I’d been placed in the crows nest, watching for any pony out of place. It was Snowbirds Idea, saying that a dullahan was always know for being an overly observant spirit. Something I’d become slightly aware of, but quickly understood as true as my eyes darted about, taking in the activities of the ship.

Though the harpies had ushered away Carving Doll’s loyalists, making sure she doesn't have immediate backup, Red informed me that their was still going to be quite a few wild cards to deal with. Mainly ponies and other creatures who were only really loyal to themselves or their faith, but could not simply simply skip a day's work. They are the kind who were easily replaced if they ended up on the wrong side of a mutiny, so they’re likely to still be useful, but unreliable at best. Of course that also means that if somehow Carving turns this fight around on us, the wild cards could join her so to be on the winning side.

The biggest problem is that some of these wild cards held essential jobs, or lots of influence on the ship, and can’t be removed right now without problems. One was the pit boss, the head slave master, and along with her are her slaver underlings, who were all former slaves she’s broken and rebuilt herself.

Another was the wrench mother. The leader of the wench mares, she runs an order of nuns who’s religious practices involved maintaining the tec, weapons, armor, as well as specific parts of the ships itself. If the way some techs at Orthrus were overprotective about the gear in their care was any indication, than these fanatically religious mares would probably end up being the hardest of the wild cards to deal with.

Last of the more important pirates, was the head chef. In charge of not just the kitchen, but brewing booze, and fishing for food. The kitchen staff themselves were highly revered, and with how grueling some of the ship’s work could be, a nice hot meal at the end of the day is probably something the crew wouldn’t stand for losing.

There were other ponies to keep an eye on as well, but nothing that would end up being more trouble than random distractions in a fight. The wild newer recruits, the chem addicts, and the mentally unstable. Though, I’m sure that even though they probably wouldn’t band together, a few of them could do some damage should they rally against us with the others.

The longer I kept an eye on the crew below, the more I wondered how this ship didn't devolve into everypony killing each other. At least the distribution of drinks made them all a lot more relaxed, some even hiding away to drink and gamble. Hell, one group already looked like they were taking bets on who would win in the upcoming fight.

Red had taken her place near the landing pads, waiting for Carving Doll, along with Tarbarry and Narwhal on either side of her. Snowbird and the other two harpys had taken position on the crows nest with me, taking on the same roll as lookout. This also seemed to be an act of intimidation on Reds part, as the pirates below avoided looking up as much as possible.

As my eyes darted about, I ran through the plan in my head over and over.

“Attack stage one, ambush. Red will lure Carving into the kill zone, and when the signal is made from her, I and several other gun ponies will unload into to captain.” I spoke to myself as I kept a hoof on a long barreled rust gun with a hundred drum magazine.

The hoofbuilt gun was made of scraps, and lacked the gun craftsmanship I was use too. But the lack of clean artistic aesthetic was offset for a focus on efficient killing power. It hadn’t been built to be the most durable, or most accurate gun, it was simply made to send as many bullets down its barrel as fast as possible. On my back was another rust gun, this one cut down to a more compact size. While I hoped I didn’t need it, it came with with four twenty round magazines.

“Attack stage two. If carving survives, I’m to descend down and close in. Kill any surviving loyalists, and then corner Carving Doll.”

“Stage three.” Nutcracker spoke up. “Drop explosives.”

Magpie chucked. “Stage four, rush her with slaves.”

Snowbird leaned over me with a smile. “Stage five, just fucking kill her.”

I looked up at the harpy. “How likely is it that Carving Doll even live past the first stage?”

She shrugged. “Unlikely, but not impossible. Death by overwhelming rain of bullets has been a common way to execute dangerous creatures in the fleet. And unless it’s a dragon, then it’s more common for them to be pushed out of the fleet before they can become a problem. Though again, there are a few who managed to survive and win.”

“Such as?” I asked as I return my gaze down to the ship.

“In recent history?” Snowbird hummed to herself for a few seconds. “Red's mother, Flintlock Hoof had survived one such attack. The admiral at the time didn't like her quick rise to power, and wisely chose to remove her before Flintlock could do the same. That obviously did not work as the admiral had hoped.”

