Cutter

As Catarina and I left the square, we found our remaining allies gathered near the docks—The ponies, Tangle, Swan Song, and Jamboree, the former two being pegasi while the latter was an earth pony, Barges the minotaur in his colorful robes, Low and Little, the diamond dogs, and Greg the kirin. They, myself, Amethyst, and Catarina were all that remained of the Flying Gang.

As we approached, they stopped the hushed conversation they were all sharing to give me their attention. At that moment, Amethyst also came trotting up with Blood Orange beside her. I looked over the whole group with a nod.

"When Ben first invited me into the Flying Gang's leadership, he justified the decision by claiming that of the sixty-two companies in Naysow, five had ambition. Of those five, only three were competent enough for his liking," I folded my arms as I spoke. "And of those three, I was the only one he could stand being around." A few of the captains huffed at my words with Tangle shaking her head.

"He never went into detail about who any of those other companies were, so I can't say where any of you fall in his eyes," I added as I paced before them all. I looked up and jabbed my thumb toward the square. "But at this particular moment in time, the opinions of that treasonous old fuck mean as much to me as the shit shoveled off the square following a particularly unhinged and drunken celebration." My words earned a laugh from the group and I turned to face them all.

"You're here, and presumably that means you're willing to follow us as we hunt down the commodore and pay him back for throwing us all to the birds," I nodded at them. "And that's plenty meritorious to me." The eight of them gave a curt shout of agreement and appreciation, and I gestured to Amethyst and Cat.

"With permission from my two associates, I see no reason to keep the tribute stash from any of you," I declared, earning an eager murmur from the captains. "If Dreadless didn't take it, I honestly don't imagine the griffins would have found where we kept it hidden." I faced Amethyst and Cat who gave me a nod.

"I propose we pool our resources and split them, then use what we have to prepare for battle," I added gesturing in a northern direction. "And sail north, to confront our old associate."

"Hear hear!" Barges cheered, pumping his fist and earning a similar cheer from the rest.

"What about Dreadless?" Greg demanded with a firm glare.

"Of course," I replied with a nod. I folded my arms and paced again. "I imagine we'll find him up north as well. In fact, given what's occurred between Grover and Ben, I wouldn't be surprised to find that some of the old crews of Naysow are sailing under a griffin flag now." The proposed idea silenced the captains who now shared an anxious look.

"But the Edict is the only one I'm worried about," I declared, holding up my amulet for them all to see. "Because it's the only one that can put up a fight against this." The ponies hummed at the sight of it while Barges tilted his head and twisted his thin beard with two fingers.

"That's the amulet that controls the tides, isn't it? The one you three left to find?" He asked.

"Precisely that," I said with a nod and a smirk. "And once we're done with Ben, it'll be our ticket to rebuilding the Flying Gang." The captains shared a look as Barges shook his head.

"Ah, going to have to disagree with you there, Captain," he declared causing me to flinch. He held a hand out to me with an apologetic smile. "The Flying Gang is finished. This business with Ben is, as far as I'm concerned, the last official action of our collective." He folded his hands with a nod.

"And this only because I know that if left to their own devices, the griffins will be able to quash our profession in all corners of the world," he added, earning a shocked look from me. He shook his head again. "After the Edict is destroyed, I apologize, but I'll be making my way west to ply for a fortune elsewhere." The other captains murmured similar ideas and I stared at them all in wonder before Greg hopped forward.

"Actually, I have something to add!" He declared with a raised hoof. "Some of the officers who occupied Naysow were very open when drunk. I managed to pry a few details about our enemy from them." Our attention fell upon him as he turned to the other captains.

"As you can expect, the Edict requires a large crew," he explained. As everyone's attention was on him, no one noticed the even glare I had fixed them all with. "As a result, it is a wildly expensive investment both in capital and in bodies." Suddenly, something nudged my hand and something else grabbed my arm. Looking over, I saw Amethyst and Cat had slipped closer with the latter wrapping her arm around me and the former giving me a reassuring smile.

