Everything felt… off.

I tried to remember what had happened, but there was an annoying hole in my memory. Thinking back, I was following Redsteel, Harp was clinging to me, helping me trot due to the loss of another of my forelegs. She was physically unharmed, fortunately, but the explosion of violence left her emotionally shaken. The fight, only Red and Majesty were meant to get involved, to die. Now, we walked away from a blood bath.

We…

I was alone, standing beside a body of water, and to my other side, the stable-tec graveyard.

“Why am I here?” I asked myself.

“You took a blow to the back of the head.” Charon’s cold windy voice called out from behind me. Turning around, Charon sat at a table, another skeleton sat opposite of her. Somehow I knew the other boney pony was a she, though unlike Charon, she looked to be made of half brilliantly blue ice. Also, unlike Charon, she didn't have a simple cloak, it looking thicker, with black fur coming out from inside the hood. “Come, you're not dead yet. Well, unless you ready to board my boat that is. The offer is always open.”

“I’m not ready.” Sighing, I trotted over. Now up close to it, I could see that the table was made of black bones. On the table was a chess board, the two in the middle of a game. “Let me see my sister.”

“I cannot do that, mortal.” Charon said coldly.

I slammed my hoof on the table. “Then she better fucking be alive!”

Charon moved a chess piece, unfazed by me. The other skeleton scratched her chin, and looked at me. “Should I sacrifice my pawn that's closer to enemy territory, or my knight that could take out her queen in two turns?” The half ice skeleton spoke with a breezy feminine voice.

“What? Who are you?” Was all I could bring myself to answer.

“I’m Hel, an old friend of Charon here.” She answered. “Now give me your answer. I also have a bishop that I can make a check with, or a Rook to block with. Which one should I sacrifice?”

I frowned. I disliked strategy games, especially ones like this. There were never my kind of fun. “I guess, none of them?”

“That would be reasonable, not losing a piece as I decimate my opponent.” Hel commented. “But, that would leave me predictable, easily controlled, and eventually losing this game before I could even get close to victory.”

I took my hoof off the table. “Sorry for the outburst, but I'm not here to play a board game. If Rototom is alive, then tell me, if not, let me talk to her.”

Hel moved the black knight, and Charon move her white rook to take out the black knight.

“She's no longer among the living.” Charon spoke, irritation in her cold voice. “But she is not here for me to send off.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

Hel got out of her seat, and trotted over to me. “She means there's a problem.” The skeleton pony placed her hooves on either side of my head, and lifted me up. “Oh how marvelous, how long has it been, Charon? Can I have it?” Spinning me around a little, I saw that my body had not moved, only my head was in her hooves.

“Put it back.” Charon huffed. “Remember, mortals are not toys.”

“No fun.” Hel grumbled before putting my head back onto my shoulders.

I checked my neck, and everything was as it should be, other than the cold, dull pain that felt all to familiar now. “So then, where's my sister if not here?”

Charon lifted up the black knight chess piece from a box that held the discarded pieces. “That's the problem, I can only guess.” She tossed it at Hel, and Hel caught it. “But I have a good idea.”

Taking a deep breath, I calmed myself. “Then tell me, if it wasn't because of me, would she still be alive?”

“I cannot tell you what I do not know for certain.” Charon finally looked at me. “But I can give you advice. Not like you’re in control of where your going anymore, but listen well all the same. The fool you met here before, the one I gave a ride, he will be the one to guide you.”

“Slowtrot? Didn't you have him dig into his own grave?” I asked.

She returned her attention back to the chessboard. “I only sent him into the direction he needed to go. But now it's time for you to wake up, as you must not linger in the land of the dead for long, or risk becoming a resident of it.”

With those words, everything faded bit by bit, until there was nothing.

I hit cold metal floor. It actually felt good in contrast to the warm air, and my aching body. My neck was not just stiff, but also had the dull cold burning that would not go away. My back also felt like pins and needles, nothing major, but enough to make me feel concerned.

Slowly getting myself up, my nose twitched at an odd smell in the air. Not off or wrong, currently not toxic, just very salty with a hint of burnt wood in the air. Opening my eyes, the light was far too strong, forcing me to block it out with my hoof.

*Thump*

I hit the ground again, now my brain remembering that my right foreleg got ripped to shreds. Pushing myself up, my eyes now adjusting themselves to the dim lighting. I found myself in small metal room, with the light come through a small, round window. Looking through it, I could see… water.

There was nothing but water, as far as my eyes could see. I backed up, my rear hitting the bed I’d fallen off from. It was a simple cot, the kind that I remember seeing in old history books about the equestrian military.

Collecting myself, I had to process what was going on. From what I could remember, I was with Red, we found Harp, and… I lost Rototom.

“Fuck.” Everything I began to shake with rage and sorrow. I didn’t know why it came on like it did now, but I didn’t care. “FUCK!” I shouted. Hitting the cot with my hoof, I wanted to feel something, but only got a tug at my shoulder. “Celestia fucking dammit!” I shouted again, the sound of my own voice ringing in my ears.

Getting up, I rested my head on the cold metal door. I felt impotent and weak. That mad mare with the cyberwings had us dancing in the frog of her hoof. And I lost Rototom all because I couldn’t see it.

Tapping my horn on the door, I couldn’t get rid of this frustration. Every move we made had been met by failure. And I knew it had to be my fault, I just kept on being too late to make things work. I rested my shoulder on the door, still tapping it with my horn.

“Damnit!” I shouted, hitting the door with my hoof. “Fucking dammit!”

I went to strike it again, but the door opened, sending me tumbling out. “Oy, you better be saving that energy for later.” I looked up to see Tarbarry looking down at me. “The lady doesn't want you breaking yourself before she can break you.”

Getting up, a warm wind clued me to that I didn’t have anything on. I covering myself, I fell to the floor again. “Where're my clothes?”