Looking down at Red, her big floppy hat obscured much of her body from me. “So, her mother managed to survive and win? How?”

The harp chuckled. “Flintlock had staged a mutiny at the same time, and from what the records say, the ship fell into pure chaos. Sailors didn't know who was on whose side, and they started shooting at every creature. Among the chaos, Flintlock and the old admiral got into a duel. The old admiral took Flintlocks leg, but she took the old admirals life.”

“Crazy. Any others to survive?” I asked, hoping I wouldn’t regret asking.

“Only one of note.” She paused for a moment before continuing. “Victoria Rosary, the leader of the corps brigade.”

I almost flinched, remembering meeting her through the spell. “Leader of the corps brigade.”

“Yep, though the records of it is a bit unreliable. What is officially on the record reads that she survived getting shot multiple times, ripped out the captains throat with her teeth, and her gang proceeded to slaughter the loyalists. But the official record is mired with holes and inconsistencies. Sadly, the few survivors who could be asked about what truly happened in the fight had been driven to madness, to the point that it was impossible to make sense of what they recounted. From what the official documents say after that, Victoria was a holy avenger, too beautiful to be believed.”

It sounded like a bad cover up, though with how ignorant these pirates seemed to be, they likely believed it. I glanced down at Red again as she looked like she was repeating the same lines over and over.

“And now she's trying to do the same kind of ambush.” I hoped that for our sake, she could handle this just as well as her mother had. Then again, Carving had just about the most stubborn ability to come through these sorts of things unscathed that I wasn’t all too confident things would go to plan. “Both of them are connected to a pony who survived and came out on top.”

“Yes, it’s exciting, but not uncommon.” Snowbird slowly backed away, giving me some space. “Like Iron Wing said, they are just playing the bishops game.”

I sighed, not that interested in the topic, but at the very least, the conversation was keeping the tension down. “And that game is what, a death match of chess?”

“Not far off.” Snowbird chuckled. “The bishops are the voice of the empress, as the Admirals are the empress's sword, as are the royal guard generals are her shield.”

“And this Empress is?” I asked, actually a but cureus.

The harpy didn't respond right away, letting the question linger for a few seconds. “Don't know because it's always been something the common folk don’t need to know. All we need to understand is that the will of the goddesses is done through her.”

I sighed again, unsatisfied with the insane answer. “Right, so back to this bishops game.”

“Yes, how should I explain it.” Snowbird once again let the question linger for a few second. “Right, unlike the admirals and royal guard, there are far more bishops. So many of them, all whom clamore and posture for the empress's limited attention. The best way to achieve this is to have as many pawns under their control, or just as good, reducing the pawns under another bishops control. I think you should be able to paint the picture now.”

I nodded. “I’m guessing that being a bishop's pawn has its benefits, and if you bishop is on top, then bigger the benefit. I would also guess that a powerful bishop would be a good ally for an admiral, possibly to secure her own power from others.”

“A point to the pony with the removable head.” Snowbird made a ding sound. “Also, fun fact, all the bishops are from the slave stock. Only those who have never known freedom can become the empresses holy voice.”

I look over at Snowbird, but she held a claw to her lips, making a shhh-ing sound. “The captain comes now, get ready.”

I looked over to see three dots quickly approaching from the gathering Island, and a thought crossed my mind “Can’t we just blow her out of the sky?”

A sigh came from Snowbird. “That would make things easier, yes. But doing so would also piss off every creature on the ship. Guls are few in number, making them highly valuable, prized possessions of each ship in the fleet. So you can understand that no one will want to destroy one of ours. Also, without a body to display, who can say if the captain’s truly dead.”

I looked back down onto the deck. “Right, don't damage the vertibuck, and claim Carvings head. Anything else I need to know?”

“One thing for after this is all over.” Snowbird spoke with a slight giggle. “You not being part of the faith will be a problem. If we succeed and you survive, then you’ll need to be blessed. So when this is done, just do what you're told, accept whatever gift you're given, and you won't be ripped apart as some agent of evil.”

