Author's Note
A reminder that this is a story is a one-shot, inspired by the song 'Tale of The Shadow', written and performed by Sail North.
This story has not been sent in for editing, so expect a few errors here and there.
All Hands!
"All hooves on deck!"
I hold fast as I hear the sound of cannon fire in the distance, a loud 'whoosh' following as the projectile just barely misses my ship, blowing past us on the left. The lead ball splashes harshly in the distance as I take the helm and steer us away from the shores of Griffonstone. Luck is not on our side today, as the griffons were quick to react to our raid. By the time we set sail, their forces had already sent ships to block our path back to the homeland, forcing us to travel north, which only spells out more issues for us.
"Eagle; to the Crow's Nest!" I bark out to our own resident griffon on board. She makes quick work of flying to the nest and perching herself within. I can see her diligent eyes scanning the area. Knowing we have eyes in the sky, I turn my attention elsewhere. "Quicksilver, to the main deck! Load the cannons and prepare to return fire on the eastern shore!"
"Enemies spotted up ahead!" I hear Eagle Eye call out from her position in the crow's nest. My eyes shift up ahead, scanning the north, northeastern area ahead of us. "Catapults loading on the shore, airborne forces flying in from the northeast!"
"Cloak, Dagger!" I call out, the poof of a teleportation spell makes itself known behind my back, just out of my site; their signature arrival to my call. "Get to the deck mast! Have offensive spells ready! If it flies and isn't one of our own, knock it out of the sky!" Another poof and I see a flash in the distance at the front of the ship. I can barely make out their cloaked figures from here, but the light of their horns is easy to spot as they begin charging their magic.
"Catapults loaded in the distance!" Eagle Eye calls out, "Forces gathering on the railroad up ahead!"
"Buck me!" I growl as I steer us onward. Things are looking bleak, but if we can get past the track and into the waters of bugbear territory, our chances of survival will increase significantly. As brave as the griffons of this land are, there are very few that would risk coming face to face with one of those beasts. Then we would only need to focus our attacks on any potential ships following behind. "The canons, Silver!?"
A blur of color rushes just into view on the main deck, coming to a stop. The earth mare stands at attention, looking stern as always. The mare looks up at me, her disheveled grey mane clashing with the deep blue of her coat. "Canons are loaded and ready, Captain!"
"Fire at will!" "I yell, doing my best not to sound as panicked as I am. "Don't give them a chance to fire first! It's us or them!"
In the blink of an eye, Quicksilver is out of my site and our canons begin to sound off one by one. Six blasts and the sound of crashing and explosions in the distance. I can only hope that her aim is as precise as ever, unable to turn my attention elsewhere as I try to sail us out of danger. The railroad should be only a few more yards up ahead. We just have to- "Incoming!"
"Buck!" I fall from steering as a loud crash rings through my ears, the ship shaking violently for a moment and throwing me off balance. I manage to land on my hooves with a stumble and turn my attention southward. Three ships bearing the Griffonstone flag are nearly pissing distance from us and catching up uncomfortably quick. At this rate, we have mere minutes before they are close enough to board us.
If we're going to get out of this mess, I'm going to have to do something drastic. Turning my head, I see the railroad that crosses between the two land masses above us, drawing closer. The beams that come down and stabilize the suspended structure are large and sturdy, but not indestructible. My face scrunches as I steel my resolve and make my decision. I upright myself, standing tall as the proud and strong mare I am before asserting my authority to my crew. "I refuse to let these lily livered fools take down the Black Sword!"
My voice booms out to my crew and I can tell they're listening despite keeping their attention on their posts. "I expect no less from any of you! My loyal crew; are you ready to risk it all for myself and this ship!?"
"Yes, Captain!" Their voices call out, filling the air with the sound of fearless ladies that are prepared to die.
"Then full speed ahead!" I stand up on my hind legs and take the helm once more. The sails whip in the breeze as the wind pushes us forward. I keep my gaze set north, staring down the approaching track that will soon be above our heads. Glancing back, I can see griffons beginning to take flight behind us, a small army lifting themselves from their ships and preparing to board. "Dammit all..."
Facing forward, the tracks are still just barely out of reach, but we're running out of time. "Silver! Take out the support beams!"
Silver has never been one to question me and this proves no different. Either this works or we all die. I've accepted this fact and it would seem that she is of the same mind as I. The canons roll slightly as she adjusts her trajectory and takes aim with a speed that will never cease to impress me. Before long the canons sound off, four individual booms fill the air almost simultaneously, one for each beam. The whisking in the air ends almost as soon as it starts, loud crashes tearing through to my ears. The sound of bucking wood and falling splinters soon follow. The creaking that is now directly above the main deck is disheartening to say the least and it's not long before the true show begins.
