Gin awoke slowly and carefully, feeling her head throb as she arose from her bed. "Arrgghh... damn."

"Careful, Gin. You took a hard whack to the head." Rummy said from his chair in the corner of her room as he eased her onto the edge of the bed. "Does anythin' hurt?"

"Am I allowed to say everythin' hurts...?" Gin groaned, massaging her temple to quell the throbbing. Surprisingly, there wasn't a lump on her head at all. "Bloody hell, it feels like I've been hit by a battleship."

"You were hit by a dragon after all..." Princess Ocèara chimed in; she sat on a stool at the foot of Gin's bed. "I'm surprised you came to this quickly, to be honest. My magic heals wounds, but it doesn't pull injured out of unconsciousness."

"Gin's got a thick skull— get's it from her grandpa," Rummy smirked as his sister scowled; though, his jesting was cut short soon after Gin gave him a hard punch to the shoulder. "Ow!"

"I apologize in advance for whatever my brother says in the future, Princess," Gin said as she ran her hand through her mane. "And... thanks for the healing-thingy too. I was worried about a lump."

"You are very welcome, Ms. Fawkes," Ocèara smiled as she got up from her seat. "Can you stand?"

"Yeah, I think so... let's see," Gin grunted as the blood in her head rushed down to her hooves as she rose from the bed and stretched out, numbing the feeling in her legs. "I'll be fine. Where's the rest of the crew?"

"Upstairs on the deck. They're just rallyin' up the troops for the attack on Mystwood," Rummy said as he stood up, placing his bowler hat back on his head and fastening his long coat. He opened the door, leaving it ajar for Gin and the princess to follow. "Take your time if ya want. I'll be up there if ya need me."

"Alright, I'll catch up," Gin waved him away as she stretched her neck, moving it back a forth, up and down. The princess didn't seem to move from where she stood. Instead, she simply watched Gin as she regained her senses. "You don't have to stay, Princess, I'm alright."

"I insist that I stay, Ms. Fawkes. I don't want anything to happen to this crew whilst I'm here," Ocèara said as she sat back down on her stool.

Princess Ocèara, despite all that had happened to her— the death of her father, the state of her homeland, the constant fear of war over her head —she persisted in placing the problems of others above her own. Her presence was calming, her posture was elegant, yet there was still a tinge of doubtfulness in her demeanour— something Gin could often pick up on. Gin, whilst not the same pony as Ocèara, knew that feeling of hopelessness well; it was what she grew up with.

"Princess... why are you really stayin'?" Gin asked her as she sat back down on the edge of her bed next to Ocèara. "I know you do want to help, but... there's somethin' else. I can see it in your eyes."

"It's noth-..." Ocèara's lip quivered as she looked away, staring at Gin's open door. "I'm afraid, Ms. Fawkes is all. I'm afraid for you all. I'm afraid that what happened to my father will happen to you all as well. I keep seeing him in my mind whenever I'm alone— the face of my father as he fell from his tower. I just-... I'm afraid, Ms. Fawkes..." Ocèara turned to face Gin— eyes glossy, with an anguished expression. "For the first time in my life... I'm truly afraid."

"Listen, I don't know you too well, but... I know what you're going through." Gin said as she slowly scooted closer to Ocèara. "My father was a navy espionage agent who risked his life every day to keep the world safe from Goldblood Gaines. He loved me mother, and he loved me and Rummy. My father was my hero. But one day... Gaines found out about him being a double-agent for the Equestrians— sneaking information to Celestia..." Gin swallowed as she tried to regain her composure. "One night, our father woke us all up— told us to sneak out the window into the alleyway to find a safe place. He told us he'd meet-..." Gin covered her mouth as she choked up, shaking her head in an uncomfortable manner. "He told us he'd meet us at the pier later, but... as we left the house, we heard gunshots. Mum tried to cover our ears but we heard it— it was like shattering glass in an art museum. We were young so we didn't know any better, and we asked mum where dad was. And-... and she told us, 'Daddy's going on a really great vacation, you'll see him again when you're older...'. My dad was just stalling for us to escape..."

"Ms. Fawkes, I-..." Ocèara's eyes widened as she digested the shocking story. Gin shook her head as she swallowed her traumas, reaching out and hugging Ocèara tightly. Then, princess began to cry, as she remembered her last moments with her father. "I'm so sorry... I didn't-."

"No, don't be. I needed to tell somepony that wasn't Draven..." Gin grinned as she wiped away her tears, taking Ocèara's hand. "My father was my hero, and your father was yours, yes?"

"Yes..." Ocèara's tears fell gently as she recalled cherished memories of her beloved father. "I remember when he rescued my little cat, Iris, from the tree in our castle garden. I was so scared, I was crying and doubtful that I'd ever see her again. But then, I see my father, climbing up the tree. He grabs Iris, and then climbs down. And then, just at the middle of the trunk, my father falls off. He tumbles down and hits the stone walkway below. Yet, he's not in pain, in fact, he's invincible— all because I was smiling at him as he handed me, Iris."