I… had a really bad feeling about that. But as it stood, I needed Red’s help, so there was no helping it.

“Well, whatever it is, it better not…” My ears twitched, the sound of of the creatures below became rhythmic, they stomping on the deck in tandem, making a beat. “What the...”

Snowbird chuckled under her breath, her talon tapping along. “So it begins.”

*clang bang bang*

Even from up in the crows nest I could hear them hum, all of them hum. Something about it sent a chill up my spine, not like the dark creeping of Phobetor, or when thinking about what the republic plans. No, as I watched them, I watched creatures unified in a growing song, unified in a goal, in faith. And they made an empire.

*clang bang bang*

“Wind at our backs, we are sent adrift.”
“Unforgiving is the sea, our only home.”
“Culling the weak, so the strong can rise.”
“Our scars are proof of our sacrifice.”

*clang bang bang*

“Numerous is our enemies, thou we fear them not.”
“By gun and blade, the world will be cleansed.”
“Under the goddesses, harmony will return.”
“With our strength of faith, we will fight till we fall”

Carving Doll’s vertabuck closed in, and the pirates below became louder, more in unison in their song.

*clang bang bang*

“Wind at our backs, we are sent adrift.”
“Unforgiving is the sea, our only home.”
“Culling the weak, so the strong can rise.”
“Our scars are proof of our sacrifice.”

*clang bang bang*

“Numerous is our enemies, thou we fear them not.”
“By gun and blade, the world will be cleansed.”
“Under the goddesses, harmony will return.”
“With our strength of faith, fight till we fall”

The three vertibucks flew over head, and slowed for a landing.

*clang bang bang*

“With all on deck we will rise, we will die.”
“Together, together.”
“In storm and fire, until the goddesses claim us.”
“Together, together.”

The song stopped just as the vertibuck doors opened, and a wave of quiet took over the ship. Stepping out of each vertibuck was a power armored pony, three in total, with two of them being that unicorn armor with the bulbs. The third was Stratus Dancers power armor, crudely painted in the pirates colors, with Roselands symbol on its flank. I had my target, though I worried if the bullets I have was enough to do much.

Following each the power armors was a line of six heavily armed and armored ponies. All of them, including the power armor, had the mark of a bleeding green eye painted on them. Twenty one corps brigaders in total, and Red Steel looked like she was eagerly waiting to greet them.

Snowbird turned on the crowsnest radio, it tuning to a bug Red had on her. Now not only could I watch, but hear as Carving Doll stomp towards Red in the Orphich power armor.

“Nice hat.” Carving spoke, her voice sounding robotic through her armor’s helmet.

“Still wearing that armor I see.” Red responded.

Carving laughed, and following her, the rest of the corps brigaders laughed. “Of course, nothing’s better then tricking your enemy into let their guard down, only for them to find out too late, that your not one of them.”

Red's had bobbed, likely she nodding. “Can't argue with that, though taking three armors out, you could just as easily smash through their defenses.”

Stepping closer, Carving Doll towered over Red. “Or get’n bogged down when they raised their defensis. Now why are ya greeting me here?”

“A bit of bad news.” Sighing, Red turned around, and trotted towards the kill zone. “We recently got word back from the expeditionary force that Black Spot got himself and his hench ponies killed.”

The captain followed, along with her subordinates. “How’d dat happen, an’ who did it to ‘em?”

They were slowly reaching the kill zone, and pulling up the long barreled rust gun, I just had to wait for Red to give the signal.

Red stopped in the middle as Narwhal and Tarbarry trotted outside the killzone. “The facts are a bit spotty, but from the three surviving seadogs, your first mate decided to steal two of my guests, then trotted into a mirelurk nest.”

Carving tilted her head. “Doubt he’d get killed by the crabs, even if it was a nest.” The other corps brigaders shuffled in, practically surrounding Red.

“A mirelurk goliath tends to be much harder to kill than the common runts.” Red explained. “That, and the Islands here seem to have a group of more intelligent mirelurks. I actually have one on the ship, one of the only prizes we managed to make it back with. Right now, I have her reading the good book.”