Buckling, snapping, twisting metal and wooden boards collapsing under it own weight make themselves known. Chunks of wood and tattered tracks start decorating my ship as the structure begins its descent. For a moment, I prepare myself for the worst. The expectation of large chunks of debris crashing down on top of me weighs heavily on my shoulders. However, by some miracle, we pass through just in time. The cries of the griffon forces behind us as the tracks fall to the water below fill me with relief that is only comparable to the best head I've ever received. I take a breath and look back, seeing the ships behind us failing to halt before crashing into the carnage we had created.
Cheers and whooping soon start to fill my ears as I turn forward to see my crew celebrating - yet another - masterful escape. A smile finds its way onto my face as I let some of the stress wash away from me. We're safe for now, but we still have a long way to go, especially since we've been pushed out to sail into the unknown north. I'll have to stay vigilant and aware, we all will. "It's not over yet, ladies!"
My voice quickly catches their attention, "We've taken a hit on the stern. I want our most reliable crafters and builders down there at once!" Without further hesitation, the crew begins to divide itself into teams and sends mares to work. "Check the hold! Who knows just how far that cannonball blew through us."
"You heard the captain, mares!" Leave it to my first mate, Quicksilver, to get everypony moving. "Pick up the pace! Check for damages! Any sign of a water breach should be reported to me yesterday; Now move it!"
The rapid clopping of hooves is almost unnoticeable as Quicksilver practically appears next to me. I let out a giggle at her protective nature, always refusing to leave my side unless specifically ordered to do so. Glancing upward, I can make out Eagle Eye's form still in the crow's nest, peering every which direction. "How are we looking, Eagle?"
Eagle Eye's form becomes more noticeable as she repositions herself and leans over the edge of her perch to face me. Bugbears to the east, but nothing seems to be heading our way. We should be safe for now, Captain.”
Her words feel off to me for some reason, not to mention her phrasing. "Stand with me at once!" I call out to her. Eagle Eye quickly makes her way down, her large wings opening as she glides her way to the poop deck. Once reaching us, she folds her wings and stands at my side just opposite of Quicksilver. "I know you far too well to let something like that slide, Eagle."
I glance over to my left, seeing her shift uncomfortably in place. "It's nothing to worry about, my captain. Just superstations from my homeland coming back to haunt me."
I can almost feel Quicksilver's gaze lingering just behind me as she speaks. "Superstitions? What are you; a hatchling?"
Eagle Eye becomes noticeably frustrated by my first mate's comment. I could intervene and put an end to this before it even starts, but their bickering has proven quite entertaining in the past. "With all due respect, First Mate, you'd be on edge too if you grew up with entire towns preaching the same stories in your ear over and over again."
I turn away from either of them, facing out toward the oncoming seas. I don't need to look at either of them to know their expressions at this point, I've seen them argue countless times and I can picture it perfectly in my head. If I'm assuming correctly, Quicksilver is rolling her eyes right this second.
"You hens and your folklores." Quicksilver quips condescendingly, "Honestly, it's a miracle your kind made it out of the stone age."
"Maybe I'll get lucky and the legend will prove to be true." Eagle chirps in response, likely glaring daggers at the first mate by now. "Then I can laugh when the Shadow pulls you off of the ship to face judgment."
I feel my ear flick at this and I can't help but to become a little bit curious. "The Shadow?" I say aloud, pulling her attention away from Quicksilver. "What's that supposed to be; Some kind of wraith or spirit?"
"Should you really be encouraging her, Captain?" Quicksilver chimes in, "It's bad enough she's-"
"Now hold on, hold on..." I say calmly, having something of a guilty pleasure listening to some of the tales Eagle Eye grew up with back when she called Griffonstone her home. "Let's give her a chance to explain. After all, legends are spawned from truths. Stretched truths, maybe, but truths all the same."
"Given that we are literally sailing directly into an area only ever referred to as 'The Unknown North' it may prove beneficial to hear her out on this one." For all my talking and reasoning, it's a bunch of horse feathers. While this area is vastly unexplored, my fascination with the griffon's scary story far outweighs any actual logic. "Eagle Eye, feel free to indulge and tell me about this 'Shadow'."
"With pleasure, my captain!"
I definitely felt Quicksilver's eye roll on that one.