Tarbarry chuckled. “You do know ponies don't normally wear clothes, right?”

“Maybe in some backwards place inhabited by savages.” I got myself up, keeping my tail down.

“I see why Lady Red likes you.” he turned around, and trotted down the hall. “Now follow me, she's waiting.” Not having anywhere else to go, I followed.

This place was entirely made of metal, and was as well maintained as an Orthrus run tunnel, even holding onto a thick coat of paint. As I trotted... well, hobbled, this hall did vaguely remind me of the Orthus stations. How everything looked the same, very compartmentalised and uniform in its construction.

“Where am I?” I asked Tarbarry.

He huffed, sounding annoyed. “Ehh, if you want to know, you’re on the ship the Weeping Pegasus. As far as I know, it's a second generation crusader, made for the Holy fleet long go.”

All I really understood was the name, the Weeping Pegasi, the rest, didn't sound right. “Crusader, and Holy Fleet? Those don't sound like equestrian naval terms.” Not that I knew all that much about ancient military names, but I did know enough that this didn’t feel right.

“It ain't equestrian made,” Tarberry looked back just enough to eye me. “ most of the Crusaders got scrapped long, long ago. This ship, being second generation, makes it around a hundred years old.” He scrunched his nose, looking annoyed. “But listen up, Mare. I'm a preacher, not a historian. If you want to ask those questions, ask lady Red Steel, or…” He gave a deadpan look. “Snowbird Gutripper.”

I had to push at that name. “Who names their foal Gutripper?”

He looked away from me, and down the hall. “From what I know, miss tunnel treader, it's a tribe name. And trust me, the name fits. Now, shut it or I will crack your skull for a second time. Damn annoying heathen.”

We trotted for a bit longer, passing by a few of the… I guess, crew? He did say we were on a ship after all. The ones we passed were three younger crew members, hardly older than fifteen, and cleaning the floor and walls. Two of them were ponies, and the third was a griffin, I think. It was hard to tell exactly what it was because it's back legs were hooves.

There was a scared up, and heavily armed Zebra who had a wooden back leg. He blew me a kiss that made me shiver in disgust as I passed by. The strangest sight in the halls however, was the two monsters we passed. One was the hairiest thing I’d ever seen, with two massive horns on its head. It was heavily chained down, and being made to pull a cart filled to the brim with scrap metal. The other monster looked a bit like a dog, but stood on two legs and wore a pair of earmuffs. The dog-thing was almost as large as the other hairy beast, as its head nearly touched the ceiling.

I didn't ask Tarberry about the strange crew, didn't doubt that he would crack my skull for it. But the more I saw, the more it became apparent that these outsiders were far more dangerous than I’d previously thought. With what I’d heard about them, and the scraps of information I’d gotten, I was now picturing a naval fleet that was even more massive than before. And unfortunately, possibly beyond Orthrus’ ability to handle alone.

“We’re here, tunnel treader.” Tarberry stood at a sealed bulkhead door. Spinning the locking wheel, he unsealed and opened the door. “Now get the fuck inside.” I hobbled in, with Tarbarry following right behind, startling me by slamming the door. The room we’d entered was far more spacious, though it was hard to tell with the current hung up blocking more than half
of it. “Red Steal, your bitch is here, now give me back my rum.”

A loud cracking slap startled me for the fucking second time in just a few short moments. But it was followed quickly by a disturbing moan.

“If I knew you were going to be this pissy about it, I would have tied you up and sent Narwhal out to watch her.” Red yelled, forcing Tarberry to straighten up. A red aura wrapped around one of the curtains, pulling it open to reveal Red Steal standing in front of what looked like a torture chamber from some questionable books I’ve read. Narwhal hung upside-down from the ceiling, tied and bound in elaborately knotted ropes. He was gagged, and covered in lacerations that dripped thin lines of blood down his body. Strangely, or maybe more disturbingly, the mare looked like she was enjoying it.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the disturbed feelings to the back of mind, and stepped forward. “Where's Harp?”

Red frownd for a moment, then smiled, but before she could speak…

“Vibraphone!” Harp yelled from behind another curtain. Within a short moment, she hopped out from the curtain, and practically slid to me, ending with a hug. “Oh by princess Platinum, are you alright?” She looked at me with concern in her eyes. Strangely, her moderately curly hair reminded me a lot of the haircut I got back on Vally island.

“I’m fine, just had a little talk with Charon, that's all.” I gave her a little chuckle, trying to brush off the feeling of anxiety that waited down on me. “What about you? If they’ve touched you in any way, I'll be sure to send them down to tartarus.”

Harp gave me a confused, and concerns look. “Miss Vibraphone, I think you might need some more rest. You’re not sounding like yourself.”

“I…” Maybe she's right, It was true that I wasn't feeling myself, or feeling well at all. “Ya, I feel like shit and a half right now, and I’m possibly having a mental breakdown. Stress maybe, or the loss of Rototom more likely. Then again, it could be the chill. Hard to tell when I’m already hallucinating.” I chuckled to myself.

“Miss Vibraphone.” The cold burning around my neck flared up, and I pushed away from Harp. She looked down at me, covering her mouth with one of her hooves. “What happened to you?”

Now I felt confused, unable to understand what she was going on about.

Something hit my face. Removing it, I found that it was my family scarf, but it was nearly completely torn to bits. “Before you accuse me of anything, we found it like that on you.” Red Steal told me. “It was strange. When Carving Doll shredded your leg, she also got your throat, as evidenced by your scarf here. By all logic, you should be dead right now.” She lifted up a hoof mirror, showing me my reflection. Around my neck was a furless line, as though something had burnt itself right into my flesh. “I've seen injuries like that before. From collar branding, mainly, but I’ve never seen something so clean. My guess, it's magical in nature, but that's a mystery for another time. Right now, I’ve got more pressing problems to solve.” She whistled loudly. “Oy, greenhorn, bring the cloths over here. Now.”