“Ya, I’ll assume these’re the same tool usin’ crab ponies ya mentioned before.” Carving looked left, then right, and then up at the crows nest. “So… are we going to do this?”

Red took a stepback. “Was it that apparent?” The corps brigaders all laughed at that.

“From the moment your hoof first stepped onto this ship, aye. Flintlock never liked me being part of her fleet. That controlling bitch had no real power over me, and it put murder in her eye. So sending her whore of a daughter here? Ya, been waiting for diss for days.”

Red chuckled. “Good, then let's get this over with.” Overglow covered her horn, and in a flash, Red disappeared.

It was our signal. Tightening my hold on the rust gun, I pointed it over the edge and fired down at Carving Doll. Ponies all over the ship, including a few slaves popped out. In mere moments, rattling fire poured into the kill zone. Surprisingly, and not by plan, some molotov cocktails were thrown in as well.

The corp brigade didn't just take the assault, and fired back without hesitation. Predictably, even when shot, they kept on firing back. One poor slave down below who was sticking out too far from her cover, lost her head, spraying blood behind her.

A few bullets flew up at me, missing by a few hoof steps. Still, I kept on firing, and the hundred drum magazine quickly ran dry. Exactly like I’d known it would, things hadn’t really gone to plan.

Slowly, the gunfire died down as those surviving in both parties kept in cover to reload and collect themselves. The short pause returned silence to the ship once more. Observing the damage, I peeked over the edge to see that three ponies on our side were taken out. The one slave with the missing head, and two pirates that shared the wrong end of an apple grenade toss.

On Carvings side, most of them were on the floor, dead or dying in a large pool of blood. Four of them were missing their heads, but most were just riddled with a dozen or so holes. The three power armored ponies however, still stood, their impressive armor only dented or scuffed.

An explosion hit one of the unicorn power armored ponies, sending it flying back. Standing next to one of the cannons, Red held a rocket launcher. “Aw hell, I missed.” Red spat.

“That shot is all ya get, whore!” Carvings voice boomed. Around her, many of the downed pirates slowly began to get back up. “Now’s time to get hosted up on ta mast. Maybe hook ya by yer cunt.”

Right, stage two time.

Dropping the long barreled rust gun, I jumped into the lift, and hit the descent button. Pulling out the short barreled rust gun, I aimed down the sights at the kill zone, but held back on firing. Between the targets slowly moving, and my decent, it would be a waste of bullets to start fire at them just yet.

That didn’t mean I had to be idle, as I could at least mark my targets. Carving and the other power armored ponies are too well armored for the gun, but the other corps brigaders that came with them would just end up picking us off if left alone. So, they needed to die first.

The first of them that needed to die was a zebra with a grenade launcher. One shot from him could ruin this battle for us, and I’d already had enough bad days this week to have that happen. The second to die would be a unicorn mare with two short barrelled rust guns. Each of her guns was loaded up with hundred round drum magazines, and given leeway, she could easily wipe out most of Red’s supporters with one sweep of her guns. The third was a heavily armored large earth pony. He was armed with two shotguns attached to a battle saddle, which while he looked tough, he was nowhere near as dangerous as the power armored ponies. Still, I had a bad feeling about him, so he needed to go.

The lift stopped, and I jumped out, diving for cover. I made it just as a rocket flew overhead. Turning my gaze upward, I watched it as it was forcefully stopped in mid air. The old world explosive was floating completely still, covered in a green overglow. One of the Unicorn power armored ponies had grabbed it, and in its magic, turned the rocket around. With what looked like an effortless toss, they threw it back at where it came from, shaking the ship with the explosion.

*Bang!*

Pain erupted from my side as a bullet slammed into me. The bullet itself didn’t penetrate my barding, but it hurt like shit and reminded me to keep behind cover. The sizzling round fell from my dress, and pinged onto the deck. Looking over to where the shot had come from, there was a corps brigadier missing a back leg, bleeding from his eyes, and holding a 10mm pistol.

Sneaky asshole...

He was trying to reload his gun, but the blood that covered him made the next magazine slip from his hooves. Aiming my SMG, I put three shots into the pirates skull. His head blasted outward in a rain of gore that coated teh cover he’d been against, and his body slumped to the deck.