It is said that there once was a ship that could easily sail the unknown north with ease. The ship was darkly built with faded black sails, said to be rotting and falling apart, but never sinking. Dark smoke would rise from its tattered and withered hull, giving it an almost ghost-like appearance. Few have managed to see it and fewer have survived going out to look for the ship. Those that managed to find it and make it back alive made wild claims about the ship; that it was unmared, seeming to be in control of itself, the way it moved suggesting that the winds and tides did not affect its movements. Some even claimed that the ship itself controlled the very forces that were meant to guide it. The most universal theme with this ship was its appearance and its ability to remain mostly unseen.
These tales and the description earned this ship the name, 'The Shadow'. Many who were the foolish had gone out chasing this legend, daring to sail into the unknown all just for a chance to catch a glimpse of it. Some had even gone as far as to say that they would claim the ship as their own and return home with it. It became a sport for some of the wealthier griffons in our area, but with the many that had returned to no avail and the many more who never returned at all, it was deemed hopeless.
However, the stories of The Shadow remained and word about it had spread far and wide, all across the world some say.
"The tale splits at this point." Eagle says as her story begins to come to its conclusion. "Some say that the ship still sails in the unknown north, unmared and virtually sentient."
"And others?" I inquire, waiting for the bittersweet end that comes with almost all of her stories.
"Others say that some creature out there did manage to find it." Eagle says, all but finalizing the last detail on this legend from her homeland. "Either way, no one has seen it since. If nothing else, it's a good way to scare the hatchlings into not wasting their time chasing the unattainable."
"Yet, here you are, with all of us." I say aloud, unable to help myself. "Sailing the seas with a bunch of filthy pirates looking to do just that."
I hear the griffon giggle to my side before she responds with a small laugh. "Well, no one said that it was a soundproof method."
I couldn't help but join her, sharing my own bit of laughter at the irony of it all. It's short-lived though as one of our deck hooves comes rushing out of the hold and turns to face us. She's a younger mare, barely out of her teens, with a bright yellow goat and starch white mane.
"Captain!" The mare began, "We found the breach and were able to mend it successfully. No more than a few liters of water found its way into the hull."
"Excellent!" That's a relief. The last thing we need is to be taking on water out here. No one dares to sail the unknown north, so a breach that can't be fixed will be the death of us. "Continue searching, I don't want to take risks out here. Don't leave a single inch left up to question. Tell the crew they are not to rest until I can get guaranteed confirmation from each and every one of them that our hull is still seaworthy!"
"Yes, Captain!" And with that the young mare scurries off back into the hold.
"It's good to be queen..." I mutter to myself, earning a chuckle from my charges on each side. "Speaking of; Eagle, back in the nest. The north is known for its cold weather, so I want you to keep an eye out for any obstructions, icebergs and stones specifically. We don't need this to turn into another Coltanic story."
"Aye aye, Captain!" Eagle spreads her wings and takes flight, rounding the ship twice in the air before returning to her post.
"There's already a bit in the wind." I hear Quicksilver say to my right.
"Yeah, I feel it too." Looking over to my right, I can see the edge of land and the snowy mountains in the distance coming to an end, leaving only the cold, open seas beyond. Nothing good awaits us out there, or anywhere out here really. "We'll have to sail west bound, around the frozen north lands, until we can reach the Lunar Ocean."
"I hate to say it, but I think you're right." She confirms, "Unfortunately, that could take weeks, possibly over a month."
I was afraid she would say that. "How are our supplies looking?"
"We might have to cut our rations in half, but doing so, we might just make it."
I hum as I think back to the map in my quarters. While I know the layout of the lands well enough, Quicksilver has always had an eye for the details and mathematics behind it all. "Yakyakistan will be along the way. If we were to make a stop just shy of the land, would it be possible to slip in there and resupply?"
Quicksilver hums to herself and places a hoof to her chin. "It's possible, but the distance between the shore and the border is pretty extensive. If we sent out our fastest fliers, it would be a two day round trip at the bare minimum."
"What about Cloak and Dagger?" I go on to ask, "I can't imagine it would take them too long to poof over there and back."
"While their magic is something to behold, even they couldn't pull off a teleport like that." That's what I was dreading she would say. "It would drain them too much. Magic of that caliber is reserved by a very small few who aren't alicorns. Besides, most of their magical knowledge is based around stealth."
I tried. "Fliers it is then."
We continue to sail a fair distance over the course of the next few hours, managing to easily dodge the large frozen masses of ice that had begun appearing as we drew closer to night. Before the sun begins to sink under the horizon, I decide it's time to call it. With the approaching darkness and cold, more icebergs are forming and it's getting difficult for even our own Eagle eye to make out objects in the distance.
"Raise sails! Lower the Jolly Roger! Drop anchor!"