"Should it be destroyed and even half of its crew go down with it, the economic and social repercussions will be devastating," Greg continued as the pair hugged up to me. "By my estimates, Griffinstone won't recover for at least eight, maybe ten generations." I finally sighed and rubbed Amethyst's ear while hooking my arm up around Cat's arm.

"Of course, this will be a definitive end to their war, but it may also lead to a very profitable period for those of us willing to profit from the misfortunes of others," Greg chirped, sitting down to clap his forehooves together. "They'll be scrambling to make up their losses through trade or perhaps even shutting down all those colonies they've set up. Lots of ships moving back and forth to transfer cargo and hostages, hey?" He nodded with a bright smile before turning back to me. Now that they were all giving me their attention again, I nodded and pulled away from Cat and Amethyst.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," I declared with a sigh. "For now, I plan to have my ship approach the Edict first. I'll use the tides to try and capsize it. Doubtlessly, they'll use their magic to fight against that, but I believe I can still keep them pinned." I swept my hand evenly back and forth.

"If I can manage that, you should be able to approach from the stern or bow and rake her with your guns from both those positions," I explained, wagging a finger at them all. "Under no circumstances should we approach from the sides." The captains all nodded and a weight fell upon my shoulders.

"Captain Cutter!" Orange chirped, as she craned her head forward from where she was perched upon me. "You remember that trick Zama pulled? When you guys sunk Arnoso's ship, the Kraken?"

"She snuck aboard and blew the powder magazine," I offered earning a nod.

"Let us try something like that! We can fly!" She gestured to herself and the other bat ponies who were watching us from a nearby rooftop.

"If the opportunity presents itself. But I'd prefer to have you all on standby to repel the griffins if they fly at us," I explained earning another nod from her. I turned and pointed at the fortress. "You should all decide who's going to be leading the shooting from either end of the ship. Whoever it is should take the guns from the fort to bolster your firepower."

"Won't that leave Naysow defenseless?" Tangle asked, drawing a snort from me as I waved my hand toward the square.
"They're fucking defenseless already and they like it that way, apparently," I spat. "Fuck 'em." Barges hummed with an appreciative nod at my declaration.

"Gather everything you need for the journey, but only for the journey," I ordered, leveling my hand at them. "Fill the rest of your hold with powder and shot." I began to stride toward my ship to give orders to my crew, patting Barges on the shoulder as I passed through the other captains.

"We either pull this off, or that's it for us," I declared before turning away from them all. "See you on the other side."

Barges had given Catarina one of his three ships which she'd rechristened the Delight. As a result, she wasn't joining me in my cabin tonight as she had for most of our return voyage. Instead, as I sat at my table smoking, Orange sprawled out belly up on my bed with a happy smile on her face. The six dozen bat ponies were spread out among our ships but the majority were aboard the Night Terror as we were going to be what kept the Edict pinned in place if all went well. Thus, if Ben realized that, we were a prime target for boarders or firepots.

In truth, I believe Orange just wanted to have access to scritches for the entire voyage.

Regardless, I took a heavy puff of smoke and let it out in a quiet chortle. Even if this was the last voyage of the Flying Gang, it wouldn't matter. Once Ben was dead, and I had the gem to compliment my amulet, I'd be able to dominate the sea all on my own. Hell, even if the rest of the crew abandoned me, I'd do just fine.

Greg estimated it take decades for the griffins to recover from what we were about to achieve. If that was true, surely it would also unnerve the ponies of Equestria. 'Is it worth angering James Cutter?' They'd ask themselves.

And if the answer was anything other than 'No,' I'd prove them wrong. I'd lay waste to all their coasts and ports. I'd plunder and sink every ship. I'd devastate their entire world until Celestia finally-

"You're smoking way too much," Amethyst quietly chided, having appeared while I was lost in thought. In response, I bent over in a coughing fit I struggled to get under control. As it slowly faded, I glanced up to confirm Orange was still asleep before glaring at Amethyst.

"What's it to you?" I demanded, quietly clearing my throat. She met my glare with one of her own.

"I know what that stuff is and what it can do to a fellow, Cutter," she retorted before her expression softened. "Especially one who has suffered the way you have." I recoiled and looked her up and down.

