in battle. She'd quickly prove to be a considerable issue, as she'd make their, almost guaranteed victory, turn to a sudden stalemate. Seeing as her death would likely win them this battle, which, was only going poorly as the pirates were just, lucky...
Umbra runs at the captain, slipping past multiple other pirates, their blades clash. He had an angry, determined, and vengeful gaze... She met his with a playful, teasing one in turn. They trade blows, metal scraping and clashing on metal, Umbra not holding back, and even tho the mare seemed to take this all as just some game, she was clearly not holding back... At least not with her blade... A little sidestep here, a little faint there, and the stalemate was suddenly broken, with Umbra landing a long slash of his blade along her chest, followed by a hard ram right into her to get her off her hooves, which, goes perfectly. He wasn't just done there, griping his blade harder, he'd go on to cut her down at last... Before she'd raise a hoof and a thick vine shoots right out, blind siding and hitting him aside, leading to him dropping his blade. The vines quickly entangle him, letting him watch as his captain takes a pointblank blunderbuss to the chest. The pirates, have won... He was... In disbelief... This was their first ever fight, and they weren't even that skilled... And what was with these vines!? He'd try to shout and scream and struggle, but to no avail as he'd watch what remained of his crew get killed off, they never stopped fighting... As the last one falls, the pirates rally and cheer, what little remained, of the 30 or so pirates only a solid 8 remained...
"atta fightin boys! Next time, we might not lose almost our entire crew, eh?... Now, who wants to see this one's life drain outa his eyes~?" taunts the Mare. "Gotta hand it to him, didn't fight as poorly as the rest of this pathetic crew..." she'd laugh, putting her blade away "go loot whatever they had, any prisoners or remaining crew, force em to come along, and for the love of God do not drink all the b-" she'd be cut off by a sudden chain of explosions.
Seems the pirate hunters had a remaining member... One who'd snuck down, and had lit all of their flammables alight... Umbra would not be awake to witness the destruction of the ship, as one of the blasts would knock him out...
Next thing he'd know... He was laying upon a beach, untangled, with his only possession his blade... Off in the distance, he'd see the two burning wrecks of their ships...
"oh, come on, you're alive? What am I gonna eat now?!"
Chapter one: Survival basics
"Oh, come on, you're alive? What am I gonna eat now?!" the mare would complain... Of course, she's the only survivor other than him... Perfect
Umbra quickly stands up, ready to grab at his blade, "E-Eat me?! God, you pirates really are a bunch o' sick fucks!" he'd almost growl out.
"Hey, woah there big boy, keep that toy away~" she'd chuckle, letting out a soft murr "let's be happy you're alive, eh? Unless you want to change that~?"
He huffs "Fuck. You." he stays ready to draw his sword, half tempted to do so already, "You killed off my entire crew! All my friends, all the ponies I've been sailing with for these past few weeks... You laughed while doing so, you bitch!" he'd slowly draw his blade, glaring.
She'd just rolls her eyes, "oh cmon... It was more like a suicide on their end~" she'd laugh but, would get quickly shut up as the dark blue stallion jumps and pins her, as he'd noticed her missing sword. "W-WOAH! H-Hey, now one second! W-We're stuck here together! W-Wherever... "this" is, we... You, have a better chance of not ending up like all of my crew if I'm not dead... R-Right... ?" she'd gulp softly, a vine going to grab him by the neck. He'd react by suddenly cutting the vine before it got the chance, then stabbing his blade through her hoof, making her scream.
"Yeah? Here I thought I had a better chance not taking chances with some fucking, pirate witch!" he slightly states his blade, making her tell out louder.
"AGH! F-FUCK! O-Okay okay please! I-I have a large bounty on my head, Alive! Y-you take me in, you get more bits than you know what to do with! C-Clearly I'm outmatched, I-I don't pose a threat!" she winces and tries to break free, her hoof leaks honey.
He just ignores the weird biology of this... Creature... And considers his choices... "... You're lucky I might need you alive..." he huffs and yanks his blade out, getting off of her.
She pants and quickly clutches her hoof, "F-Fucking... A-Asshole..." she mutters, a vine wrapping round her wound til it stops the bleeding. "Ngh... Damn, I really wish I'd had my blade still while you were out..." she slowly gets to her hooves, limping a little.
"Shut it... First things first, I'm in charge, that means I get first on any food, any water, any shelter, any warmth..." he huffs and puts his blade away.
She seems... Unhappy with these rules... However, seeing as she's basically as good as dead on her own, she has to go along with it... At least till she has something to cave his head in with. "Y-Yes, sir..." she'd sigh out.