All part of routine; I don't even have to say them in order anymore, my crew knows what to do. Before long, we come to a stop and every creature starts making their way into the hold for a well earned dinner. It goes as well as expected; A few complaints about the rations, but after a few stiff drinks the ladies are almost nonstop with their usual hooting and hollering. It doesn't take long for it to devolve into its usual band of nonsense; story telling about recent pulls, arguments about who managed to bed the cutest stallions, the most stallions, ect.
Honestly, as repetitive as it can get sometimes, I can't imagine my life being any other way. Looking out at these ladies, many of them being younger than me now, I can't help but think back to a time when I was a simple young sailor. I always knew that I was destined to sail the seas, I just didn't quite expect it to go this way. Not in its early stages, at least. I think I was in my early twenties when it all started to take a turn.
I can't help but to look down at the ship's wheel imprinted on my purple flank as I reminisce. Sailing is in my blood; I come from a long line of fishermares, after all. Simply put, it was fate, a mere matter of time before I started setting out onto the waters myself. The life of a sailor was always a dream of mine. Not a single night goes by where I don't dream of the very waters I've sailed across over these many years. As warming a thought as it is, the night is weighing down on me and It's time to take my leave. I stand from my seat and leave the hold.
The wind blows bitter cold as I step out onto the deck, a shiver running through my body as the breeze cuts through me like a knife. Despite this, I hold my position and look up at the stars, taking in the beauty of the unfiltered night sky. Yet another perk of being on the water; none of those annoying lights from the cities and towns that block out the view of the stars. As much as I would like to stay out here and memorize every star, this cold will surely kill me if I remain here. Taking a breath of the cool air, I begin making my way over to my quarters. There's a rush of air that pushes past me as I open the door to my room and I can't help but to grin. Stepping in, I close the door behind me, blocking out the chilled night air before making my way deeper into my quarters. In the forefront of my vision is my desk, where I do all my mapping and planning. Off to the side is my rather luxurious bed, that is currently in use by a very seductively posed Quicksilver.
I roll my eyes at the sight of her, "Does your libido know no end?"
Quicksilver is, not very surprisingly, quick to respond in a very uncharacteristically lusty tone. "Don't pretend that me and my diligent tongue work doesn't win you over every single time."
As much as I would like to argue against this, it would be a very blatant lie that even the gods may feel the need to call me out on. And by god, I mean the mare that can go from being on that bed to having her muzzle buried in my nethers faster than I can blink. That is a mistake that I will not be making again. With the decision made for me, I accept my fate and dive into the bed, getting ready for yet another long night of moaning, licking and rubbing.
"I hope you know that you're the reason I can't go back to stallions." I say in one final act of defiance.
"Good~."
I don't know how many years have gone by and I don't care.
"Everything is perfect..." I mutter to myself as I stare out at the open water from atop of my vessel, leaning over the edge of its sturdy white body. A stark contrast to the wooden monument I once pirated the seas with. I take in a deep breath of the salty air, basking in its scent as the sun above shines warmly upon me. "Now I can die."
"You better not!” A familiar voice calls out from behind me. Craning my neck, I look back and see the mare of my dreams trotting her way over. Her usual blue coat is beginning to dull in her old age, though her hair looks the same as ever, if only slightly more maintained. She closes the distance between us and takes a spot to the side of me, giving me a quick peck on the cheek before following my gaze back to the open blue laying out all around us. "If you die, I'm stuck out here. I don't know how to steer one of these things."
"Well, you better start learning." I quip at her, "It's gonna happen one day; I refuse to die on land. I will pass on as any good sailor, glued my ship."
"Keep it up and I'll turn you into glue myself." I can't help but laugh at this. Who would have thought that it would turn out like this. All those years of pirating, sailing out to distant lands and taking what we wanted. I knew I would need to get away from that life at some point and to a degree, I was dreading it. But, this right here, makes it all worth it.
"I love you, Silver." I say almost purely out of instinct, to which she grins while rolling her eyes.
"I love you too, you big sap." I hear her say with a bit of sass, earning another short giggle from me. Truly, it couldn't be more perfect.
This is the life I always dreamed of. This is the dream.
This is a dream.
This...
"Captain!" I jolt awake at the sound of somepony calling for me, sitting up to look around and take in my surroundings. I'm still in my ship, still in my pirate gear (mostly), still the captain of the Black Sword. I'm almost disappointed by this revelation, but there's no time for that. This fact is made clear by the sound of booming canons coming from both directions.
"Buck me!"
"In a minute..." I hear Quicksilver mutter from beside me. "Give me a little bit to wake up and I'll-"
Another boom sounds off in the distance, soon after an explosion that knocks both of us out of bed and onto the ground. This wakes both of us fully and we charge out onto the deck to find the deck hooves already pulling the anchor and dropping sails.
