North Woods NightMares

The advancing parrot opened her right wing upwards.

“EVERYPONY STAND DOWN!” Agent Sweetie Drops yelled. “This is a friend!”

"Who is this?" Asked Frosty, only lowering her D16 to point at the newcomer’s chest.

"That's Captain Celaeno. She's a war hero from the Storm King War." Sweetie explained.

"Do we still maintain contact with her?"

"As much as we can any creature this far south."

At that the Night-Mares stowed their weapons, PW following their lead.

"C'mon, I'll introduce you all." Sweetie Drops beckoned.

“Arimaspi Control, Frosty. We’ve made friendly contact with a Captain Celaeno.”

“Copy. You’re clear to exchange non-sensitive information.”

Ever cautious, the Night-Mare duo approached the young parrot captain rearing. Her slender, tall frame almost rivaled their height but there was no doubting the difference in weight classes. She brought her left wing up again in a waving motion.

"I was beginning to worry!” She shouted. “Seeing all those fancy weapons trained on me!"

"I see you have a new ship, Captain." Replied Sweetie Drops.

"Oh yeah! Cheated some scum dealer who was ripping creatures off. Felt good to plunder his ill-gotten goods!" She pumped a fist, oblivious to the fact that the goods were still ill-gotten.

"Anyway, Captain, I would like to introduce you to Snowheart and Sweetsong." Sweetie Drops gestured to the Night-Mares.

She gave an impressed whistle. “I’m Captain Celaeno. Swashbuckling Treasure Hunter! I don't think I've ever had to look up at a pony before. And, who's this?" Asked Celaeno, pointing at the small pegasus who was standing between them.

Sweetie nodded. "That's Polaris. He goes by ‘PW.’"

"You remind me of Grubber." The Captain remarked.

"Seriously?!" Complained PW.

He could hear Echo and Frosty snickering above him.

"What is your role?" The Captain asked.

"I support Miss Snowheart. I respond to her needs, am her eye in the sky, and keep her parts working." The snickering intensified.

"Basically Grubber!" She strode back to Sweetie Drops.

The Night-Mares always had a requirement to be the biggest creatures in their operating area, so they remained rearing to avoid Celaeno overshadowing them. Celaeno’s crew of four crested the dune and joined up with their captain.

"They're cool, guys." Announced the Captain.

"Those are the biggest ponies I've ever seen!" The largest parrot in the crew whispered.

"Equestrian Super-soldiers, Boyle!" The Captain muttered. "Speaking of which; why are you operating so far south?” She addressed Sweetie. “Don't tell me another recluse sailed in from some undiscovered island and managed to usurp control from all the princesses again!" She asked.

"Not at all, Captain." Answered Sweetie Drops. "We've just noticed that a lot of our shipments to Klugetown are… unaccounted for. Many reports indicate they were looted by some creature with a catchphrase: ‘Here's Verko!.’”

Celaeno’s eyes narrowed. "That scumbag! I know him. He's my second-most pressing enemy right now. He's armed with cannons on the ground. His air defense is too strong for our airboat to get near him."

"That won’t be an issue." Sweetie Drops shook her head. "You mentioned he is the "second" most pressing enemy? We're not aware of another significant threat.” She lowered her sunglasses. “Who or what is number one?"

"I don't know what his name is but I hear he's a ship captain, much like me. I think he's operating out of some isolated island off the southeast coast. He's quick – strikes without warning and immediately retreats. Always too strong an attack to intercept, and too rapid a retreat to follow. I don't think his vessel uses steam or wind, based on the speed he is moving."

"Who has he been attacking?" Frosty asked.

"Catoshima, mostly. Sometimes Henry, which is why I'm involved."

"Well, I don’t like to say this: but if he doesn't bother Aris or the Kirin Equestria won't get involved." Replied Sweetie Drops.

"I get it." Celaeno nodded.

"So, going back to Verko. How can we find him?" Asked Sweetie Drops.

"He should be close, just a little bit south of us. From what I've been able to gather, he follows the movements of balloons overhead to identify potential convoys being resupplied. If you want, I could sail back and forth from Klugetown to you a whole bunch. That would lead him to your position." The parrot replied.

"And with PW able to fly up and receive updates from the ship, you won't even have to land. You can simply turn around." Sweetie Drops said as the stallion's wings proudly shot open to full wingspan.

"Now that's awesome. We got a plan. We'll set sail for Klugetown and return to your position around midnight. We've got a torch we can light so you can see us." Added the Captain.

"Alright. Safe travels! We'll be continuing due south from our current position until we hear from you again." Sweetie Drops replied.

"Farewell!" Bade the captain, heading back to their airboat.

The false convoy had their lunch as they watched the large airboat take off and begin its southerly journey. PW was feeling a bit down during lunch, despite his role in the upcoming engagement.

"Frosty? Do I remind you of Grubber? Am I a Spike or a Grubber?" PW asked.

The Night-Mare thought for a few moments.

"What's wrong with being like Spike?" She finally asked.

PW shrugged. "Well, he's had a bad rap in the past for being perceived as a misfit."

"What's wrong with that?" Frosty asked, placing a large forehoof on PW's knee.

"Well he wasn't treated the same way or given the same opportunities everypony else was."

"He was also really young. A child, in dragon-years.” She cocked her head. “And, didn't he become a flamethrower during the Storm King War?"

"I guess."

"PW?" She asked.

"Yeah?"