"Because that's what father's do. A father makes sacrifices for their children, no matter what. He loves them, nurtures them, and always keeps a bright smile on his face for you in the evening, no matter what happened during the day." Gin grinned as she hugged Ocèara tightly. "Your father, like mine, sacrificed himself so that you could live. He was courageous in a time of hopelessness, and it was because he knew you were safe. The reason we're both here is because somepony was brave. And now, we can both be brave for others." Gin broke away from the hug, putting her hand out towards Princess Ocèara to help her up from her stool. "Let's get going. They're probably worried about us up there!"

"Indeed, Ms. Fawkes. They're probably worried that we're 'shagging'! Is that the term?" Princess Ocèara asked Gin as she got back on her hooves, curious whether she was getting her pirate lingo correct.

"I'm impressed, Princess!" Gin laughed as she let go of her hand. "You learn a lot when you spend time on a sailing ship, I suppose-!"

Ocèara hugged Gin tightly again, a warm smile on her face. "Thank you, Gin. And... you can call me Raiel."

"You're welcome, Raiel," Gin said as she returned the hug.

****

Luna, Admiral Pisces, and Field Marshal Durand gathered around the main mast of the deck, hashing out the method of attack. Luna wanted a direct approach— a full frontal assault to hammer through their defences all the way to the caverns on the other side of the city. Mystwood was dead ahead, and The Red Koi docked on the side of the river (Which, of course, the fleet admiral had stopped completely with his paramount control over water). They were just minutes away.

Field Marshal Durand shook his head as he tried to digest the Night Princess' plan. "No, we cannot do that, Princess Luna. It is far too risky. We don't have the troops to-."

"Field Marshal, I will lead the charge." Admiral Pisces interjected, reassuring the field marshal as he placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'll have Princess Luna, Daisy, Syrune, and Galaeron with me as well. We can hold off their forces whilst you storm the gates. They'll be prioritizing Luna and me over other soldiers. Because they know without us, morale shall run low. Once we break through their defences, Luna and I shall work our way to the Eclipse Caverns."

"I suppose..." The field marshal considered his plan; he knew Pisces would be nigh impossible to kill by some lowly vampires and thralls. "What of this Indigo Rose? What shall we do with them?"

"Yay! I'm with Gramps!" Daisy giggled as she hugged Pisces tightly, almost squishing him with her herculean strength.

"I'll have the rest of us split up into squads and press them back into certain areas of Mystwood so that they cannot interfere with the battle," Princess Luna turned to the others, specifically to Winslow. "Winslow, I'm putting you in charge of these teams. Organize yourselves into suitable groups of two to four."

"Yes, Princess," Winslow said as he bowed to Luna then directed his attention to the others behind him. "Line up, everypony. I'll do the dividing." Winslow walked down the hastily formed row, scratching his chin. He looked to Cyro and Jhettei first. "You two— you both can stick together. I think you work well as a team. I'll get you to go to the lower east end, where the fighting arena is."

"Alright..." Cyro said in an unusually docile voice; it wasn't like him to be so contained, and Jhettei assumed it had something to do with that other ice dragon from earlier.

"Spike, I'll have you go to the west end slums with Gin and Rummy," Winslow ordered Spike as he met him in the line up.

"I shall go with them as well, Sir Winslow." Princess Ocèara chimed in; she had replaced her fancy dress with a more appropriate battledress, fitted with a suit of armor over top a knee-length velvet skirt reinforced with leather and steel mesh. A saber in an elegantly engraved sheath also hung from her hip.

"No, your majesty, you can't..." Syrune tried discouraging her princess, but she was far too much like her father to ever be swayed. "You could-."

"I will not stand idly by watching you all fight for my country and do nothing. I must fight on behalf of my subjects and to honor my father," Princess Ocèara silenced her bodyguard with a sharp tongue and determined expression. "I was trained by my father with the saber, and my magic can heal wounds. I by no means a liability on the sidelines, and I'll be much safer away from the frontlines."

"If you insist, your majesty, I shall have you go with Rummy's squad," Winslow said as he directed the princess over to the group of three. "Your safety still must not be ignored, Princess. A larger group will guarantee such safety."

"But, Field Marshal, can we not go with her?" Galaeron asked his commanding officer Sebastian Durand, who stood between him and Pisces.

"You and Syrune are captains; we need officers to command the army. Letting you go with the princess would be a waste," The field marshal replied to him firmly. "I'm sorry, but she will be safer away from the fray."

"I shall return to you both in one piece, I promise." The princess tried to reassure her bodyguards, but they didn't seem too confident.

"Moving on then..." Winslow said as he met with Fluttershy in the row. "Fluttershy, you and I shall go to the east-."

"No, Winslow, I-... we need to go to the town square." Fluttershy interrupted him, uncomfortably crossing her arms and looking down at the ground.

"Why is this...?" Winslow wondered; she was still pondering over the sword-wielding demon who had saved her only hours ago.

