Many mysterious and wonderful things happen in land of Equestria. The smell of adventure can be around every street corner. But some say the smell is richer the higher you are and it is at its peak when one reaches the edge of the atmosphere. Maybe that is what draws many of Equestria's inhabitant to the great shipping lanes of the skies, where vessels of every shape and size transport exotic goods near and far across the globe. Though the thought of sailing through the clouds, high above the ground below is exhilarating to some, it can be a plague to others. The higher skies can be as treacherous as any sea, and other unseen dangers have been known to claim multitudes of ship. But perhaps the most feared of all dangers that lurk in the sky, that travel under a cloak of darkness, that have shattered ships as they fly, are the terrible and dreaded sky pirates.
Captain Thundersnow peered through his telescope at the small merchant ship below him. He was perfectly hidden from his hiding spot on a nearby cloud. It also helped that none of the crew could see him past their hydrium balloon.
"Think we should take it boss?" said his pegasus lackey.
Thundersnow slapped his telescope together and tossed it to the pegasus.
"Patience laddie," he said slowly, "we got a wee bit more reconnaissance to do 'fore we make our move."
A little yellow wasp popped out over his shoulder, buzzing madly as he made strong gestures with his six tiny legs. Thundersnow chuckled heartily.
"Tha's right lil' Jackie, now follow me."
Thundersnow stretched his pale yellow wings and jumped off the cloud.
It should be noted, the air up here is far thinner than it is on the ground, and so a pegasus would have to fall thousands of feet before his wings would be of any use. Then again why would that ever stopped a pirate?
Thundersnow glided easily to a cloud that was level with the ship's deck. His underling crashed beside him with a loud 'omf'. Thundersnow clenched his teeth as he grabbed the pegasus' face.
"Ave' you not heard of the notion of stealth lad! Make another sound and I'll string you up and toss you off this cloud. Now get me looking glass!" He tossed the pegasus back into the cloud.
"R-right boss. H-here."
Thundersnow snatched the telescope out of his shaky hoof. He gave him quick glare and peered through the telescope.
"Aye, It's a beauty of a ship. Two decks of cannon, a generous cargo hold, and mechanical rigging. A tad oversized, but a fine ship nonetheless"
He examined the deck from bow to stern. Noting its name, the R.S.A.S. Twilight's Heart and how many of the crew there were. He stopped at the sight of a young minotaur.
"Well that's a slight problem, gonna 'ave to wake Mr. Face for this one."
He continued observing until he reached the bow. There, standing at the railing, was a sight to behold. A flowing red mane with a tricorn hat perched atop her head, just before her horn. A saber was slung around her shoulder along with a telescope of her own. A weathered overcoat adorned her as it flapped in the wind.
"What a dish." Thundersnow whispered. He zoomed in on her. Luckily she was facing away from him. He took a quick look at the emblem on her coat. "And a Royal Air Marshal to boot."
He was quick to shove a hoof in his partner's mouth. Only when he calmed down did Thundersnow remove it.
"An Air Marshal Captain? I'm thinking this is bad idea."
Thundersnow rolled his eyes.
"I don't recall askin' you to think. ’Sides laddie, you just leave her to me."
He raised his glass and focused it on her rump.
"I'd like to take a crack at that." He grinned.
He collapsed the telescope and threw it back to the skipper.
"Get back to the ship and wait for my signal."
The skipper looked over the edge of the cloud and gulped.
"That might be a problem boss."
Thundersnow rolled his eyes and drew his sword. With a quick slash he sliced the cloud in two and kicked it away with the skipper on it.
"Now flap your chicken wings or I'll lop 'em off next time."
The skipper hugged the cloud tightly and flapped his wings into the thick clouds. Thundersnow's pet wasp chortled at the sight.
"Too right Jackie. A'right you know what to do. Get the marshal first."
The wasp saluted and made a bee-line towards the ship. The wasp readied its barb, ready to inject a paralyzing poison into its victim. The marshal's ear twitched, and caught the wasp in a magical field.
"Daft horse feathers." Thundersnow grumbled as he propelled himself towards the ship.
The marshal turned around to focus on the furious little wasp banging inside the golden orb.
"Well, well, well, well, what do we have here? Some yet undiscovered species of high altitude wasp? Or perhaps some kind of familiar? But familiar to whom..."
The marshal slowly scanned the cloudscape. Thundersnow dove into his cloud, trying not to breath. The marshal approached the port railing as she lit up her horn.
"Who goes there?" She bellowed
"Got a strong voice, that mare has." Thundersnow whispered to himself as he rubbed his ear.
"I'm giving you one chance. Show yourself!"
When no answer came back she obliterated the nearest cloud. Rain splashed onto Thundersnow’s cloud, causing it to shrink and dissolve like cotton candy. He quickly separated the melting section as she blasted another cloud.
"Come out!" The Marshal lowered her horn directly at Thundersnow's hiding spot. Thundersnow gasped and sprouted out from his hiding spot.
"Good evenin' there lass! Ah fine night to be sailin' the skies wouldn'tcha say?" He called out in a friendly tone.
The Marshal shot him a disbelieving scowl.