“Eye, boss.” A mare spoke up. After a short moment, a mirage pony mare trotted through the curtain. She had to do a double take as she glanced over at me, and I almost had to do the same with her. “Catbell, how the fuck did you get here?” I twitched at the name, no pony having called be that since I escaped from the Republic.

“How did I get here?” I balked. Before me stood Bass Clarinet Reed. The blue mare looked like she had jumped through a blender, missing an ear and being absolutely covered in healed over scars. “I should be asking you that question.”

“Ah, sorry, it was a stupid question.” She shrugged and smiled. “You took the under tunnel like me. I can dig it. Though you look like like you had just as bad of time as me. Of my group, only my son and I got out alive. On our way to Caron Stop, these fuckers snatched us up.” She paused, giving an uneasy glance over to Red, who simply waited for her to continue. “At first I was ready to fight, but they turned to be a cool bunch. Reminded me of my family, ya dig?”

I faced hoofed, finding it logical that a bandit would fit in with a bunch of pirates. “Why did you leave, what happened to your sister?”

“After you left, Alto got all depressed you see, too sweet for her own good.” She sighed, dropping her cool mare demeanor, as she passed me my clothes, it still the damd maid outfit. “She was never meant for a rough life like the rest of us, so me and the rest of the family thought it was best to cut ties and run. The republic was never a good fit for us, too square. But without us dragging her down, we know she’ll get a better life she deserves. We left the foals behind too, though my brat managed to follow me, the twerp.” She took a deep breath before giving a long sigh. “We had a solid favor to call in with the syndicate, and they helped us out. But along the way, a sand-lurker attacked. It was strange, like some pony was controlling them, and they had these glowing red eyes that burned like red lanterns in the darkness. I don't know how, but me and the brat got away, and took the syndicate boat out onto open water.” She clapped her metal hooves together. “And well, me and the brat ended up here when the fleet found us. Miss Red Steel saw a use in my skills, and took me in. Got real lucky, if can you dig that.”

“If you call getting captured by pirates lucky.” The maid outfit was a little heavier than I remember, and there was stitching all over making lots of small diamonds on the black cloth. It was annoying trying to get the dress one when missing a leg, but when I finally slipped into it, I found it was a lot more snug than it had been before. The fabric was obviously thicker, and a bit more corse. But more annoyingly and importantly, I still didn't have any panties. “Sorry for your loss, but I’m a little breezy at my backside.”

“Still don't get your kin’s whole thing with covering up all the time.” Red spoke as she passed me a black pantie, decorated with white lace skulls.

“Sorry for having a sense of decency.” It was not my style, but I put them on any way, as any underwear was better than none. “Do you ponies really run around with your privates exposed?”

Red rolled her eyes. “Trust me, even without clothes, were not just exposing ourselves. It's weirdly magical how our concealment works.”

“Another thing, what did you do to my dress?” I shifted the dress a bit, slowly getting used to whatever they did to it.

Red smirked, “I’ll have to introduce the tailor to explain that.” She whistled again. “Oh, Snowbird, come out please.”

Harp hid behind me, and Bass quickly trotted to the side. It was clear that I was not going to enjoy meeting this mare.

“If you say so.” The mare has a somewhat high pitched, whistle like voice. A light tapping on the floor came closer before two claws groped over the curtin. Swinging open, I saw a bundle of brown feathers that turned black at the ends, and were decorated with white spots. The massive wing pulled back, revealing some sort of monster.

It stood on two scaly yellow legs, much like the dog monster in the hallway had. But at the end of those scaled legs were two massive bird-like talons, complete with inner digits that looked closer to sharp, curved knives. The wings, they outsized even the few griffins I had seen, and had two claws that poked out at the midsection like sharp fingers. It's torso and chest was devoid of feathers, and instead was covered with a simple white dress that lead me to think this was a female of whatever race she was.

Her face was what disturbed me the most, being framed by a feather mane, and being oddly smooth and pointed, with two pointy yellow scaled ears. Her large eyes, with no white visible, were like two black orbs in the middle of a dark brown.

She moved quickly, grabbing me before I could fall back in surprise. “Ahh, the new little pony that’s got the Corps Brigade in a flutter. But you don’t care about that, you want to know about the dress, yes?” She stroked her claw along my maid outfit. “Flying ram fleece, also called iron wool. It is woven, and padded into the dress. It's strong, warm, and not flammable like steel wool.” as she talked, she revealed jagged teeth that looked more fitting on a bandsaw. “It's good enough to stop small bullets, and a blade if they slash at you, but big bullets, or a good stabben, you will be made right dead right quick.”

Snowbird stept back looking down at me like she was sizing me up, but it was next to impose to follow her eyes. A smile formed, almost too wide, showing all of her jagged teeth. From where I stood, I got a strong feeling that I looked like food to her, and if she wanted too, she could rip me to shreds within seconds with those talons of hers.

“No, no. The looks all wrong with that leg missing.” She rubbed her claws together. “Lady Red Steel, did you bring your mother's old leg?”

Red looked at the bird monster. “Why would I bring that with me you daft harpy? Just use the one that I had the wrench mares slap together.”

Snowbird frowned. “A tragedy, a retractable is the essence of terror.” The ‘harpy’ walked off back behind the curtain with her odd backwards legs. She returned a moment later with some rusty looking scrap-job of a leg, placing it down in front of me.

I looked at it, and then at Red. “You do know I'm not in the right state of mind to be fucked with right now, so what's your game?”

“You’re the bait.” Red gave me a deadpan stare. “Now, put the leg on and we can get started.”

“Right, bait.” I took a deep breath and popped out what was left of the grappling leg. “For the Corps Brigade, right?” I didn’t trust Red, but I was more than interested in taking down the bleeding eye freeks. “What the fuck even are they?”