Deciding that I needed to move up, I pushed out from my cover with my gun and head on a swivel. The moment I stepped out, I was nearly hit by the bloody and broken body of a pirate. They’d been tossed through the air, and came smashing down against the metal box I’d just been headed for.

A power armored unicorn stared me down, holding a minigun in its magic. I quickly grabbed the body of the dead pirate, and used it as a shield as right as the minigun fired, ripping the body apart. Hiding behind the box for cover, I saw that the mutilated corpse still had two grenades on it. Eagerly, I grabbed them, pulled the pins, and let them cook.

With a flick of my hoof, I tossing the grenades over. Again, I figured now would be the best time to move. I dashed across the deck, putting some space between the power armor and myself. It likely was not going to do much except disorientated them for a moment, which was all I needed right now.

Finding new cover, I happen to duck myself next to Narwhal. She was armed with a battle rifle, and had a bloody hole in her shoulder. I’m sure back in Orthrus there was some sort of quote about how you can’t choose who you hide in a foxhole with, but surely it didn’t mean that it always had to be the worst company….

“These fuckers just had ta be hard ta put down.” She bitched as she reloaded her rifle. A spray of gunfire forced us to keep our heads down, it from my second mark, the mare with the two rust guns. “And ya just had ta be fucking useless at yar job. Aren’t ya supposed ta be full of death magic or somethin?”

“Shut it. Can you teleport me behind her?” I asked.

She looked at me and nodded. “Ya, but it’s going to drop ya a bit, unless you want ta bucket fused to yar hoof.”

I pulled my rust gun closer to me. “Do it!”

Narwhals horn glowed with a pale blue light, and then the world slipped away. The next thing I knew I was falling. My hooves hitting the ground with a loud clang, and I knew I needed to move. Quickly regaining my barings, I locked eyes with the corps brigader mare, her eyes pinpricks and bloodshot.

“Ya tink ya can creep yan ma!” She shouted as she turned her guns to me.

Dashing to the side, I quickly trotted to the side as we fired at each other, her bullets impacting my side as mine penetrated her. But the brigadier didn't relent, taking my shots, and firing back.

*Click, click, click.*

My SMG ran dry, causing the brigadier mare to stop and smirk at me. “Aww, litta cunt all sent, need mar led, I’ll ba genny an da nate ta ya” She pointed both barrels at me, and her head blew open, sending gray matter flying.

Narwhal waved at me with a big grin on her face. “Thanks, been wanting to end that coal town bitch for some time now.”

A glint caught my eye, drawing me to a sight above Narwhal. The grenade launcher zebra was above her, ready to fire. The zebra barely had time to do much of anything as the harpy Magpie pounced on him from high above, her talons mutilating him in a blink of an eye. Zebra parts hit the deck in large bloody chunks.

Before I could make my next move, I was hit by what felt like a wall, knocking me over. Looking to see what hit me, I saw the armored shotgun stallion bearing down on me. And he looked less than pleased.

“Ya a tough bitch, I'd give ya tat.” He stepped closer to me, already too close for me to just dive for cover. “But at point blank, you will die for sure.” A shot rang out from behind me, and only just barely missed the stallion, and in response he fired over me, likely at Narwhal and Magpie.

Thinking fast, I loosened my scarf, and threw it at the stallion face. Thankfully, the heavy scarf flew fast, and was enough to catch him off guard. So when I dived forward, and he fired at me in response, his shots were a hair too high to hit me. Sliding under the barrels, I pulled out two of the throwing knives from the scarf, and through the scarf I stuck them into the stallions eyes, pushing it deep into his head until it sunk into something more vital. The stallion screamed as he fired his shotgun wildly, with the only danger being the hot barrel here my face, and like damage to my ear drums.

Letting the stallion fall, I pulled the knife out, freeing my scarf from his face, both covered in his blood. I wiped the two knives off on a dryer part of my scarf before putting them away, and putting the scarf back on, not like anyone could see the blood. Now with him dead, I could focus on killing the power armored ponies, and then Carving Doll.