"Captain!" I hear Eagle Eye call out before she lands in front of me. "We have Griffonstone forces coming at us from the east, Yakyakistan to the west!"
"What!?" Quicksilver and I yell in unison at the news.
"How did they get Yakyakistanians on their side?" This is the only question on my mind. "Last I checked, they were practically mortal enemies!"
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend." Quicksilver adds, only serving to irritate me further.
"I hate it when you're right!" I growl as I charge up to the poop deck and take the helm. "You all know your positions! Get moving and get in them! We're sailing north!"
On my word, The Black Sword began moving northward. "Evasive maneuvers! We've already been hit, do NOT let it happen again!"
"Yes, Captain!"
We quickly set sail, rotating around as the sounds of cannon fire continue to reach my ears. Lord Luck seems to be on our side though, as I've yet to feel another impact on our hull. "I need eyes ahead! What are looking at!?"
"Three ships on each side, Icebergs ahead!" Eagle calls out from the crow's nest.
Before I can even think, Quicksilver is once again at my side. "If we're careful - and stupid lucky - we might be able to lose them in the icebergs."
"That's one hell of a gamble..." I say with some amount of dread, beginning to fear for the worst.
"Never stopped you before." Leave it to this mare to remind me of my bravery and strength. Her words bring me more comfort than I care to admit, but that's irrelevant. I am the captain of The Black Sword and I will refuse to let her die out in this frozen hellscape.
"And it never will!" I disregard any further evasive tactics directed from the ships and begin focusing on the fast approaching bodies of ice in front of me. "Keep my eyes, Eagle!"
With the help of my crew keeping the ship moving, Eagle staying ever vigilant and providing guidance, and Quicksilver at my side to keep me strong; I feel as though we will not only make it through this alive, but that I will be retiring early after the fact to bring my dreams into reality. I love this ship and I love this crew. More than that, I love Quicksilver and I love the sea.
I will not allow this to be the final time I see either of them.
Call it luck, call it a miracle, call it what you will; We are pushing through without issue. We all but glide past the icebergs better than those large guard ships, beginning to build a fair amount of distance between us and them, though they do continue to give chase. Despite this, I am determined and hopeful. We will make it out of this in one piece and I will take this unbearably annoying mare by my side away from all of this and show her a peaceful life at sea.
"Storm clouds up ahead!"
"You have got to be kidding me!" A minor setback, at best. We've come this far already, so clearly the gods have some other plans for us other than sinking down to the dreaded locker below. If it were just me saying this, I would most certainly start having doubts. Fortunately for me, I'm not alone in this.
"This is nothing we haven't dealt with before, Captain!" Quicksilver reminds as rain already starts to fall from the sky, "We sail through storms all the time! Guards are cowards that only ever sail around them! This is a golden opportunity! Our guaranteed escape! Show these fillies what a real sailor can do!"
I'm going to marry this mare.
I crank the wheel to the side and steer us directly toward the storm, taking on the large waves that are starting to form with the harsh winds that now pull us deeper into the eye. Lightning strikes above my head, thunder roaring, deafening me to the sounds of cannon fire in the distance. The rain is quickly starting to increase in terms of frequency and density, the light pitter patter from before being overshadowed by what might as well be a wall dropping down onto the ship.
"Buckets in the hold! Don't let us flood!" I yell out as loud as I can, unsure how many of my crew would actually hear me. I can only hope that we get a few hooves down there to shovel out any water that starts filling in the area. All the while, the wind is blowing with such force that if not for my grip on the wheel I would surely be launched into the sea. "What is this!? A bucking hurricane!?"
"Waterspouts dead ahead!"
So much for Lord Luck being on our side.
I take a chance to look behind me and evaluate our situation from the south. It's difficult to make out the ships, but I can still see them. I was told that there were six of them though, I'm only counting three. With any luck, those daughters of whores sank down to the depths where they belong. Turning forward once more, it only just occurs to me what Eagle Eye had said.
"Waterspouts!" I screamed in shock, looking out and seeing the horrors clear as day despite the heavy rain and crashing waves. There are easily seven waterspouts, most of which are a good distance away from us. I quickly crank the wheel over to the opposite direction, however, because one of them is getting skin crawlingly close. "Shit, shit, shit!"
This maneuver, while in the best interest of avoiding the spout, proves to be catastrophic in its results elsewhere. A disgustingly loud and drawn out scratching sound quickly reaches my ears as I sail the left side of our hull across an iceberg. The splinters are plain to see as the frozen structure demolishes an entire section of my vessel. My only solace in all of this is that the ships following don't seem to be fairing any better. There's still one standing, but the remaining numbers have clearly been sinking at a rapid rate for some time now.