As I grabbed the rusty leg, Red narrowed her gaze at me. “Haven't the slightest clue.” She informed me. “All I can guess is that there is dark Magic at work. The problem is they’re completely tight lipped about both it and their end goals. I've tried torture, but only makes them crazy. Trying to mine their memories out forcefully nearly fried the brain of my mother's head interrogator. It's only now, since coming to these islands, that a crack has formed and split their camp.”

Fitting in the leg, it having a standard connecter piece, I charged my magic into it, and it slowly began to move. “Let me guess, that crack is me.”

“Exactly, but I don't know why.” Red nodded. “About more than half of the Corps Brigade here have become Luna zealots, and their main target for whatever reason, is you. The rest are all the older brigaders, who are still obsessed with Rosary and have called out the others as heretics.” She pulled out a box, and passed it over to me. “So I have a feeling that you might know something, or be in position to learn about what they keep so secret. So with that in mind, will you help me?”

Moving the new leg, the hoof suddenly shot out violently, and back in. The thing was a fucking power hoof. Shaking my head, and collecting myself, I looked over at Harp, and back at Red. “Fine, but only if you can guarantee Harps safe return to Orthus custody.”

“Hard sell, even for somepony as well connected as I am.” She frowned. “I can guarantee her overall safety, but the royal family are to be relocated to the Holy cityship of Avalon, where they are to be integrated with our royal family.”

I could feel a tug at my dress, which only steeled me. Taking a deep breath, I looked Red in the eyes. “No, that would be a waste for you. I do remember you saying you want to negotiate with Orthrus, well, Harp happens to be the daughter of one of our leaders, and as a result, connected to an important family line that Orthrus would have vested interest in preserving.”

Harp tugged at my dress a bit harder. “What do you mean?”

Oh ya, she doesn't know about that. “Harp, your father, Phorminx, is the last descendant of the last overedtallion of the R&D stable. You know all the old promotional posters for the treatment that made mirage ponies, the original ones. The overestallion is your ancestor.”

She let go of my dress. “Oh, I see.”

I returned my gaze back to Red. “So unless she is returned to Orthus, I will not help you.”

Red scratched at her chin and smiled. “If I were to weigh the potential rewards, your dear Harp would likely be passed off to some lesser noble. More likely, she’d be sold as an exotic bride to the king of Saddle Arabia. They’re still pissed off about mother taking a few of their ships a decade back, and a gift like Harp would go far to help restore relations. But if what you say is true, and Orthrus would be willing to start negotiation to get her, well the tech your ponies have at your hooves do look too good to just pass up.”

“Right, I’ve decided then.” She clapped her hooves together before continuing. “Fuck the royals, I want kick ass spy tech.” While that meant Harp would most likely end up safe with Orthrus, what would end up being the cost? “I mean, with the resources the grand fleet has available, your leaders would be fools to pass up the opportunity to make a deal with us. And we’re all willing to forgive and forget a little invasion or two so long as we can work towards benefiting both our homes, right?” Reds eyes lowered to the box in front of me. “Well, what are you waiting for? Open it.”

Something deep down inside of me told me that making a deal with Red, or any pirate for that matter, was a bad idea. But our options were limited, and I could at least trust the council to see the bigger picture if it came to negotiating peace.

Opening the box, inside were two revolvers; the Lunar Eclipse, and Solar Eclipse. My eyes watered, unable to control the tears, I just let them fall, staining the mesh that held the guns. “I will kill her, I want that too.”

“Carving Doll? If you want a round two, sure.” Red sat back on her haunches, crossing her forelegs. “But rewards are for good little pawns. You only get your shot against her after you dig up what the Corps Brigade are up to. You need to find enough for my mother to edict a purge, and without that, I cannot help you.”

I took the two revolvers, but they both wouldn't fit under my blouse. A quiet chuckle came from the harpy. “Hiding the guns will not do, you must show them off. Give me but a short moment...” Snowbird said as she pulled out some leather straps. She attached it to my waist, and to my tale much like a garter belt, but with holsters. Along with those straps, she also placed a sheath along it that sat against my chest and held my bayonet. Placing the revolvers in the holsters, she took a step back a gave another toothy grin. “Now you look like a predator, and not prey.”

The guns were still somewhat obstructed by the maid’s apron that was still on the dress for some stupid reason. When I pulled them out however, the revolvers came out faster than when hidden in my blouse.

It felt good to be armed again, it was enough to calm my nerves, if only a little. “Alright, so how do I go about doing this?”

“Firstly, by telling me about anything you know that might clue me into why Black Spot is so interested in you.” Red spoke as she eyed over me.

I thought about it for a moment as I tried to find the reason as well. It wasn’t because I was a spectre, or the fact that I’d been in the Republic’s machine. Every time I tried to find something however, somehow my mind always came back to one shadowy figure that was just as mysterious and strange as their bleeding-eye shit. Phobetor.

“Can we talk somewhere more private.” I asked softly.

Red deadpan once more. “This here is the most private that it can get.” she then paused, and slowly smiled. “However, there is this one place…” Looking up to the harpy with a wild smile, she rose to her hooves. “Snowbird, gear her up.”

I didn’t like the sound of that, but what choice did I have. Sighing, I turned to Harp. “Will you be okay by yourself here?”

Before she could answer, Bass cut in. “Don't worry, Catbell. I’ve been keeping sugar real safe and real close.” I cocked an eyebrow at a cocked looking Bass, and then looked back at a blushing Harp.

“You didn't… did you?” I asked Harp, hoping for a misunderstanding.

“Well... you were hurt, and I was scared, and alone, and well...” she mumbled the last bit of words.

“You did?!” Harp shrank at my accusation, but managed to give me a nod, and I face hoofed. With my left forehoof, so not to accidentally punch a hole in my head. “You slept with a bandit! Do you know how dangerous that is? Not to mention the diseases you could get.”