Narwhal waved at me, then pointed to the side. “Distracted the asshole!” She shouted. Looking at where she was pointing at, I saw the minigun using power armored pony. Our eyes met, and it swung the spinning barreled minimum at me, letting loose a wave of led.

Figuring the same trick might work twice, I used the shotgun pony's corpse for a shield. Bullets pounded into the corps, and its armor, saving me from the same fate. While holding the dead stallion up, I saw that he had a third, and mean looking shotgun on his back. Using my magic to grab it, I aimed from behind the corpse and fired…

Nothing happened, not even a click.

Quickly checking it, the gun was loaded, but it did have some sort of push lever. Pushing it, the barrel also pushed forward… Odd. Okay, let’s try this again.

Aiming and firing again, the barrel slammed back, and it did nothing again. The power armored pony stopped firing and was now making its way to me as it reloaded the minigun. So I tried the shotgun one last time before I try and use it as a club. The barrel slamming back, and then it exploded.

Pain erupted along the side of my head, causing me to drop the gun from my magical hold on it. Looking down at it the shitty shotgun had self destructed, the barrel split like a banana, and part of it had slapped me in the face. The power armored pony on the other hoof only had a few bits of shot stuck in it, but overall left it unfazed by any of it. I was sure of it, that they were laughing at my bad luck, but the pony hadn't started shooting yet, giving me the opportunity to try something more reckless.

Holding up the corpse, and loosening my scarf, I charged.

As soon as I got close, the corpse was ripped from my hold and tossed aside. Expecting this, I immediately threw my scarf over the ponies helmet, covering its soulless dark eyes. The brigadier swung its minigun around like a club. The attack had been unexpected, nearly landing into my side me as I backed up, but I’d pulled back just far enough.

It had worked and bought me some time, but that time was almost useless to me, as now I was out of options.

As the brigadier reached a power armored leg up and removed the scarf, a blue striped apple grenade rolled next to it. With a static filled explosion, the minigun fell to the ground and the power armored pony stood still.

“Finally!” Narwhal came rushing over with a long thin sword, sliding to a stop in front of the power armor. “Sorry it took so long. The bastard would have just thrown the EMP grenade if you hadn't kept ‘em distracted.”

I watched as she positioned the sword under one of the not-so armored joints in the suit. With a grunt, she slowly pushed it into the armor. Blood pooled onto the ground as a short lived, muffled screaming came from within the armor.

With the corps brigade support done for, as well as one armor down, Narwhal and I made our way to the killzone. What we found wasn’t any better of a scene than we’d just left. Bodies were strewn all over the deck, with those identifiable being a mix of corps brigaders and those fighting for Red. Among them was the other unicorn power armored pony with its head missing. Not far was Snowbird, wearing the power armor helmet on top of her head like a hat.

“Where's Carving Doll?” I shouted asked Snowbird. Tilting her head slightly, she stretched out her wing and pointed over to one of the cannons.

Rushing off, I quickly came to the scene of Red fending off a power armored Carving with a sword. Red was practically dancing around Carving, with elegant swings, and vicious thrusts, but none of the attacks could get passed the armor. Fortunately, the armor slowed Carving down just enough that she couldn’t land a hit Red. But we didn’t do something, eventually Red would get tired of her dance and slip up. And one fuck up was all it would take to end this whole fight.

“Narwhal, do you have another EMP grenade?” I asked as I kept an eye on the fight.

“Sadly, no.” Narwhal readyed her rifle, and hoofed over my rust gun. “Those things are difficult to make, and the wrench mares hate giving theirs up. But don't worry, lady Red has a backup plan.”

Taking the SMG, I loaded a magazine into it. “Good, but why was Carving in the power armor in the first place? Even if she’d suspected the attempt on her, I wouldn’t think she’d have been this prepared.”

“I’m wondering that myself.” Narwhal agreed as she took a shot at Carving, the buller only scratching the power armor.