"I don't know, I-... I just have a feeling that that's where I need to be is all," Fluttershy shook her head, ashamed that she had so rudely interrupted Winslow and demanded that he change his plan so suddenly.

"Very well... we'll talk about this later," Winslow nodded as he moved on to Draven and Nick. "I'll have you two pair up and press your chosen enemy to the cathedral in the north. Does this sound acceptable?"

"You bet!" Nick grinned as he patted Draven on the back. "Let's do this, Draven!"

"Alright, alright, Nick. Don't get too excited..." Draven said, trying to calm down the eager colt beside him.

"Dross, Twilight, I need you both to push back you desired foe to the lower west side. I'm sure that won't be too hard for you both." Winslow ordered the rear admiral and Twilight at the end of the row.

"We'll be fine, Winslow," Twilight assured him as she fastened her prosthetic left hand.

"I certainly hope so..." Dross muttered as he adjusted his bandana.

"Alright then, let's mobilize!" Pisces shouted out to the small army, and they obeyed without a second thought.

Docked ships pulled up their anchors, soldiers loaded their muskets and sharpened their sabres, and cannons poked out of each ship as their crew below loaded them up as well. The fleet admiral grabbed the trident off his back, spun it once, then thrust it forward, letting the river flow towards the west— Mystwood, which was still smouldering from the brutal vampire attack. Pisces also lit his pipe, breathing in the tobacco smoke; one last whiff before the battle for Mystwood.

As the group on the main deck broke up, Jhettei caught Cyro just before he went downstairs; it was clear he wasn't ready to talk, but Jhettei didn't have much time, and he wanted to know before the fight ahead. He grabbed Cyro by the shoulder and turned him around; the young dragon simply stared in a mindless daze at the wooden deck of the ship, lost in his thoughts. And as he came to, he shook his head slowly and sighed to himself. He wasn't too eager for the battle that was to come, especially if he was there— that brutish beast of an ice dragon, Sven.

"Who was that dragon, Cyro?" Jhettei asked his companion with worry in his tone.

"Do you remember when you met me all those years ago– beat up in a snow bank...?" Cyro recalled the shameful memory without any difficulty; it was the defining moment that truly changed his life, both for better and for worse.

"Yes, of course I do, why?" Jhettei raised an eyebrow at the ice dragon.

"Well... a dire bear wasn't what beat me up like that. It was him— that dragon with the red ice we fought, Sven." Cyro explained, dark memories flashing brightly in his mind like menacing streaks of lightning. "He's a member of the tribe of ice dragons I once belonged to– my father's tribe. When I ran away, my father sent Sven to bring me back, and I barely escaped him."

"And now that he's found you again, he wants to finish his task," Jhettei deduced.

"Well, not exactly, no..." Cyro sighed. "My father hates failure more than anything, and when Sven didn't complete his mission, he kicked him out permanently. He doesn't want to capture me. He wants to kill me this time... and he'll try to kill you two. I can't-... I don't want him to take anything away from me."

"It's okay, Cyro... you'll be alright. Things will be different now. You'll have me to help you fight Sven, and you're abilities have improved tremendously after training. We can take him down together. Deal?" Jhettei gave his friend a reassuring, confident grin as he put out his hand for a shake.

"Okay, Jhettei... but we have to be careful, alright? He's a devil dragon, not just any regular ice dragon." Cyro warned Jhettei as he shook his hand. "And also... thanks for helping me with this, pal."

"No problem," Jhettei gave a light chuckle as he reached into his satchel. "C'mon, let's have some sake before the fight."

Fluttershy met with Winslow on the stern deck, and she watched the waves cascade outwards behind the ship in wakes as they make their way up the river. Winslow leaned on the back railing, staring up at the fog-covered rear sail, giving Fluttershy a little time before he spoke. She turned back and joined him as she looked up the mast as well, crossing her arms again as a cool breeze flew by, causing her wings to shudder slightly.

"I'm sorry I-... if that demon didn't block my sword, you would've-."

"He didn't want to block your sword, Winslow... he wanted to stop that dragon's icicle, and he did. I think he was just trying to make it look unintentional... but I don't know why he'd do that, do you?" Fluttershy questioned Winslow as her gaze dropped back down to the main deck below.

"I don't know... perhaps he knows you? You are half-demon after all... it wouldn't be out of the question," Winslow suggested, shrugging slightly as he thought about the whole situation. "Are you sure you want to fight him? That demon is a Lord of Infernum after all... he won't be an easy foe to defeat."

"If he saved me, I think he can listen to reason... I hope." Fluttershy was all mixed up; her mind was flooded with a thousand questions regarding the demon clad in dark armor. "I just want to know why he did what he did. And if it comes to it and he isn't as friendly as I thought, we'll deal with him, right?"

"Yes, we will..." Winslow nodded, though, admittedly he was a little uneasy about fighting such a powerful being like Amon. His skills with the sword were greater than any mortal. "I think we can..."

"Good," Fluttershy said as she leaned her head on Winslow's armored shoulder.

Author's Notes:

More foreshadowing! As always, I hope you enjoyed! See you in the next chapter!