"Myself, Echo, Pitch... all the Night-Mares – we're all misfits in operation now. So if you feel that you yourself are a misfit; well then congratulations. You're fitting right in." Declared Frosty, slapping PW's knee.

"Hm. Thanks!" He cracked a smile, feeling better.

"Wow! I didn't know you girls could be so consoling." Sweetie Drops said from behind, overhearing their conversation.

"This conversation is now classified!" Shouted PW quickly.

Frosty grinned in seeing her strategy now learned by her assistant.

"I'm cleared." Sweetie Drops grinned to a brief, bitter silence. "Polaris, you should complement her more. It could serve your relationship well."

Frosty grunted at that and walked off, clearly irritated.

"Can you NOT do that near her? She doesn't like it!" Complained PW.

"Trust me, PW."

"And now what?"

"Pretend like that didn't happen, but compliment her in the future."

The caravan continued south throughout the afternoon and pitched camp in the open desert. They started a campfire to help aid Captain Celaeno in finding their approximate position. Gradually everypony turned in, except for Frosty and PW.

"PW, you gotta stay up. Since I snore so loudly you can hang with me if you want." She offered, sprawling out on the sand.

"O-okay! Of course, just remember I need to fly off when I see the light from Celaeno's ship!" PW saod.

"Of course, PW.” She nodded. “You've got an important job to do."

"Thanks for understanding."

"No problem. Have a good night."

"You too. Sleep well!"

"Thanks." She relaxed and within a minute she was out and snoring.

They’d stayed up so late that it was only minutes before he spotted a pinprick of orange light on the horizon.

"They're here. I'm off!" Whispered PW softly to the slumbering Night-Mare, eliciting only a twitch of her ear.

PW focused on the light and approached the airboat. It was sailing very low, only a few hundred feet up, but nonetheless moved very quickly. PW circled to her stern and glided down to land on the poop deck.

"You hear that? Something just landed!" A voice shouted.

"It's probably the big one’s assistant, DW." Answered another.

"Here I am!" He stepped into the light. “And, it’s ‘PW.’”

"You scared us, landing silently in the dark like some phantom! I’m Lix Spittle, by the way; nice to meet ya, BW." A pink parrot offered a claw.

"PW! Sorry, I didn't think about that.” He shrugged. “I have good night vision so I didn't realize I'd be invisible."

"I got news for you, my little pegasus." Captain Celaeno called.

She sat beside a lantern protected in the wake of the ship’s front end and waved him over.

He trotted into the light. “What did you find?

Celaeno pulled a piece of yellowish paper out of a folder. “A photograph! This was taken at noon today. Notice anything?”

He peered at the image. “Yeah, a large, dark object. With tracks.”

“It was in motion when we saw it. That’s Verko.”

“How can you be so sure?” PW asked.

The captain pointed with a wing to the ship’s mainsail.

“Oh my; they shot you.” Gasped PW, seeing what could only be a cannonball hole in the mainsail.

“We wanted a low pass on the way back since it was dark just to make sure he knew we were headed back to you. Looks like we took it a little too low.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not. Just make sure he’s eliminated and we’ll forget about it.”

“With those ponies you saw? No chance of losing.” Declared PW, proudly pushing his chest out ever so slightly.

“He’s about sixty miles due south of your position. 18 degrees 50 minutes south thereabouts, if that means anything to you.” The Captain explained.

"It absolutely does, thank you!”

“Sure. And at his current pace, I imagine you’ll see him the day after tomorrow.” She added, putting the image back into the folder.

“Hey there, pony. I’m Boyle and this is for you.” The large parrot from earlier appeared and handed the folder to PW.

Wing met wing as PW took possession of the folder.

Celaeno looked out to the dark desert and then turned to PW. “Also, I thought about it and I think calling you a Grubber earlier was a little offensive. Please accept my apology.”

“Thanks Captain!” PW said.

“Good luck. We’re going to pass over him later tonight… much higher this time. Then we should see you again tomorrow afternoon.”

“Sounds good. Bye!” With that PW dove off the plank.

PW almost forgot how close to the ground he was because his dive angle was too steep.

“Pull up pull up pull up!” He shouted to himself.

With a high-G maneuver he managed to avoid the ground. He found the campfire nearby, and once he slowed it only took a few seconds of flapping his wings before entering the approach guide. He landed and took the folder out of his mouth, stuffing it into the rest of his gear to brief everypony on the next morning. Beside PW’s gear was Frosty’s. She had taken off her boots, and those were also sitting in the pile.

PW looked over at the Night-Mare who was still snoring very loudly. Before he knew it, he had his hind legs beside her boot. Frosty’s boots were only meant to cover the hoof, fetlock, and the first two thirds or so of her cannon. Three holes ringed the fetlock to allow her ‘toes’ to poke through. To PW they challenged the entirety of his legs in height.

‘Are they taller than my entire leg?’ PW pondered, trying to place his hind leg vertically beside it.

Curiosity got the better of him and he decided to sniff the inside. He could definitely smell sweat, but it didn’t reek. PW found himself still wanting to answer his question, and he lifted his hind leg up to his barrel, and slowly began to insert it into her titanic boot.

‘Is the little stallion’s leg long enough to wear a Night-Mare boot? Only one way to find out!’ He coached himself.

He felt its collar near the top of his hind leg, signaling that he was running out of length. PW began stretching his leg out, when he felt the soft, jelly-like insole. His one leg was in but the other was having trouble holding him level. “I did it! Didn’t I?” PW asked.

“PW? What are you doing?” Frosty muttered.