Red kept herself out of Carvings reach, and out of her gun sights. Though looking much sturdier, the orphic power armor didn't have the same dexterity or ability of magic like the unicorn power armor had. All Red had to do was to stay out of Carving’s sights and at her side. Another disadvantage was how slow to react the armor was. The armor was strong, and much like a tank once moving, but that made it easy to read its movements. Despite that, as long as Carving kept moving, Red could not hit any of the weak points.

“I can do this all day, whore!” Carving yelled, and attempted to body slam Red.

“I know,” Red hopped up and over Carving, but her counter was stopped with a kick from the captain. “but this will be over very soon.” Taking a few steps back, she blew a kiss at Carving.

Stomping on the ground, Carving charged. Red easily dogged, but Carving dropped a few grenades behind her. The explosions sent shockwaves at me, making me flinch. When the smoke cleared, Red was on the floor, her dress torn.

“What da hell did ya do!?” Carving shouted, her head swinging back and forth, like she was blinded. “Fuckin’ no-good piece of shit sensors! Work for fuck’s sake!”

I took this opportunity to charge in, Red was already on her hooves, making her way to Carving.

“Come get me bitch!” I shouted. Firing my rust gun at Carving, the bullets harmlessly bounced off of the armor. Carving turned in my direction, but still clearly having a hard time seeing, and stomped on the floor. Loading my last magazin in, I pulled out two throwing knives and smirked. “I got two points to make with you.”

“Alright, but first I’ll have to put my hoof down right on ya face!” She snarled.

I threw the two knives. It wasn’t all that great of a throw, but they hit their mark as they slipped right into Reds magic. Red took the two knives and stabbed them down into Carvings leg joints just as she began a charge. The captain collapsed mid charge, grinding the heavy armor’s plates along the deck of the ship.

Carving didn't stay down long. She got back up quicker than I’d have though she would, but it did give Red and I the opening we needed. Before she could retaliate, I jumped in and aimed my rust gun at a joint and unloaded. Most of the bullets bounced off, but a few got in, forcing Carving to buckle. Red now had her opportunity to attack and took it. Drawing all her derringers at once, she focused them on the power armor joints. With a rapid double tap, she fired them all at once at point blank range.

Blood dripped from every seam the armor, but still Carving got back up.

“Foals! I cannot die!” She screamed, her voice warping by the straining speaker in her helmet. Thrashing about like a mad mare possesed, she let out a horrifying, pain filled laugh. Red and I got the hint and backed off a bit.

The sound of an explosion hit my ears, and Carving was sent sliding onto the floor. Her armor now had a huge scorched dent in the chestplate. With a heavy thud, a black metal ball slipped out of the hoof-wide indentation and rolled across the deck.

Looking back to where the shot had come from, I saw Tarbarry with what seemed to be a pony-portable pink cannon attached to his side.

Carving slowly got up, blood seeping out from under her helmet “You will still...” A fit of coughing came from her, along with more blood. “...Fail!”

“Doubtful.” Red laughed. “Once you’re dead, we will purge the rest of yar lot, Victoria included.” She lowered her head with a glare, and her muzzle twisted into an angry snarl. “Now, finish her off, Tarbarry.”

The preacher aimed the cannon at Carving, and fired, the shot was low, and bounced across the deck before smashing into Carvings chest, sending the armored pony onto her back. Red then trotted over to the downed captain, sword out, and plugged it into a joint in the neck.

“And with this, we’re done.” Red grunted as she gave the sword a firm twist for good measure.

I breathed a sigh of relief, and watched as Reds supporters came out. Among them was Mayall, with Brass and three other mirage ponies. Mayall gave an excited wave, and I couldn’t help but give her a soft wave back. At least that explained why Carving had acted so blind.

Trotting up to Red, she looked like a mess, but still had that floppy hat on. She always had that same hat on, didn’t she? For as odd of a question as it would be right now, I had to ask.

“Okay, just one question, what's with the stupid hat?” She looked up at it and laughed, and so did some other pony, and loudly.

The laughter was accompanied by clapping, from above us. Looking over at the base of the crowsnest tower, we saw the unmistakable form of Carving Doll, Ripper wings and all. “A wondrous show, don't you think… Savvys?”