As satisfying as this would be, it's hardly comforting. I know all too well just how much damage has been done and it's only a matter of time before we begin to sink as well. I look over at Quicksilver, who is holding fast to the helm. I see the struggle on her face as she fights to keep her footing against the rushing winds. In an instant, every memory I have of her begins playing out in front of my eyes. I see her in her youth during our time as neighbors, the first time she sailed with me and my family on a fishing trip. I see my first time ever sailing on my own, with her standing there by my side. Clear as day, I can see the horrified look on her face when she tried to steer and crashed the boat into the side of one of our competitor's docked boats. The whole week spent covering that up was a whole adventure on its own, to no avail.
I see the poverty we lived in for this mistake; After I had been disowned and left to rot, she came after me and refused to leave no matter what. I see all of our desperate times up until the moment we stole the very ship we stand upon now and set sail, leaving behind our previous life and earning one of our own however we could. It only just occurs to me that I'm seeing my whole life flash before my eyes, not just my times with her. Simply put, I've spent hardly ten minutes away from her in the entirety of my life.
"Captain!"
I snap back to reality, seeing my crew standing on the deck. To my dismay, they're already hoof deep in water even being there. My head snaps from side to side, trying to find something, anything that we can use to escape, but there's nothing. My eyes soon settle on Quicksilver, who is staring back at me with a questioning gaze, as if waiting for my next big move that will save us all. I can hardly think of anything beyond how bucked we are, slowly coming to terms with our end, the inevitable cold death at sea.
Pulling myself forward with the wheel, I inch closer to the mare and grab her mane with my hoof. Her eyes widen in shock as I yank her toward me and press my lips to hers, basking in what may be my last moments with her. This goes on for nearly a minute before we separate to catch our breath. I look into her eyes and she looks into mine. She seems to understand what I'm thinking as she gives me a weak smile and nods, putting both of her hooves around me. I look out to the deck as I hold my mare in my forehoof, they seem to be catching on. I'm surprised by the lack of panic. The shock on their faces is clear, but I also see resolve in each and every one of them.
I never should have expected less from any of them. They came aboard this ship ready to die. This was never meant to be a true escape, just the calm before the storm; a moment of peace before returning to the fact that, in the end, we were all doomed from the start. I feel my heart beginning to slow as I finally reach pace with the end and-
A crash unlike any other I have ever heard rips through the air, pulling my attention to the side. My ears fall flat as the peace I had felt quickly fades at the sight of a massive wave, easily twelve times the height of my ship, appears almost out of nowhere. Time seems to slow down as it rises up, it's so large and powerful I can clearly see an old, sunken ship being dragged along from within. I blink a few times at the sight, its oddness not being lost on me despite the severity of my situation. The ship almost seems like it's-
"ALL HANDS!" A deep, masculine voice echoes through the very heavens above as I watch this ship move through the wave as if it is being pulled by some unseen force before launching out of the mass of water and sailing through the air. My eyes are glued to the dark sailed, smoking vessel as it rockets out and over us, landing next to the final remaining guard ship. My eyes refuse to peel themselves away as I see the soaked and rotting ship evacuate a thick, dark mist from its portholes, coating the guard littered vessel that had previously been chasing us. The ship circles around, jetting out more of the gas before completely vanishing behind the cloud.
As the smoke clears, all that remains is the now rotting guard ship, griffon skeletons decorating its sides and edges, some even floating in the waters around it. The deck collapses under its own weight and it begins a quick descent below the water's surface. However, the ship that caused it is nowhere to be seen. Curious though I was, I am becoming more and more concerned about the wave. Turning back toward the- "Wha..."
I am shocked, speechless, some other ‘less’ word! "Where did it all go?" It's only just occurring to me that it's all gone; The waterspouts are nowhere to be seen, the massive wave that could have easily destroyed several cities, the rain, the thunder and lightning. "It's all just...gone?"
Quicksilver pulls herself from me and looks around, hopefully seeing the same thing I am. "Are we dead?"
"I told you!" My ears flick as I hear the screech of our only resident griffon calling out to us from the crow's nest. "It's real! I can't believe it! It's actually real!"
Ignoring Eagle's statement, Quicksilver gets her hooves back under her and begins assessing the damage. I soon follow suit as she points out a rather important detail. "Why aren't we sinking?"
"That...is a great question." I say with a bit of astonishment as I trot to the edge of the poop deck to look down at our surroundings. "It doesn't look like we're wedged against anything. Maybe we're stuck on an iceberg?"