He'd look at her, shaking his head, "Well get on with it, witch!" he'd yell out, trotting next to her.
"I'm not a witch... Plant pony... Figures your type would be ra-"
Umbra smacks her with his hoof, glaring, "Did I ask what you were? Get to fucking work..." he'd say, and push her a bit.
This would, at least, get her to move, scouting out for... Anything... Any shelter, food, water... Maybe civilization? Umbra follows, scouting with her as they enter the tree covered part of the island...
It felt... Weird, to both. Neither him nor her were used to being on solid ground, especially not in nature. The mare trotted slowly, carefully, partially to not miss any bits of food, any sources of water. A big factor in her speed was also her now very heavily injured hoof... Luckily, she didn't need to worry about getting any kind of infection in that wound, so that was... At least a positive. It was... Silent... Neither of the two talked, no reason to, hearing her speak in that, condescending, unapologetic voice of hers... It was... Frustrating. As much as Umbra wanted to avenge his fallen crew, the friends he'd just started making, the ship he'd called his home... Hell, his favorite damn flintlock now down in the depths of the great, deep blue... He'd give her a scar for each, eventually... But he couldn't afford to have her go any slower.
Their search lasts over an hour... Before the mare seemingly pucks up on something, suddenly changing directions, heading in a straight line, and, right there... Wild strawberries... Not the most filling, but... A few hoof-fulls would be at least... Distracting.
"Good eye... Now pick 'em" he'd order the mare.
"P-Pick them…? But... M-My hoo-"
"Pick. 'Em." he'd repeat, glaring at her harder, a good bit of annoyance in his voice.
She lets out an audible whimper, but, goes down and begins to pick the berries. It wasn't fun, each one required her to bend her injured hoof, one she tried to avoid bending... By only the fifth one, she'd already have tears in her eyes, though it didn't seem he'd care... By all means she deserved this but... She still didn't exactly... Enjoy it... It takes some time, but she manages to pick every single one. Every last one, eaten by him, all of her pained picking, gone in just, seconds, and none of it having been twords her own hunger...
"Heh... Good girl... Glad to see ya didn't lie about having use... Now, water..." he'd give her a shove, and start walking as she did as well...
Luckily for them, there was also a fresh spring right near where the berries grew. He'd check out the water, seeing her beam a little, he'd smirk "You don't get to drink... Look around, maybe you'll find some more food, chop chop..."
This makes her glare... But being completely helpless... She'd nod and, move away...
Umbra drinks up from the fresh spring, washing down his recent... Snack... He'd observe her, making sure she doesn't go in for water... A part of him did feel bad, she seemed like a sweet mare... Besides the pirate part, he'd be left to wonder... How'd she end up like this... Seeing her limp around, and seeing a few tears roll down her cheeks, he'd relent, if just a little... "... Go... Go get a drink first... You're slow enough, don't need dehydration making ya even slower..."
She seemed... Cautious... But, slowly, approached the spring, and drank up, her pained expression softening a bit... This made Umbra feel a little better about himself... As much as he hated doing this, he had to make sure she was scared of him... Else, he'd be risking his own life for some lowly pirate...
The mare finally lifts her head, after a long, healthy drink... Sighing softly, she'd slowly stand up straight. She glances at him, then, trots off to look around for any more food... To no luck, at least, not yet anyway...
Umbra follows close behind, making sure she doesn't run off, or that she doesn't eat everything if she were to find something... "S-Sorry I... Haven't seen anything else..." she'd meekly say, that, confidence she just oh so emanated now all but gone.
He shakes his head and sighs, "yeah, well... We'll find something... We need shelter still... It'd be best to set something up near the water..."
She nods, "R-Right away..." this was good, something he definitely couldn't pull off without her. She trots back to the spring, reaching her hooves out, and closing her eyes... The ground gently crackles, a bundle of thick vines shoot out in a cone like shape, enough room for them both to have space to sleep in. Even if it'll be uncomfortably close. She'd pants gently and almost fall to her side, this little move seemingly having drained a lot of her strength...
"Woah" Umbra would state, looking over to her creation, made in a mater of seconds... He'd glance at her, honestly a tad bit worried, his distaste for her slowly starting to fade... Especially seeing her in this shape. He'd, feel a bit guilty of the hoof stab... "Hey, you okay...?" he'd trot closer as he looks her over...
"What's it to you..." she huffs softly sitting up "... I-I'm fine... I'll find more food for you.. ."
He'd shake his head, "I- no you..." he sighs, "just... Go, rest... Start a fire if you can, I'll... See if I can get more food..."