“Hay!” Bass shouted, but I glared back at her, and she took a step back.

I turned my attention back to Harp “You can't just gallivant with any mare or stallion. That's…”

Harp shoved her hoof in my mouth, and looked me dead in the eyes. “Unbecoming of a princess? Is that what your going to say. What worth is that anymore? In fact, when it did it ever matter?” tears welled in her eyes as she removed her hoof from my mouth. “This is all my fault in the first place. If I’d never gone to the big island, none of this would have happened. So you can leave your judgement out of it. Just let me have this, because it's not like I can fuck things up more the I already have.” I reached my hoof out to her, but she swatted it away, cradling her own hoof in pain right after. “Damnit, damnit, damnit. Just go, I'll be fine. It's not like you can protect me all the time.” She trotted over to Bass, who gave her a hug, the two disappearing behind a curtain.

“Ahh, reminds me of home” Snowbird comment, and I glared back at the harpy, but she just smiled wide with her jagged teeth. “I have a lot of sisters, enough for a murder, and we go to sleep to the sound of the jousting of words. If you want her to comply, then you beat it into her.”

“I'm not going to hurt Harp.” I growled at the Harpy.

She shrugged. “And that's why you ponies didn’t win your great war.”

Red had me loaded up with ammo, including my cartridge holders, and an extra ammo pouch. She also had my air rifle, but with only six bolts for it, I would need to be conserve when using it. It felt odd that she let me be armed and loaded, but then again I was in the belly of the beast. I was smart enough to know that this wasn’t a place to start any fight I’d ever see my way out of alive.

Sadly, Snowbird tagged along. Red insured me that it was for security, but I wasn’t so sure. though it did seemed the monster uneased every pony on board, not that I can blame them.

The halls of this ship were more of the same, giving me a strong case of deja vu. “Say, Tarbarry said if I wanted to know more about this ship to ask one of you.”

“Of course that drunk jackass pins that burden on me.” Red grumbled.

“What do you want to know?” Snowbird said excitedly.

“I don't know.” We passed by the Zebra from before, but this time he avoided eye contact. “Maybe why this place seems so familiar for starters. It gives off this whole ‘stable-tec’ feel to it. But they didn't build any ships, at least, I don’t think they did.”

“Hmm…” Snowbird cocked her head to the side. “Let's see, this is second generation, so that means the classical designs were dropped. Wait… ahh, I remember, because it is stable-tec in origin. The old texts are spotty on the details, but there are a few stable-tec engineers that were listed under Roseland’s protection. They made a number of blueprints for her before her disappearance, and those were used for the design of the second generation crusaders.”

“Roseland?” I asked, as we trotted to a set of stairs bathed in natural light. “That name came up with the Corps Brigade, who is or was she?”

Red chucked. “If you’re to mention her name, you’d better call her saint Roseland. She was the last Equestrian admiral, founder of the grand fleet, and savor of ponykind on the high seas.” Following Red, I stepped out into the light.

Ponies, griffins, and a whole host of other hooved and non-hooved beings were all over the place. Many were cleaning the ship, though half of them were doing it shackled in chains. On top of that, they looked brutally beaten and malnourished. At the ship’s center were massive sets of cannons, dwarfing anything Orthrus had.

Above us was a mast, but it contained no sails. Instead, bodies hung from chains, punctured and held up by sharp and rusty hooks. Feeding on the corpses were birds, so many, colorful birds. Not far across the deck from where we stood, were caged mirage ponies who looked half dead in the sun.

Red extended her hooves like she was presenting a stage. “All that you see before you is by Saint Roseland’s will.”

How could she be proud of this? It disgusted me, and left me to ask only one word. “Why?”

Red turned away. “Not here, it's bad manners to talk of the saint so casually. But Snowbird can fill you in a bit more about the ship if she wishes.”

“My pleasure Lady Red.” The harpy said with satisfaction as we continued our way down onto the deck. “From what I’ve read from the old texts, the second generation crusaders were originally made to protect the cityship Avalon. Avalon, also known as the Holy city, has the ability to manufacture ships right on the water. It is also home to the grand fleet’s royal family, as well as the head of the church. Crusaders like this one were built to be part of a substantial fleet of swift gunboats with guarding the Avalon as it’s one purpose.

“Then what’s it doing here?” I asked.

“From what records I could find, it was a donation to the Corps Brigade.” Snowbird answered. “Some pony important wants the young gang on their side. Gifting a ship is nothing new, though this was a case that was especially odd. Why would you entrust two ships to a gang that’s still unproven?”

As we trotted across the deck, some of the pirates held passing glances at us, but quickly turned away when Snowbird turned in their direction.

“Is it not lovely?” Snowbird chirped, “passive and respectful, like males should be. It is too bad they’re terrible dancers, but still so... scrumptious.”

“Snowbird, you know the deal. You can't eat them.” Red said sternly. “Yet.”

Snowbird drooled a little, cleaning it off with her wing.

I had had it, the monster was just too much to deal with. “Alright, what the fuck is her deal?”

Red chuckled. “It’s how harpies are, well, at least the few I have seen anyway. But if you want details, fine. They’re predators if you couldn’t tell, and extremely flexible ones at that. If it looks like she sees everypony as food, that’s because she does.” We stopped at the large mast that was at the center of the ship, and just short of another set of enormous cannons. “Though, I can't reliably say that’s true for the rest of her kind, but I have yet to see a harpy that isn't a sociopathic monster.”

I looked back at Snowbird, and she just smiled back at me. Turning my attention back to Red, I had to ask one last question. “Then why keep her around, isn't that dangerous?”

“Very.” Red said frankly. “But I’m sure you can tell by now, here, cruelty and violence is not just the rule here, it’s a way of life.” She levitated a pocket watch, looking at it for a moment before putting it away. “Good, we got a bit of time before Carving Doll starts shooting her mouth off again.” Pressing a button on the mast, a bell chimed, and ropes began to move.