"Fuck you mean by that?" I huffed. She sat down right at my feet.

"With everything you've gone through and all the friends you've lost, your mind isn't in a good place," she said casting a sad glare at my pipe on the table. "Like it or not, the laurels will react and mess with your dreams." She turned back to me with a frown.

"They'll give you what you want, even if you tell yourself otherwise," she explained, pressing her hoof against my knee. "If it's really bad, they'll dredge up something to let you scapegoat your wants upon." Before I could argue she leaned forward.

"You've seen her, haven't you?" She whispered causing me to jolt. "Cat told me she caught you sleepwalking and leering at the moon." My jaw dropped and she shook her head.

"It's not her, James," she urged causing me to fling my pipe's hose across the table.

"How the fuck would you know?" I spat, leaning forward on my knees to glare down at her.

"Like I said, I know what they can do to you," she said, removing her hoof and scooting back a few steps. "While we're on the topic, let me ask you: What does she look like? Does she have a definite shape or is it more amorphous?" I furrowed my brow and looked to the side in thought.

"You told me you never actually saw her after she fought with Celestia; you only heard some vague descriptions from the castle staff," she pressed, leaning forward and tilting her head to look up at me. "If it was actually her, don't you think-" I sharply huffed and threw myself back against my chair.

"Maybe! Maybe not!" I spat, folding my arms and tapping my foot. "Who knows? Maybe the Elements fucked her up."

"Maybe," she hummed.

"And why the fuck does it matter? Huh?" I snapped, glaring at her again. "Why the fuck do you care?"

"Because of the way you've been carrying yourself," she replied, shaking her head. "You're really planning to go on the warpath and conquer the sea, aren't you?" I blinked and then shot her an uneasy smirk.

"What's wrong with that?" I demanded quietly.

"The motive," she said just as quietly. "I think some part of you started to understand the severity of what happened to her and why your plan wouldn't work." She stood up and reared up on my knees.

"And now the laurels are giving you an out to keep trying anyway," she took a deep breath and shook her head as she sighed. "I can't believe I have to say this, but going to war because of a drug-induced hallucination isn't a good idea, Cutter." I grimaced and tried to look away but she pulled my face forward with a hoof.

"I left my home to escape a mad tyrant who played with and was eventually consumed by power he barely understood," she frowned and tilted her head against mine. "I hope you'll excuse me if I'm a bit sensitive to the warning signs of something similar happening right in front of me." I scowled hard at her as she spoke.

"You can hate me if you want, but please, as your friend," she stood on the tips of her hooves to hug me. "Just try sleeping without smoking tomorrow night. You'll see I'm right." She pulled away and gave me a sad nod before trotting out the cabin door. Once it was shut, I quickly snatched up my pipe hose and resumed smoking, though now with one arm wrapped across my chest and my foot tapping anxiously the entire time.

Our combined fleet was eleven ships strong, with Barges commanding a frigate and two sloops, one of which he gave to Catarina. Tangle, Jamboree, Low, and Amethyst all used sloops, while Swan Song, Little, Greg, and I held brigs.

As a result of our mixed and mighty lineup, any griffins that happened upon us immediately turned and fled. While this meant we had an easy cruise up north, it also meant that our enemies were given forwarning about our approach. So, upon a sudden, the horizon was consumed by the massive silhouette of the impossibly huge Edict and a large consort of a dozen and a half other ships.

"Why the hell are they bothering to back that monster up?" Bolt huffed as he and I stood on the quarterdeck.

"Ben probably guessed something was up," I replied as I scanned the enemy fleet through my glass. I couldn't help but hiss at what I saw. "I don't know the captains by name, but I recognize a few of those ships."

"From Naysow?" He grunted, folding his arms.

"From Naysow," I growled before stowing my glass and gesturing to the ships on either side of us. "Send word down the line to get ready. Let's confirm Ben's suspicions." I raised my arms to either side as he stomped off to yell to the other ships. Once my arms were up, a weight fell on my shoulders.

"Is it time?" Orange chirped.