The mare seems a little confused, but... She happily takes the opportunity to rest, especially after making that shelter for them... How he expected her to light a fire was beyond her...
Umbra heads out solo, looking for... Preferably an animal to hunt... Of course, fate wasn't about to make life easy... He'd spend hours wandering the woods, leaving little marks in trees and landmarks he could retrace to avoid getting lost... After a full 3 hours of aimless wandering... He'd have only found a single berry bush... Unfortunately, these we're not edible... He'd eventually be forced to turn around... He'd retrace his steps faster, it'd only take a third of the time to come back, however, around halfway he'd spot some tracks... No mistaking it... A wild chicken...
He carefully follows the tracks checking around him, keeping low, making sure he doesn't alert the bird if he gets close enough... After a few minutes of tracking, he'd see it... Slowly pulling it, his blade, more than ready to come back with something to eat... For both of them... He'd swiftly jump at the thing, managing to stab it through the side. It thrashes and clucks and screams, before he finishes it off.
After picking up the bird corpse, he'd start to slowly retrace his steps, which would take a bit, but, once on track, he'd finally be back at camp... And the mare hadn't started a fire... Though, she did have a fire pit set.
She looks over, she looked excited but, it quickly faded, kind of expecting to not get a piece when it's cooked... "Sorry... I... Don't know how to start a campfire..." she'd huff.
"It's... Fine... I'll get it started..." he'd toss down the bird beside her "prep it while I do so..." he'd take his sword and unscrew the hilt, leaving him with a piece of flint, and the steel of his blade. He gathers some more, dry-er grass, dry leaves, thin sticks, and begins striking with the flint.
It's silent at this point... Just the sound of him sticking flint against his blade. It takes a good few minutes of striking before he speaks up, "... So... What's your name...?" he'd ask
She stays silent... Continuing to prep the bird... Her name didn't matter, nor did she want it in his mouth... Why would she, so far he's been sending mixed signals, as far as she could tell, he just wanted to torture her, give her hope and snag it away last second...
He doesn't bother her again... With the fire soon roaring, and day slowly fading to night, he'd begin to cook. Soon, the bird was, in fact, cooked... And he'd dig in, though the mare didn't dare even ask for a piece... A good 3 minutes in, he'd realize this, "You can come get some... You need food... We wouldn't have been able to get this cooked and had shelter by now if not you... You may be a pirate, but... Don't mean you deserve to be starved..."
She hesitates, but, nods, sitting down beside him... The two then dig into their first meal... It wasn't anything special, but it was far better than a small amount of berries. After they were done eating, they'd put the scraps into the fire. The plant mare retreats to their shelter, and Umbra soon follows...
"... Cotton... My name's Cotton..." she'd say softly, not looking at him...
"Oh... I'm... I'm Umbra, I wish it were nice to meet you but... Well..." he sighs...
She simply nods, "yeah..." she lays her head down on her uninjured hoof...
The two take some time, but, eventually drift off to sleep... They had to get off this place before their luck started running out...
Chapter two: Island adventure
By the next morning, their campfire had gone out. Cotton was up and about, having started gathering what she could for food. It wasn't much, just a hoof-full of berries.
"... Can't believe I'm in this mess." She mutters, "Stuck on some, random ass island, who knows where... All my crew, all my money... And now I'm dancing around all buddy buddy with that asshat..." she'd continue, tears gently welling up in her eyes, "Wish we met on better terms... Yeah, right... Fucker..."
She continues to pace around the island, gathering what little scarps of food she could find. Luckily, she'd spot what seemed like mangoes up In a tree... That's a considerably better meal than some berries... She'd still weak from setting up that, vine tent earlier, and couldn't climb the tree due to her injury. She'd look around, collect some rocks and pebbles, and start throwing them at the mangoes, trying to knock them down. Cotton would miss almost every time, except for one, which ultimately did nothing besides bounce off and smack her dead center between the eyes, leaving a small bruise.
"MOTHERF-" She groans, throwing a rock hard at the tree, sitting down and just, holding herself softly... She never wanted this life, but it was the only thing she could do properly... So much for properly, though, as getting her crew and ship torn away from her was far from proper...
She'd sit under the tree, quietly crying for a little while.
Meanwhile, Umbra was waking up himself, very weary of his surroundings once he'd notice the captain's absence. He'd move slowly, looking around every little spot in case she'd try to jump him... Eventually, instead of worrying about his own safety, he'd begin worrying about hers... Sure she was, likely just gathering breakfast... But... What if she got caught by some predatory animal? Hell, she was seemingly made out of plant matter wouldn't be unlikely if even herbivores posed a threat to her... He wouldn't panic, and just stay near the camp for a while longer, hoping to see her return. "How'd you end up like this man... Pirate hunter babysitting a pirate, ain't that ironic..." he'd quietly tell himself, then sigh "... I hope she's okay..."