Almost crashing down, some sort of rectangular cage elevator landed in front of us. Red stepped on, and I followed, with Snowbird fortunately not getting on. In a moment, we began ascending the top of the mast. The ship below us became smaller, and the sound of the pirates was replaced by birds.

The higher we rose, the more the open water surrounding the ship became even more massive. It was getting to be too big, and my legs buckled as I held onto the bars around me. Why was it only just now clicking in my head of how much water surrounded me. I was on a ship, in the middle of the ocean. A very big and deep ocean...

“Ah, right, forgot about that fear thing you have.” Red shoved something in my mouth as she spoke. It was a chalky pill that I swallowed immediately and hoped wasn’t some sort of more dangerous drug than chill. “Let me know if you need more, but I can't have you getting high on me right now.”

I had shut my eyes, trying to block out the image of the vast unending water. My pounding heart slowly calmed down, and my legs regained some stability. Sadly, my tongue now felt a bit numb, but not enough to affect my speech.

“Thanks, I think one is all I’ll need for a while.” I said through a deep breath.

“Might be a bit stronger than I’d thought.” Red shook the jar she took the pill from. “I’ll have to get those bandits to dilute the drug. But that aside, the crows nest is the most private place you can get on the ship. No pony up here but the dead.” She trotted off the elevator, and onto a round deck, where at the center was a bunch of radio equipment, binoculars, and a few other mechanical tools I didn’t understand. Putting away the small jar, she pulled out a small tin box. Inside were paper sticks, of which she put one in her mouth and then pointed the box at me. “You smoke?”

I shook my head. “Never took up the habit due to how expensive it is.”

“Really. Well, lucky me. Now you definitely can’t refuse.” She stuck the cigarette in my mouth, and lit it with her horn. “If this all goes well, my mom is going to pay me in one of her plantations that grows sugar cane, tobacco, and marijuana. Personally, I wanted the coffee plantation, but another Saddle Arabian tried to invade and burnt that place to the ground a few years back.” She lit her cigarette taking a long drag. “It’s a shame. You don’t know good coffee until you’ve had fresh coffee.”

I stepped onto the deck, my legs still not solid, but still holding me up. With how much more the ship felt like it swayed back and forth from up here, I didn’t think my balance was going to get any better regardless. Breathing in the smoke from the burning stick, my lungs filled with the hot air, and I choked on it, nearly dropping the cigarette. “Seriously, how many resources do you ponies have?”

“Not nearly enough.” Red puffed out some smoke, that quickly vanished into the air. “We’ve got a few clean islands here and there. But magical radiation has a way of spreading along the sea currents, and the monsters it makes only makes those islands harder to maintain. Lately, crab monsters are becoming common. It’s good eating, don’t get me wrong, but they kill a lot of slaves every year.” Shaking her head, she took a short draw off her smoke and held it in. “The giant lobsters are the worst, but I’ve heard of a supermassive behemoth crab that spits acid making brief appearances.”

I took another puff of the cigarette, fighting back the choking feeling cropping up again. “Do we even stand a chance?” This all seemed unfair. It was our little collection of divided islands, versus some water bound empire that spanned what felt like half the bucking ocean.

“Who knows. But I can promise you this; allie with with me, and your kin will stand a chance.” Red puffed the cigarette again, and looked me in the eyes. “But you didn’t want to come up here for me to tell you something you’ve heard from everyone else. What do you know that you can’t let others hear?”

“Answer one question for me.” I put out my cigarette, done with puffing in the noxious smoke. “Do you believe in Nightmares?”

“Had then when I was a foal. Got over them when I figured out the real world was a lot scarier.” Red said plainly, looking at me with a cocked eyebrow. “Unless, you're talking about the old Mares tales of things like Nightmare Moon?”

I chuckled a little. “So you believe in the goddesses of the night, but not in nightmares. That's a laugh.”

“Right, the supposed ‘goddesses’…” Red sighed. “All they were, was two royal heads of equestria that had a god complex. Sorry to tell you, but it’s something not uncommon in our world. Snowbird’s own grandmother had proclaimed herself the goddess of strife, and from what my mother told me, that old buzzards head rolled from a cold steel blade just like any other mortals would.”

I took a step back, unsure of what I was dealing with. Well, Red certainly didn’t seem like the type who’d write me off as crazy, but now I had to worry about getting my head lopped off?

Red however, just smiled before continuing. “I do have to agree that nightmares could somehow become real. There are many strange and magical things in this world, and most of them aren’t kind to the living. I am a unicorn after all, so I know about some of these sorts of things. But don’t mix me in with those ignorant zealots down there. I don’t just believe in something simply because some pony with a book beat it into me.”

“Well,” Taking a deep breath, I felt I might as well go through with explaining things. “as far as I know, there's a nightmare on the Island, and it has Blackspot thinking she's Luna.” Red kept a neutral look on her face, but her ears were focused tightly on me. “Phobetor is her name, and she wants me for something. I don’t know what it is, but the shit with her started right when your pirates attacked the island.”

Red sat back, deep in thought.

“You mean the black dragon of legend, Phobetor?” Snowbird spoke up from behind me. Spinning, I found that the harpy had perched on the railing with her wings extended to catch the cool ocean wind.

“Explain, Snowbird.” Red said camly.

She hummed for a few seconds before smiling. “Right, the Dragon of the still darkness, Phobetor. Sometimes called the black pony, or the goddess of secrets and nightmares. She was an old piller god of my Harpy kind long ago, but was just myths and legends. Until now, at least. From what I can remember, she was once a mare called Pandora. Something, something else, about an open jar of some sort, and then she became a being of pure evil. Ancient harpies would steal secrets from other races, and gift them to her in exchange for power. And supposedly, she was responsible for the necromancer rebellion that, legend has it, irreversibly collapsed the harpy queendom over a thousand years ago.”