"About to be. Get the others ready," I replied, to which she chittered and then zipped down to the lower decks. I took a breath and focused on the amulet and the sea. Ahead, I could see the Edict and her consort of ships turning to sweep the entire sea with a broadside the likes of which the world had never seen before.

They never got the chance, as at that moment, I swung my arms forward. It was slow at first, but steadily gained speed and power as the magic of the amulet around my neck jostled the bow of my ship and then sent a wave rolling forward. As it moved, it grew and grew and spread out to either side gaining power and size all the while.

Though we were out of shouting range, I could still gauge the panic the sudden swell was causing as the air suddenly shifted and began to swirl, violently heaving the giant ship back to take the wave head-on.

"Yes," I hissed as I grasped the quarterdeck rail. The cumbersome behemoth rocked and crashed as the wave rolled beneath it. As the wave flowed away, I spied that it had taken most of the consort with it, leaving behind only five ships, all of which I recognized from Naysow. I chortled grimly and whistled to Bolt and Cast at either side of the ship. "It's time!"

With a matching pair of salutes, they shouted to our allies and they began making their way. Catarina, Swan Song, Greg, Low, and Little were taking the bow, while Tangle, Amethyst, Jamboree, and Barges all sailed forward to the stern. They'd take a long route to keep out of the Edict's range while I continued jostling the water to threaten Ben into keeping his ship straight. Unfortunately, as quickly became apparent, the remaining consort ships were in a position to threaten either side of the Edict and therefore anyone attempting to sail around it.

To the left, there was a frigate and a brig with twenty and twelve guns respectively. To the right, there were three sloops, two with twelve guns and one with sixteen. By the time we realized the two sets were in position to cause us problems, Amethyst and the others were out of shouting range. Seemingly, they'd elected to try their luck against the sloops and were sailing to the right while the rest of us moved forward to blast the ship's bow.

As maneuvering proceeded, to our fortune Ben kept his ship steady and let his consort get into better lines on either side, and so for a long while we operated in a tense silence, my eyes constantly darting up to our allies as they drifted further and further away.

Then suddenly the shooting started. The trio of sloops shot first and Amethyst's line returned fire. The Good Morning was at the head of the line and so took the brunt of the impact, but was still sailing by the time Barges' Royal Bastard frigate and her forty guns were lined up to return fire. One of the sloops was immediately sunk by his volley and another had her mast snapped off by the rest of the line. A cheer rang up from my crew and the other ships near us as the last sloop dropped sail and began to run, followed slowly by the demasted ship which had deployed oars to get the hell out of the way.

"Captain! That damned frigate's coming this way!" One of our ponies yelled. Turning, I saw that the frigate on the left of the Edict was barreling toward us on its own.

"Shit!" I hissed and swept my arms out to try and slam it with a wave. However, the frigate suddenly lurched and banked hard, swiveling her guns into position.

"Bastard's dropped anchor!" Cast yelled. Right as I threw a wave at them, they unloaded a volley at us. The frigate was thrown onto her side by my wave, but not before her cannons managed to slam Low's sloop. The little ship bounced violently and then began to sink onto its side, visibly taking on water. The only consolation came that the volley hadn't hit anyone else and the frigate was itself now sinking.

As I watched the sloop fall, Yas from the Delight between us and Little's ship suddenly yelled out. "Little says he sees survivors and he'll fish them out! Focus on the Edict!"

"Roger!" I yelled back before doing as he suggested. To our fortune, the remaining brig and two sloops were now disengaging and fleeing the field, leaving just us and Ben. Despite the injuries to her ship, Amethyst and her line slowly disappeared behind the behemoth. I took a deep breath to steady my heartbeat as I looked over the massive obstruction between us. "One way or the other, I'll see you again."

I drew my sword to get the crew's attention. "Fire at will!"

Seconds turned to minutes before approaching a full hour, during which time we hammered the bow of the Edict with everything we had. Never once did I have to make more than a token effort with the amulet as Ben never tried using the wind to reorient himself and just kept the ship steady. Seemingly, because he could sense how little damage we were doing, at least on our side.