A few more minutes pass, as she finally returned, getting a soft sigh of relief from the stallion. Her face was slightly stained with tears, and the bruise on her forehead was definitely noticeable with little effort, so she'd try to stay turned away from him as much as she can.
"Where were you? Had me worried something snatched you!" he'd say, a crude attempt at trying to seem friendly
She'd stay quiet for a bit, sitting down, "there's... A mango tree over in that direction... My hoof is too injured to accurately knock any of 'em down by throwing rocks, and can't climb with it either... Hungry? Go fetch 'em..." she'd say quietly, going back to just, holding herself
Umbra would pick up on this, how could he not... He already felt bad for injuring her the way he did when they first woke... Then pushed her round like some, sub-pony garbage... "hey, are you-"
"I'm fine, fuck off me, or are you going to cut it off completely this time?" she'd snap at him, huffing and hugging herself tighter.
He'd want to push further, but... He'd just nod, get up, and head off to where she'd said there were mangoes. It would certainly take him some time, but... She wasn't lying, and, hell, they seemed pretty damn ripe too... Making sure his sword was securely in its holster, he'd begin slowly trying to climb the tree. Ponies we're not built for this, and it was more than obvious as he had lots of trouble getting up the tree, to the point that, by the time he'd finally reached the top of the tree, a whole hour had passed... Times like this were ones he'd wish his father hadn't cut off one of his wings... Somehow being a flightless pegasus was more difficult than just being an earth pony. Finally, he'd manage to knock down the mangoes and slowly climb back down the tree, picking them all up, using his remaining wing as a makeshift basket to carry them.
He'd return, by then the mare had, once again, disappeared... He really had to have a chat with her later, as this sudden, disappearing act of hers was already getting real annoying.
Umbra would sit down, and before he could eat any of the mangoes, he feels a little sting in his neck. A little confused, he'd reach over, feeling something hard at the side of his neck, he'd pull it out... A blow dart... He'd get up, drawing his blade, but his knees buckle, and the blade falls out of his maw. A group of zebras slowly approach, he'd try to cuss at them but, to no success, as his vision once again fades to black...
... Cotton groans as she stirs awake, having been captured by the very same tribals, her senses were still weak, but, slowly recovering. As she looks around, a powerful, disgusting smell would hit her, making her stomach churn. She'd look around as her eyes adjust more to wherever she was, noticing a pile of mutilated, half burnt, cooked, eaten rotting corpses around her. She'd want to scream, but her gagging was keeping her shut. Cotton was amongst this pile, with her front hooves tied to her back hooves, her grassy fur soaking in this putrid cocktail of rot, meat and blood. She couldn't stop herself, throwing up from the sheer disgust, the smell playing a large factor...
Meanwhile, Umbra would wake up somewhere else, tied to a carved out wooden pole, hanging up with corpses of both his former crew, and some of the pirates, he'd try to break free, but he was secured tight to the pole. His muzzle was also tied up, keeping him silent. Even tho his efforts we're useless, he keeps trying to wiggle himself free, trying to snap or loosen his bindings, as whatever he was being held here for, was definitely not great for his health, considering he was already amongst a few corpses.
The zebras would notice him awake, however, they would ignore him for the most part, setting up a nice, big fire, speaking in some language he couldn't even begin to understand. Though, seeing all the spices they were throwing together, the fire they were making... God... He was to be a meal! This only furthered his determination to break the hell out of the bindings, yet, still, this didn't accomplish anything...
Cotton, on the other hand, managed to break free, those zebras unaware of her control over nature, she'd manage to make a small vine, that, carefully loosened the ropes she'd been held by. As soon as she was able to, she'd climb out of the dark pit she'd been left in to die, gasping for fresh air, before throwing up again, holding her stomach. This... This was not the pirate life she signed up for... She'd manage to compose herself, and, luckily, stay undetected. Taking in her surroundings, Cotton would hastily begin to retreat out of the camp with her life... Somewhere along this path, she'd notice a big fire suddenly roar to life, scaring her, as she'd been not too far from it. She'd look over in the direction of the flame, and that's where she'd see him. Tied up to a pole amongst corpses... He was their food... Good, one less thing to worry about, not like she needed him...