“A secret for a secret.” the words slipped from my mouth, and Snowbirds feathers ruffled.

Red stood back up. “So, how likely could this Phobetor exist, Snowbird?”

The harpy shivered, her feathers smoothing out. “Lets me see, if I remember correctly, as an actual goddess… about as much as Celestia, or Luna I say. But as an ancient malevolent entity, it’s not like the grand fleet has not had their share of them over the last two hundred years. If she is here, then why these islands? And more importantly, I’d ask as to what she wants with the tunnel treader.”

“Why and what indeed.” Red said, she looking at me in the eyes. “I’m going to have to sleep on this. But if it’s true, it might be what I need to get the Corps Brigade denounced. Now, one more thing, I’m going to need you to…”

Red was cut off by the sound of feedback from a speaker attached to the crows nest. “Listen up you no good sack of rocks, this is your captain speaking!” It was Carving Doll’s voice that came through the speaker. “I hope you’ve treated our new crew with the respect they deserve, because we decent ponies must provide a good example of how the goddesses chosen must behave. On that note, whoever beat to death three of them, though I understand needing to show an example, it’s going too far. After all, how are we going to show them the way of the chosen if they are dead? So make this a reminder for all of you; unless they say anything vile about Saint Roseland or the goddesses, don’t beat them to death. Just get them to within an inch of their lives, got it?”

I looked back at Red. “How is she the Captain of a ship?”

“Like I told you, violence and cruelty is a way of life here.” She shook her head. “Carving Doll, despite the dull mind she has, is as violent and cruel as a pony can get. And despite not being the strongest pony I’ve seen captain a ship, she is fearless to the point of madness, and does not stay down no matter how much she's been beaten down. If she was not one of the Corps Brigade leaders, I’d say I’d admire that about her.”

The speakers crackled, and Carving Doll continued. “I also have good news.” there was a pause, which sounded like she was drinking something. “With our successful raid comes bountiful booty. Gems, tapestries, slaves, plenty of food, and most importantly, booze. So, for tonight's supper, eat and drink to your hearts content.” A loud cheer came from the pirates below. “But only for supper! I want you all to work extra hard till then, we’ve got another raid scheduled for the morning, so everything must be ready by then.”

I looked at Red, and she gave me a knowing glance. “There’s still pockets of resistance. Like I said before, we may have maps of your tunnels, but they still make for a bitch of a bottleneck.” She informed me.

“One last thing!” Carving Doll yelled through the speakers, making both Red and I cringe. “We have a few guests aboard of our fine vessel. Do treat them like any other member of the grand fleet, and don’t fucking get in their business unless you’re told to do so. Oh, and Lady Red Steel, please bring them to my cabin for supper. That is all, now get back to work!”

“Of course.” Red sighed as she rolled her eyes, dropping them onto me with a shrug. “At least the dinner won’t be vegetable slop and grog this time.” Her eyes locked with my own. “Can I trust that you won't try and fight her?”

“I…” I wanted to put a bullet between her eyes, to tear her head from her neck for what she did to Rototom. But I couldn’t do that at dinner if I wanted to help save my home. “We have a deal. I get you the evidence to have them denounced, and then you help me kill her.”

Red gave me a sly smile. “Good.” She pulled out a small little thin box that had a cable attached to it. “Put this in your pipbuck leg thing. I was going to use it myself originally, but the Corps Brigade is always a bit weary of me, and the pipbuck mother gave me clashes with my style.”

The small box didn't look like anything I had seen before. “What is it?”

“An advanced memory storage module.” She explained. “It's an artifact made by Admiral Roseland. She once owned an oversized pipbuck, some sort of advanced model that in the photo, looked more like a piece of armor than something made by Stable-tec. Well that pipbuck had the ability to store memories like memory orbs. This module is a copy of that tech, and should record everything you see. Trust me when I tell you that it will make much easier to prove the Corps Brigade’s treachery.”

Something in the back of my mind bubbled up to the surface. “An armor-like pipbuck model? Did it look like two pipbucks attached together with a large port for cables?”

“Yeah…” Red cocked an eyebrow. “how do you know that?”

“I saw some sort of ‘ghost’ with it on, and he seemed to know Thorn Roseland.” I explained without really diving into it. Red would certainly think I was crazy if I told her about the shit I saw in my dreams, as well as in the Republic’s system. “It's all a bit hazy, but I do remember him wanting to contact stable-tec, to warn them about what Roseland had planned.”

“Anything more you can tell me about this ‘pony’?” Red asked.

“Not all that much.” I scratched my chin trying to remember more. “His name was Slowtrot, I remember that for sure. He was a purple stallion with an R&D stable jacket, like the one Harp has. And… I think there's a gravestone for him on Friendly Island.”

Red nodded, and looked to Snowbird. “Can you corroborate any of this information?”

“Nope.” Snowbird bird answered immediately. “I may be an official fleet historian, but anything involving Thorn Roseland’s more cloak and dagger history requires the admirals approval to look at. And if it's some pony warning stable-tec about her coming to kill them, it absolutely has to be cloak and dagger history.”

“Even if we can get mother's approval, the records are kept on the Avalon.” Red looked back to me. “If you happen to see this ghost again, ask him if you can have his pipbuck, or at least, get permission from him to go dig it up from his grave. Even as a rusted piece of junk, it's going to be a priceless artifact to the Chosen.”

I nodded as I opened a small universal compartment on my pipleg. The module Red gave me only just barely fit inside, but it clicked in and activated all the same. My hud display refreshed, showing a new program needed to be added to my pipleg system.

“Minerva, begin downloading new program.” I commanded, and my pipbuck beeped twice as it executed the command.