Before anything could respond, the sea begins to bubble. Not from all around, but in one singular area. The water ripples like a geyser getting ready to burst and its radius grows to a massive degree. I take several steps back from the edge. No sooner than I had done that, a bowsprit emerges from the depths, then an entire deck mast. Not long after that an entire ship surfaces from the deep, looking an absolute wreck. The hull is decorated with barnacles and sea sludge, the sails above appeared to be singed, as if they had been burned at some point, the stench of wood rot, decaying flesh and old whale blubber permeates the air, a thin layer of smoke pours off of the deck and out of the portholes.
The size of the vessel makes it difficult to make out the figures above, but they become more clear as they begin to look over and stare down at us. On board I can see a small array of species; ponies, griffons, minotaurs and a single cow. Something is wrong with them though. These aren't creatures like I am used to. I can recognize the species, but their features are like something out of a horror novel. They look like zombies, walking corpses bloated from the water. Their flesh is rotting and falling apart, some are missing limbs. The only consistency between them is their eyes. They all seem to have beautifully bright, glowing eyes.
From above, I can hear Eagle Eye talking out loud to herself, saying the same thing over and over again. "It has a captain...It has a captain...It has a captain-"
The sound of heavy steps make themselves known, overshadowing the sound of Eagle's rambling. I wait patiently, stepping in front of Quicksilver out of pure instinct. If I'm reading the situation correctly, this is going to be an important meeting between captains. I steel my nerves, ready to face anything after everything I had just been through today. I have accepted death in its purest form, recognized all that I have to lose and overcame the fear of the hereafter. I am ready for- WHAT THE HAY IS THAT!?
My ears fall flat as the figure steps to the edge and looks down at me. At least, I think it's looking at me. The skeletal face that is aiming towards me has no eyes, leaving me unsure of its gaze. It stands on two legs, but something about it seems different from the other bipeds I've come across in all of my travels. The air around it alone feels different from anything else. It's dressed very similar to me, but the attire is tattered and weathered from years of neglect, showing off the bare bones that reside within.
While I'm processing this, I see the undead creature raise a bony hand and reach onto its long, flowing coat. Slowly, it draws a weapon of likes I cannot recognize. I take a step back, ensuring that Quicksilver remains behind me. The creature points the weapon at me and an appendage reaches up to pull some kind of lever, making a soft, but noticeable clicking sound. With panic now starting to surface once more, I do the only thing that I can think of.
"Parley!" I call out, causing the creature to freeze in place. "I call upon the terms of parley." My eyes dart around as I watch the undead crew curiously angle their curious necks, turning toward their captain in anticipation of its response.
All is silent for nearly a whole minute before the creature finally speaks in an all too obviously masculine voice. "What could you possibly offer me in exchange for sparing you?" He asks curiously, his firearm still aimed perfectly at myself. "Whether it's by my hand or the sea's, you won't be making it out of here alive."
I know what I have to do, but I'm unsure if I have the strength to do it. I want to get out of this situation, to save my crew and my love from the cold, watery grave that awaits us here. I look back toward the bow and glance over every creature aboard my now sunken ship. Quicksilver seems to understand what is happening here and, though she seems just as reluctant as I am, she nods. I turn my attention toward the rest of my crew and they do the same. Glancing up, I can see Eagle eye rapidly shaking her head from side to side.
Eagle's reaction doesn't surprise me, but what other choice do I have?
I turn once more to face the captain of the opposing ship and lower my head. "I will offer you all that I own; my riches and my service if you only save us from the dreaded fate that awaits us out here."
All is silent once more, this time for only a few seconds before I hear the shuffling of fabric. Looking up, I see the captain tucking his weapon into his coat before turning away. "Very well." He says as he walks away from the edge, "Take them."
I let out a relieved sigh just in time to feel the wind change. I can't explain it, but the breeze suddenly feels unnatural, alien even. I begin glancing in every direction and notice that I'm not the only one to have sensed something. As I scan the area with my eyes a sudden feeling encompasses my neck and I'm hoisted into the air, letting out a choked yelp and I'm dragged on board the ghostly ship and left to dangle from the yardarm by a single rope. I place my hooves to my neck and try to pull against the rope, but its tightening grip refuses to give way.
As I am suffocating, I can see several more ropes shoot out from the arm. The ropes move on their own like sentient, murderous snakes. Each one finds the neck of one of my crew, carrying them over the same way they had me and leaving them dangling all across the arm. I buck and kick my legs with all my might, hoping that by some grace I can break free of this trap and free my crew. All this struggling proves to work against me though as all I do is burn up what little oxygen is left in my lungs. My body weakens and my legs drop, leaving me utterly helpless. All I can do now is look around at my fellow ship mates who are on the verge of doing the same. Four bodies down, I can see quicksilver with several ropes attached to her legs, holding her in place as they try to coil around her neck. Before I can even see how it plays out, I feel the ship lean and my body sway as the bow plunges into the sea and charges into the deep, dark abyss below.