Umbra continues to try and wiggle free, with the fire alight, this made him even more desperate, as time was running out, some zebras gather round one of the dead crew members, carrying the pole he was stuck to the flame, covering him in a mix of spices, and throwing him over the fire, sort of on a makeshift spit. Then, they make their way to Umbra. By then, he'd given up. That whole time he hadn't gotten any progress on his bindings, and as they carry him to be covered in spices, he'd slowly start to accept his fate... As cruel as it was...
That was, until one of their straw roofed homes suddenly bursts into flame, sending them to drop him and run off to investigate and try to put it out. He'd hear something approach him from behind, and hurriedly try to set him free... Cotton, she'd ended up coming to his aid after all... As much as she hated the fact. She pulls off the ropes around his muzzle as he gets up, and just then, an arrow, followed by a second right after, and a scream echo out
"Thank me later!" she grabs his hoof and sort of pushes him forward, getting him to start running for his life as she runs behind. The cannibalistic zebras fire off arrows and blow darts, sling rocks, most of which miss, some of which miss by as little as a hair's length. They sprint into the forest, at which point the ranked attacks would stop, but a group was quickly gaining in them, likely hunters.
The two run for their lives, but, it's simply not good enough, as Cotton gets grabbed, at which she lets a loud yelp out, managing to kick free, only to be grabbed again. Umbra turns around, for but a moment considering leaving her to her fate, but, seeing as she'd gotten him this far... By now, he was ready to die for her, even if she was some lowlife pirate. Sprinting forward, he'd manage to get a good, solid whack on one of the zebras holding her, as he jumps up and kicks himself off a tree, slamming the guy on his back. Cotton hurries onto her hooves but, it was far too late to run... Too weak to rely on her powers, and with no weapon to fight them with... It would seem like the end... She stands beside Umbra, ready to go out with a fight.
Just then, she'd notice an arrow that had hit Umbra... That was all they'd need to turn this fight in their favor. She suddenly reaches for it, and with a risky jump, right at one of the zebras, she'd manage to stab him right in his throat, and follow up by kicking his weapon right beside Umbra.
Umbra, immediately gets rushed by the remaining three, sidestepping two, and managing to throw one off balance, taking his chance, he'd grab the blade, and dig it right between the unguarded one's eyes, splitting his head open with a spray of blood. The others, angered by the loss of their brothers, rush at him again with even more ferocity, slashing and stabbing, all of which are either dodged, or deflected. He'd hold off from attacking back, waiting for them to get just a tad too reckless, give him any little moment to strike... And soon he gets just that, managing to strike his blade against one of there's and knock them back, leaving a completely open stab right to his chest, which Umbra takes, roaming the blade so hard it shoots out the back of the zebra.
However he doesn't just die, that'd be too easy, with his remaining strength, the zebra grabs him tight and holds him firmly against him, giving the last remaining ones clear shot at his unguarded back. He runs at him and wildly swings at him, ready to tear him to bloody pieces, before cotton springs up, stabi g the arrow she'd gotten right into his eye, in turn, getting stabbed right in the gut, and tossed off like she was weightless. Unphased, the zebra winds up and slashes right across Umbras back, making him tell out in pain. He raises his blade again and goes to slash again, before a vine comes out of nowhere and slams against the arrow in his eye, slaming it through his skull and into his brain. With a short, loud yell, he'd collapse before managing to hurt Umbra more. Umbra gets up, panting, in pain at his back wound, and looks over to cotton, desperately trying to pathc up her wound. He runs over and holds it down, stoping her honey-blood from seeping out
"I-I've got you! It's okay I've got you... Don't go dying on me now..." he'd say, pressing doen as hard as he could as her vines slowly surround d the injured area. He'd eventually have to move his hooves away, to let her patch herself fully. The vines were weak, so he helped make sure they wraped up tight around her.
" T-Thanks... Umbra..." she's say quietly, gently holding onto his hoof. She was weak... Cold... "I... Really don't think I'm in any shape to walk... Let alone run... I..." she sighs "L-Leave me... They'll do far worse to you than just... Kill you... Save yourself..." she'd whimper, clutching her patched up wound.
"Fuck that!" he'd state proudly, suddenly grabing her and tossing her on his injured back, continuing to run with her.
Cotton would lose consciousness soon after, the pain was too much, and she was just too weak after an injury like that...
Umbra would run as long as he could, even when his legs were threatening to give, he'd not stop untill they actually did... It wouldn't come to this, however... As he'd run off to a beach, a different one then they had awoken upon... How did he know...? This one had a crashed ship... And in relatively good condition. It wasn't something they could take right away, but... With some, relatively minor repairs... This would be their way off this island... If they didn't end up food for the cannibals till then...