"And what's a scoundrel like you hanging about my ship? And don't tell me you're out for a late night cloud swim.
"Ah don't be so harsh love!" Thundersnow laughed. "Twas merely scouting out the skies. You can never be too careful in these here parts."
"Mm, oh, yes, sagely advice. I'll be sure to remember it," said the Marshal as she polished her telescope. "Oh! By any chance would this belong to you?" She shook the magic orb which contained Jackie. Thundersnow threw up his legs and spread his wings wide. The reacted by pointing her glowing horn at him.
"No sudden moves!"
"Beggin' your pardon lass," he said as he clasped his hooves to his chest, "but ye found me beloved pet wasp. I been search the entire night fer the little fella and here he be in the care of the finest air marshals I ever did lay eyes upon."
"I thought you were scouting."
"Er, I was. I was searching an' scoutin' love."
Thundersnow ducked into the cloud to avoid a magical blast. He peaked over the edge back at her.
"I am Marshal Ariel Sira and if you address me as love one more time you'll find yourself on the freefall express. Now where is your vessel?"
Thundersnow scratched his chin for a moment as if in deep thought. He then cast a glance upwards and grinned.
"Right there."
The Marshall twisted around to see a black ship descending upon them like a hawk. Arial Turned back to see that the Thundersnow was hopping from cloud to cloud back to his ship. She was fuming, nevertheless she had a job to do. With her magic she drew her cutlass and rang the alarm vigorously.
"All hooves on deck! We are under attack!" she bellowed.
Panicked sailors charged onto the main deck, preparing for battle. Cannons were rolled into position and cutlasses were passed out. The minotaur slipped on a pair of heavy iron punching gloves. An older pony with a distinct red uniform approached the Marshal.
"What's the situation Marshal?"
"Pirates at six o'clock high Captain. Expect a boarding party. MOVE YOUR SORRY PLOTS!" She yelled at the sailors. "They'll be here any second! You five! Get below deck. Tauren needs room to maneuver."
As if on cue, dark streaks jumped off the enemy ship, and headed straight for them. Ariel Jumped to the bow with her cutlass at the ready.
"Gentlecolts, get ready to fight 'cause you very life now depends on it!"
The sailors gathered closer together as the dark streaks sped towards them. All of the sudden they broke off going far out the sides.
"What's going on?"
"I don't know!"
"Do you think they fell past us?"
"Where'd they go!"
The sailors started to drift to the sides of the ship, trying to spot the enemy. When Ariel saw this was happening she tried to warn them.
"No don't! Get away from the edge!"
She was too late as the dark streaks glided in, either running the sailors through or knocking them overboard. Now it was a free for all, the remaining sailors charged the pirates in a furious flurry of metal, feathers, and hooves. Ariel didn't hesitate to jump in the action and quickly dispatched two pirates. She caught one in the corner of her eye trying to drop down on her, but before the pirate could run her through he collided with an ironclad fist, sending the pirate, along with some of the ships railing, over the edge. Ariel smiled at the young minotaur.
"Thanks Tauren."
"My pleasure," He said in a deep gravelly voice. He turned his attention back to pummeling the pirates that so rudely interrupted his late night watch. The pirate ship was still descending and it's deck was almost level with Twilight's Heart. Ariel bucked two pirates in the face before shouting at the battling Captain.
"Captain! The ship is in firing range of the starboard cannons!"
The Captain slugged a pirate and nodded in acknowledgement. He then bellowed into the ship's communication system.
"Starboard cannons knock those filthy sky pirates out of the stratosphere."
The ponies below deck lit the fuses and covered their ears. A volley of cannon fire split the air and ravaged the enemy hull. The pirates, however, were prepared and retaliated with a volley aimed at the top deck. One of the shot hit a deck cannon, it was sent flying over the port side, taking a few pirates and sailors along with it. The smoke and flame it caused hid something that boarded the ship. A few of the sailors charged in only to be violently knocked back. Ariel stood her ground as the deck shook under its steps. The sailors backed away in sheer terror as the enormous figure grabbed a cannon and threw it out of its way. It was the biggest minotaur Ariel had ever seen, it must have had several hundred pounds on Tauren. It could hardly turn its head it was so muscular, which gave Ariel a perfect view of its face when it laid eyes on her. She could see the rage building in its eyes, and it dragged its hoof along the deck, leaving deep gouges. She took a step back as he charged, but Tauren jumped in the way, and like a pro wrestling star, grabbed the minotaur by the neck and threw him into the deck, rattling the whole ship in the process. Ariel was dumbfounded as Tauren fought to keep the giant minotaur down.
"Mountain Face is quite the specimen ain't he love?" said a familiar voice.
Ariel turned around to see Captain Thundersnow sitting on top of the downed Captain and leaning on his cutlass. Ariel hopped up the same deck and leveled her cutlass at him.
"I demand that you cease and surrender yourself at once!" she fumed.
"Fat chance love. You're in no condition to make demands of me. 'Sides, this here's a losin' battle. You don't want any more blood on ye hooves now do you?"