Obviously, I had no clue how things were going on the opposite end of the ship. Then suddenly, everything changed.

"Cutter! Check their forecastle!" Yas yelled. Furrowing my brow, I scanned the ship with my glass before hissing.

"Get word down the line! They've moved some of their guns to the front!" I yelled as I looked over the teams of griffins heaving their cannons into position. From the angle, I had a hard time counting them out, but there were at least twenty, probably way more.

Then the wind cut.

And the mortars went off.

My whole crew watched in horror as the flaming balls arched through the air, no longer bothered by the wind Ben was whipping up, and then descended solely upon the Night Terror. I cried out and tried to rock our ship out of the way with a few waves and narrowly managed to avoid the full volley. But a few fireballs still smashed into our side and sent its burning payload up over our larboard rail. A number of the crew were caught in the splash and went screaming to the opposite rail as they burned before throwing themselves overboard.

I struggled and heaved up more waves to throw upon the fire that had started when one of the dogs working the guns below deck burst through a hatch. "Fire below decks!"

Then the Edict fired its forward guns. The bastard had timed his shots well, and since I was still reeling from the firebombing, I didn't have time to use the amulet to help us avoid the attack. The crew and I hit the deck for cover as the cannonballs smashed into us. When I finally stood back up to survey the damage, I saw that Greg had lost his mast and Catarina was taking on water.

"Fucking hell," I huffed, leaning over the rail to check our side. We'd wound up taking less damage from the cannons but there was still a fire going on which the crew was scrambling to put out. A dog's head popped out of a gun port and looked up at me.

"Captain! Throw another wave in here!" He yelled before disappearing. I grunted before complying and then looked up at the Edict, whose crew was already visibly preparing for another volley.

"Christ, they're probably doing the same thing to Amethyst," I hissed. As I glared up at the ship, a weight fell upon my shoulders.

"Now?" Orange chirped. I grimaced as I leered at the monster for a few moments before clenching my eyes and nodding.

"Please come back to me, alright?" I murmured, reaching up and scratching the side of her face. She leaned into my hand with a happy hum.

"I'll do my best," she said before spreading her wings and taking off with a screech. Hearing her call, the bat ponies from the other ships also took off. They flew low, using the gunsmoke as cover and nearly trod the water as they soared forward. Still, as they banked and arched up to try and force entry through the gunports, they were spotted and bolts and spears were suddenly hurled their way. I winced and clenched the rail as with every moment they grew closer to the ship, more and more of the swarm suddenly dropped into the water.

Despite the griffin's efforts, the swarm reached the side of the ship and began slipping inside like an army of little ants vanishing into the ground. I drew my spyglass and scanned the rail of the ship, as I couldn't see their deck. To my relief, the teams that were operating the forward guns had stopped working and were arguing with what looked like a higher-ranked officer. Their attention kept snapping back toward the stern and likely where Ben was lurking, which made me furrow my brow.

"The hell are you planning," I murmured.

"Fire's under control but all the powder we had ready is wet!" One of the dogs yelled up.

"Hurry and get it swapped! Something's happening with their gun crew and we have some time!" I yelled back as I scanned the ship. I recoiled as suddenly some of the griffins drew swords and began yelling at one of Ben's old crew mates who came stomping up. The dog threw his arms up and argued with them before a fight broke out.

"Captain," Bolt suddenly piped up, jostling my shoulder. Turning to him, I saw he was pointing upward. "The wind." Looking in the direction he pointed I could see the wind was blowing in what seemed to me to be a more natural manner. We shared a look at the development before I glanced back at the Edict and gasped when I saw little black dots shooting out of its gunports. Peering through my glass, I saw it was the bat ponies, but before I could search for Orange, the proof they'd pulled off their mission came to light.

And a fireball erupted like a volcano through the deck and gunports of the Edict. I had to hit the deck to cover my eyes and ears from the noise of it. It was so loud and so violent that it actually shook the whole ship worse than any cannon volley we'd ever endured.