I don't know if it's the adrenaline or just simple shock that is keeping me awake, but it won't last. I can feel my consciousness slipping away as we are dragged into the deepest, coldest depths of the sea. I can no longer tell if the darkness is from my eyes closing or the lack of light. It doesn't matter anymore though.
Nothing matters anymore...
A thump
I hear a thump, I feel a thump.
It feels like I've fallen and hit something. This doesn't make any sense. I'm dead aren't I? I shouldn't be able to feel or hear anything , right? Unless this is some kind of strange afterlife that I'm not aware of. I can hear the pitter-patter of rain falling upon wet wood. If this is an afterlife, the last thing I would expect is rain. Figuring I have nothing else to lose, I push against my eyelids and force them open. It takes a moment to blink the water from my eyes, but soon I am able to see clearly enough to make out the moving bodies around me. My eyes move in their sockets, taking in everything they can as I lay here. I'm clearly still on the ship from earlier.
A grunt escapes me as I make to get my hooves back beneath me. It's a trial, to say the least. It feels like I've lost all the muscle in my body and I can barely support my own weight. With a bit of willpower and effort, I'm able to stand back up on my own hooves. Once I'm up, I crane my neck side to side. I barely notice the uncomfortable popping in my spine as I glare up at the yardarm. I expected to see the bodies of my shipmates still hanging from them, but there are none to be found. Confusion and worry fill my body, but they feel off; Weakened, diluted.
"Look who is up and moving." The familiar voice of the captain shoots through my ears like lightning. I try to quickly turn and face him, but my legs buckle and I fall to my side. My position allows me to see him standing just a few hooves from me all the same, but getting back up is no easier this time than it was the last. "You and that Quicksilver one; Quite a sight. Not even the toughest of my crew were able to stand on their first day, but you two seem to be of a different breed."
"Qui-" My words are cut off as water shoots out of my mouth at my attempt to say Quicksilver's name. It's odd and uncomfortable, but the sensation of vomiting out salt water is anything but painful, oddly enough.
"There's going to be an adjustment period, but worry not." The creature says as he takes a few steps closer, closing the distance until he is close enough to reach down and grab me. I can barely feel as the bones of his hand clench the scruff of my neck and yank me upward, allowing me to more easily stand myself up. "You'll get used to it."
"As for Quicksilver-" He continues, taking three steps back from me as he slips his hands into his pockets. "she's fairing just about as well as you. A bit of the fiery side though, so we put her down in the hold so she can cool off."
I want to do so many things right now: I want to scream, to yell, to tackle this sack of bones and beat him into calcium powder. If only I didn't feel like a basket of crushed assholes right now. My fight to hold my head up becomes a losing battle as it drops down toward my hooves. My usual purple fur that coats them is different now, paler, dull. "Wha- What's happ-ppen..."
"Save your breath." Says the creature in front of me. "At least until you're used to not having it."
What is that supposed to mean? He's not making any sense!
None of this makes any sense!
"Have you still not realized it yet?" He asks, though he should be clearly aware by now that I cannot respond. "Allow me to clarify."
I hear his steps draw closer once more and shortly following that I feel him grab me by the mane and yank my head upward to face him. My eyes lock onto his hand as he reaches into his coat and draws the weapon from earlier. My eyes widen as he places the barrel to my head and- BANG!
I felt a short, but sudden, jerk of my head, followed by the sensation of something passing through my skull from one end to the other. It tingles, whatever it is, but I feel no pain. Like everything else, it just feels off and unnatural. It becomes painfully clear to me now that I should be dead. Tartarus, I should have been dead earlier! I should have been dead like five times today!
"What is happening!?" I call out clearly, surprising even myself with how easy it was to do in my anger and confusion.
"What's happening, my dear Amethyst-" The captain begins as he slides the weapon back into his coat and holds my face in both of his boney hands, forcing me to stare into the eyeless sockets in front of me. "is that you are now a member of my crew."
I don't like the sound of this.
"My undead crew," He releases my head and I find myself keeping my neck upright almost effortlessly. "cursed to sail the seas until such a time that there are no seas left to sail."
I blink a few times, the message finally becoming clearer to me; no matter how much I want to deny it. "Undead..."
"Undead, indeed." He responds, standing at his full height as he does so before turning on his heels and walking toward the helm. "Welcome to The Shadow."