Ariel stole a glance at the scene below. The pirates were overwhelming the sailors and Tauren couldn't hold off that monster forever. Perhaps she could...
"I took an oath when I joined the Air Marshals, and I shall honor if it means protecting these sailors." she glowered at Thundersnow. Thundersnow grinned at her and gestured her to bow. Ariel reluctantly got down on one leg, conceding defeat. Thundersnow Then hopped up to the rail and declared.
"Lads we have an unconditional surrender!"
The pirates let out a celebratory hurrah as the remaining sailors dropped their weapons and were herded into a corner. The battered Tauren was thrown into the corner from the other end of the ship, and Mountain Face huffed heavily through his nostrils. Thundersnow's goons raced up and pinned Ariel down as he her sword away. He flipped it over in his hooves, testing it as with a couple of slices through the air.
"That's a good lass. Now as me lads search ye ship maybe we can get to know each other, eh? There's always a position on me rig for a pretty lass such as yourself."
"Over my dead body, you pirate sc
She shut her eyes as he flashed the sword dangerously close to her head. When she opened her eyes there was a scarlet lock of hair on the deck before her. The cold tip of the cutlass touched her chin and she raised her head.
"I've killed marshals for less than that sweet heart. Now. Here's how it's going down." He withdrew the sword and gestured to the ship with it. "I feel like it’s time to expand me operations and I'm quite smitten with ye ship here. So I would greatly appreciate it if you would all be me honored prisoners at me camp."
Thundersnow Jumped onto the rigging so all could see him.
"And to show that there are no hard feelins', I be offering you a chance to join me crew. What da ya say?"
The trembling sailors looked to each, whispering amongst themselves. Thundersnow cast Ariel a gloating smile. One of the sailors stepped forward.
"This job wasn't paying enough anyway." The rest of the sailors nodded in agreement.
Tauren was not amused as he shoved the pony to the side as he got to his hooves.
"I ain't going anywhere with you pirates!" he wheezed. A pirate flew up and shoved him back into the corner.
Thundersnow turned back to Ariel.
"And what say you? Will you join us?
Ariel turned a fiery gaze at him.
"My loyalties lie with the Royal sisters, and that’s the way it will be till my dying breath!"
Ariel reared up on her hind legs and blinded her captors with a flash. She connected a vicious uppercut on the chin of a pirate and placed an expert buck that sent the other one flying overboard, screaming as he fell. She stole a sword and prepared for the pirate onslaught.
"No!" Thundersnow bellowed. He jumped of the rigging and landed in front of her.
"She's mine lads! Shame, we really coulda' had somethin' there love."
"In your dreams." Ariel retorted as she held the cheap sword in front of her.
The band of pirates chortled in excitement, making cat calls as they prepared to fight.
Ariel steeled herself as the captain lunged at her. She easily parried it and shot a bolt of magic that nearly took his wing off. Thundersnow spun around and tried to bunt her in the head with his wing. Ariel Stepped back, but a hot, stinging sensation formed on her cheek, followed by his feathers. She retreated and checked the wound. She saw a trickle of blood on her hoof and looked back to Thundersnow. Something in his wings was glinting.
"Oh it seems I gone and marred that fair face of yours, almost makes ye wish you had an extra set o' limbs don't ya?" He flexed his wings to reveal the tiny blades that were hidden in his feathers. Ariel scowled at him as her horn began to glow.
"I don't need wings when I've got magic."
She grunted as she lifted a floorboard straight into Thundersnow’s face, momentarily dazing him. The pirates that were scoffing under their breath got a nasty look from him before he turned back to Ariel.
"Not to afraid to pull punches. I like that in a mare."
He tackled her head and they wrestled for supremacy. Thundersnow got the drop on her when he pinned her on her back and held his wings to her neck. Ariel struggled a few seconds longer until he pressed his feathers closer.
"Don't think I won't kill ya lass. You really should evaluate your current predicament."
"Maybe you should too." she said.
Thundersnow felt a slight prick near his hindquarters as his eyes were drawn to her glowing horn. He smiled and chuckled inwardly.
"Are you sure you're not after me heart lass?"
"Only if I get to cut it out."
"Wouldn't have any other way," he said as he drew closer.
"Captain!"
Thundersnow shut his eyes and pursed his lips in annoyance. He then looked back at Ariel.
"Hold that thought." he whispered, "WHAT!" he yelled at the skipper.
He didn't need to be told. All he had to do was look as a giant shadow descended upon them, blocking out the moon's light with its mass.
"By Celestia's beard." He trembled. He was immediately bucked off by Ariel as the main deck quickly devolved into panic and chaos.
"Hurry! Get out of here!"
"It's the Dragon's Cradle!"
"Everypony for himself!"
"Abandon Ship!"
She couldn't believe it. The pirates were either retreating back to their own ship or leaping over the edge. Even the monstrous minotaur misjudged the distance and was now clinging on the edge of the pirate ship. Ariel looked back at the object above them. She could barely make out the large dragon's head mounted on the front of the object that dwarfed her ship. It mouth was agape and revealed a fiery glow rising up inside. Ariel dived for cover as it covered the ship in a fiery blaze.