I panted as the deafening boom slowly eased into a dull, echoing roar that filled the air above us and as I stood up straight, I balked at the towering fire rising into the sky. As the noise settled, it was replaced with cheers bellowing out from all of our ships which only redoubled as a few smaller explosions burst out across the ruined ship.

I sighed in relief before tensing up and scanning the sky. Through the smoke and the spray of sea water thrown up by the blast, I could make out the forms of bat ponies either hurrying back to their home ships or dancing with each other in the air.

"Where-" I huffed as I patted myself down for my glass to no avail. "Where is she? Where-" A cough caused me to jump and I whirled around to see a soot-covered bat pony standing on the rail beside me shaking her coat.

"Whew! Almost didn't make it!" Orange chirped just before I snatched her up in my arms.

I glared through my spyglass at the longboat sail in the distance and the diamond dog working its rudder. They'd evidently taken the magic gem and embedded it into a golden crown which Ben was now wearing and using to control the wind.

"Shortly after all our bats invaded his ship, he emerged in a longboat through a big hatch in the stern," Jamboree reported. The fucker and a few of his officers had bailed the second they realized what we were doing. I growled as I clamped my glass shut and stowed it before turning. The other captains who were still able had gathered on my deck, though Catarina was currently sitting and sulking.

"She sunk again," she murmured, at which Swan Song gently patted her back. Cat's luck wasn't the worst though, as Low hadn't survived his ship getting blasted, the Good Morning was lost, and Amethyst was currently unconscious aboard the Royal Bastard. Barges' doctor was certain she'd survive, but she'd lost her right rear leg and horn when, as I predicted, Ben had a set of guns moved to the rear to blast the stern team.

And he thinks he can just run?

"All those able, make ready," I hissed as I considered the burning wreck currently polluting the water with its debris. "We move with the tide and the tide moves for me."

The sun was nearly gone by the time we caught up to them. Ben had run his longboat aground and taken off inland and through the woods, leaving behind the eight griffins who were with him. They stood on the shore arguing before they realized we were upon them and bolted. All but three took to the sky and flew away, while those still on the ground took off after Ben. As a result, when we made landfall ourselves, they'd left tracks for us to follow.

I didn't wait for any of our allies to disembark before I took off at a full and rage-fueled sprint, my blunderbuss loaded and lit. Of course, despite my headstart, I was in the company of quadrupeds and flying folk, so they quickly caught up to me as I dashed through the trees.

As Orange and the few bat ponies who'd survived the attack whirled through the treetops, screeching and listening, my eyes darted around the darkening forest floor. As always, the vibrancy of things still stuck out to me, and as a result, I caught sight of something glittering in the brush. Upon digging it out, I huffed.

It was the crown Ben had been wearing and was cause enough for me to get everyone's attention. As the bat ponies swarmed in and examined the magic headwear with me, Cat and the rest finally caught up.

"I don't dare hope I could convince you to give that up?" A voice called, drawing our attention forward along the path we'd been running. There, we saw the three griffins who'd chased after Ben. Of course, one was the bespectacled guy and the other was the one with swords. The third was seemingly just a regular soldier and was positively quaking in his feathers at the sight of us. The bespectacled guy adjusted his glasses and fixed me with a glare. "Prior to becoming a tool of war, it was His Excellency's crown." I considered the crown and turned it over, spotting the magic gem in its face.

"It was meant to be symbolic of his faith in the admiral and the Edict," Glasses added, earning a grunt from the swordsbird.

"Where's Ben?" I demanded, looking up at them and pushing past the rest of our gang. Glasses flinched before nodding.

"The admiral has cut us loose with orders to return to Griffinstone and inform His Excellency of his self-imposed exile," he explained with a hard, shuddering sigh. "Congratulations, Throat-Cutter. You've won."

"Where'd he run to?" I demanded as I stalked closer, hooking the crown into my belt.

"What?" He huffed.

"That way?" I asked, pointing back the way they'd come. He held up his claws as his companion grabbed his swords.

"Wait-" Was the last thing he said before I swept my gun down and blasted him. The swordsbird tumbled to the side, managing to avoid more than a scratch while the out-of-his-depth grunt fell over screaming and cowering from me. Before the swordbird could attack, I grabbed at the air and swept my arm at him, successfully hurling a gust of wind that knocked him out of the way.