Text scrolled over my hud, and a box opened in my vision, stating, ‘Matching programs found... O.I.A sleeper program 01... O.I.A. sleeper program 02... Program 01 damaged... Program 02 damaged... Salvaging data... Data complete. Welcome to the O.I.A., agent error. Your target is error. Activating sleep error. Error... error... error...’ the box closed, and the hud faded. A little indicator popped up, letting me know that the memory recording program was now installed and available.

I looked at my pipleg, confused as it was now showing an option that stated ‘O.I.A.’ above the memory program. Weird… “Minerva, isolate O.I.A. program.” My pipleg beeped twice again, and the program disappeared from the options. “Strange. There was something else on the box, but it looks corrupted.” I told myself as I looked back up to Red. “So, how are we going to start this?”

“We already have.” Red trotted to the elevator. “Black Spot will be coming for you. Just put up a token fight, then go with him. Just remember to record anything that could be considered heresy, and then you’ll leave me to do the rest.”

I nodded and stepped onto the elevator. My stomach lurched as we descended, making me glad that I had not gotten anything to eat lately. As we got closer to the main deck, the sound of the pirates became louder until it drowned out the sound of the wind and birds.

I stepped out onto the main deck, seeing the same disgusting sight as before. Trotting over to a nearby cage, an emancipated mirage pony laid in it, unable to get up due to her missing her legs. She turned her head to look at me, her eyes wide.

“Help me, please!” She spoke in nothing more than a raspy, dry whisper.

“A shame, some of the ponies we've taken were already in such poor condition.” Red told me as she looked down at the imprisoned mare. “It's a bit of a waste of resources, but once she's healthy enough, she can find work in a brothel. You know, you all should consider yourselves lucky, as oddly, cybernetics are quite popular among some in the fleet. Because of that alone, she might do well in that line of work.”

I glared at her. “You don’t see anything wrong with this?”

“Wrong? However do you mean?” Red chuckled. “These ponies are being given food and shelter, trained in useful skills. And if they show devotion to their duty, then they have the option given for them to earn their freedom. Or, perhaps you think it’s better if we just let them die, to wither away from their own weakness?”

“Maybe death is preferable.” I huffed at her. “I know I’d rather die than be some pony’s slave.”

“Said like a soft mare.” A stallion unicorn stepped out into view. He didn't have anything on but a belt and a whip. “Trust me, in the end, even when begging for death, they all choose slavery over death.” He unfurled his whip, simply casting a quick glance over to the mare in the cage and pulling a whimper from her. “Names Breaker, but you can call me Pony Breaker.”

Great, a slaving nudist. This was not what I needed in my life right now. “Now listen here, I don't care what you think, so go fuck off. And do everypony a favor and put some damn pants on.”

“What, and deny you all of this?” Breaker chuckled as he showed himself off. “You can't stop look at my dick, is that it? Yeah, like any mare, you can’t stop thinking about it, can you. If you want, I can show you a good time...” Smiling he hit the side of the cage, and the mare inside flinched. “Don’t just take it from me, the slaves here can tell you how good I am. Isn't that right?”

“You know, the partners a pony keeps say a lot about a pony.” He was pissing me off, but I had to keep a lid on it. I had bigger targets to go after. “Having all yours in a cage tells me that you can't get a mare without some pony catching her for you. A pony as pathetic as you is below the mud that gets stuck to my hooves.” Taking a deep breath, I turned trot away.

*Crack*

Pain hit my side, like somepony tried to cut me. Looking back, was Breaker, holding his whip up, and glaring at me. “It don’t care if you’re with Red Steel, I'm going to show you the pecking order on this ship with my pecker!”

I looked back at Red, and she looked a bit board. “If he wants to fight, go for it. But if you lose, do struggle as he goes at it, it's far more entertaining that way.”

Looking back at Breaker, he spat something onto the ground, and gave a toothy yellow grin. “So, which hole do you want…”

I entered S.A.T.S. targeting his groin with my Lunar Eclipse.

*Bang*

Blood splattered on the ground as the former stallion clasped onto the ground. I trotted up to him, his watering eyes looking up at me, wide in shock. “You cheating bi…!”

“I don't have to play by the rules of savages, so shut up and die.” I growled out as I focused on aiming.

*Bang*

With my sisters Solar Eclipse, I sent a bullet into his side. He made a wet sounding moan as blood flowed from the grevious wound.

*Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang.*

In short order, I was out of ammo save for one round, and the slaves here wouldn’t ever have to deal with his brand of torture ever again. Leaving the bullet riddled corps of Pony Breaker, I trotted to the cage.

”Do you want to live as a slave, or be granted death?” I asked, pointing the gun toward her.

The mare looked up at me, my head giving her son shade. “I… don't… want to… die.”

“Then don't ask for help when death is all that can be given.” Stepping back, there were many eyes on me. But as the gunshots still ringing in my ears subsided, the pirates quietly whispered among themselves.

*Bang*

I fired the last bullet in the guns into the air. Taking a deep breath, I yelled. “The next to challenge me will end up like the last. Do you understand you bunch of savages!?”

There was paused, then a chuckle, and then a roar of laughter. ““I’ve got to say, I thought you were going to get all bleeding heart on me,” Red trotted up to me, giving me a bit too friendly of a stare. “But admittedly, with a show like that? Now I'm a little wet.”

“I’m not into mares.” I deadpanned at her.

“Sure,” She smirked. “We can test that later, but right now, it's time we get away from these low quality fools before their stink gets on us.”

I looked back one more time to find Snowbird land on Breakers corps. She flexed her leg talons, digging the claws into his flesh as if to test it. As she did, all the other pirate ponies backed up and gave her some space.

I was not going to wait and see what the winged monster was going to do to the dead pony “Ya, I’m going to need a drink, and a rest.”

Footnote:

New Perk: Power Hoof Leg. (Vibraphone now has a power-hoof for a leg, giving her the ability to perform a power hoof strike through S.A.T.S.)