Then I took off, willing the wind itself to quicken my steps. "Cutter!" Someone called after me. Every step I took cleared dozens of feet as I all but flew through the woods. Eventually, the moonlight came streaming down upon me as I broke through the woods and into a rocky clearing through which a stream was flowing.

There at the stream, I saw him, bent over and splashing water into his face and mouth. As I hurled toward him he jolted and jumped to his feet before whirling around and holding his sword out at me. I landed a few yards away and drew my sword as well. The chase finally caught up to us both and we began panting in quiet harmony for a little while.

His gaze was firm but his expression was sorrowful, and he slowly held up a paw. "Jim, before you kill me," he huffed, slowly shaking his head. "I'm sorry." I tilted my head as I slowly traced my sword left and right.

"It had to be done," he added with a momentary croak in his voice. "My future or yours." He gestured between us.

"You or me," he murmured, tears forming as he leveled his sword and slowly advanced. "Same as ever." I narrowed my eyes as his pace quickened.

"Wasn't personal," he sobbed, weaving his sword as he approached swinging distance. "Stung like hell, but Devil take me, it wasn't personal." He paused just outside of stabbing range with his sword level. Slowly, I brought my sword up and ran it up and down the edge of his before setting it still.

"Not to you," I replied.

Our swords snapped through the moonlight casting silvery sparks into the air as we struck. He swept his sword toward me, but I caught it and spoiled his swing before thrusting at me. Using the momentary bind, he forced my stab to go wide before retreating and snapping the tip of his sword across my sleeve.

Hammering the pommel of my sword sideways, I knocked his blade aside and wrenched my wrist to swipe across his arm. He whirled away and leaped back before catching himself and diving at me again.

"Why don't you six stay here for the evening? I wanna hear how that mangy cat croaked."

I slapped his sword up and reached forward, taking him by the sleeve and yanking him in.

"You did him in? No kidding! Oh! That must've stung to get done in by a novice!"

Despite my attempt to throw him down, he caught himself and tumbled away from me, letting his coat rip as he withdrew.

"Despite my appreciation for what you did, I get it: It's difficult speaking about your first."

I jumped after him, hammering my sword down with all my weight. He just barely got his sword up in time to redirect the chop. As soon as he did, he lurched to the side and dragged his sword, slicing me across the shoulder.

"You could do like I did when I was a younger hound. You could seize your future by the bollocks and steer it how you want."

His motion mixed with his exhaustion from his attempted escape and age all made a poor combination, however.

"Fear can be overcome, Mr. Cutter. Ineptitude righted. But a staunch refusal is a powerful misfortune."

He fell over.

"Not a bad haul for your first outing, Captain."

And I was upon him.

"Your success is now our success! Best of luck to you, Captain!"

I stamped my full weight into his sword hand at the wrist. He cried out and drew a knife before slamming into my calf.

"These are the six Merits of the Flying Gang. Well! I suppose we're only five. But you'd make six, wouldn't you?"

I fell on top of him and hammered my hilt into his jaw. Then as he reeled, I did it again.

"Of those three, you're the only one I can actually stand."

And again.

"I wanted to prove to this lot that you had the makings of something grand. The merit to help this operation really prosper."

And again.

"The fella I talked with, who gave me that lead. Must've slipped me some bad intelligence. I think it's a whole conspiracy against you."

And again.

"You know where to find me. Find all of us."

"I know."

And again.

"It wasn't personal."

And then Cat grabbed my arm which was bloodied up to the elbow. All of it was his. She pulled me off of him as he lay there, unrecognizable and unmoving.

"I'm sorry."

"What was that?" One of the council ponies asked. I heaved as I leaned hard upon my knees. "Captain Cutter?" I heaved again and fell from my seat, clutching the back of my head.

"What are you-" She recoiled as I began howling.

"Magnolia, let's take a recess," one of the others eventually said.

"Oh for crying out loud. Somepony, go get the princess," she spat.