The others didn't wait to ask why, and fired up at the captain. She took to the sky, staying ahead of the gunfire, she tossed a few grenades down at us before taking shelter in the crowsnest. Red and Narwhal responded quickly, knocking the explosives away with their magic before we took cover.

“Everypony, get ready for trouble.” Red announced as she picked a battle rifle off the ground, and pointed it up at the crowsnest. “Sacrificing your own raiding party, that's a risky move, Carving Doll.” She shouted.

The speakers crackled to life with the sound of feedback as Carving Doll’s voice echoed throughout the ship. “Life is all about risk, and if ma raid commander did managed ta kill ya, she’d get to take over Blackspot’s position. Oh, and thanks for gettin’ rid of that eyesore, ta fucker had been rubbing me ta wrong way since we got to ta islands.”

I dropped my empty rust gun and moved to use my revolvers. “You’re on your own Carving Doll, come out here and fight pony to pony!” I shouted, with no intent on fighting fair.

Laughter came over the speakers. “Thats where yar wrong, ya scurvy riddled ship rats.” There was a deep breath, and then Carving shouted. “All hooves on deck! The mutineers are cornered, and any sailor who joins in thar rapen and execution will get a spot on the newly opened raiden party. But if I find out ya aided the damned scallywags, ya get to be ta raiden parties new slaves!”

I looked over at Red, who looked beyond pissed now.

“What's the plan Red?” I asked as I readied my revolvers.

“Same as before, kill Carving.” She sighed. “The rest will sort itself out.”

A bullet whizzed passed my head, fired from a growing group of pirates forming on the upper deck. We all took cover, a few of us taking potshots at our new enemies. As if today hadn’t already been bad enough!

“Ya can't run, ya can't hide!” Carving mocked us, making me want to kill her even more.

“Right, kill Carving, that part I understand perfectly.” I mumbled to myself. “But how do we get to her?” The harpies could fly, but I had a good feeling that they’d be easy targets in the air. Mayall could easily sneak around, but not long enough to get anything done. No, as long as she was in the crowsnest, she had the advantage.

What we needed was for Carving to come down to us.

“Hey Red, you got another RPG?” I asked, full knowing there was no way we’d be that lucky.

“Yeah, actually.” Red looked over at me, and a coy smirk formed on her face. “But here’s the catch, it's hidden up on the top deck.” Right where the new mob was forming. “Maybe if we can scatter those fools for long enough, I can grab it.”

Easier said than done, any pony running up there would be an easy target. “Any way some pony can grab a power armor and charge them?”

“Naw.” Narwhal spoke up. “The tesla armor needs a docking rig to take on and off, as for the other armor...”

“Smashed.” I answered for her as I looked over at the tattered remains of it strewn across the deck.

Narwhal nodded. “Right now yar the most armored pony here, aside from yar head.”

She was looking at me with a fat smile, her and Red. Taking a long, and deep breath, I understood what they were suggesting. I didn't like it, as it was a stupid idea, but it was an idea.

“Fine… hold my head.” I grumbled. Red took my head, holding it closer then I felt comfortable with.

My body scraped its iron hooves on the floor, ready to charge as I pulled the death magic from deep within. The small blue flame around me grew in size, and after a moment, I felt I was ready enough. With a stomp and a kick, my body charged off. Jumping around our cover, it plunged into a hail of gunfire and angry shouting from the assaulting pirates. Red and Narwhal followed quickly, and with the other crew now focused on my body, they easily jumped from cover to cover.

“What's this, a suicide charge?” The speakers came to life with Carvings voice once again. “I didn't think any of… wait a fuckin’ second, where the fuck is her fuckin’ head!?”

Closer, I watched as my body ripped into the disorganized mob, unfazed by their attacks. The pirates quickly fell into a panic as my body took careful aim with my pistols, getting a headshot nearly one a second. The mob panicked and fired wildly. The spray of bullets did little to my armored body, but the shots that missed ripped right into the pirates firing from the other side. With the odds turned on them, the mob took cover, some dropping their guns as they retreated altogether.

This gave Red the opportunity to rush to the hidden RPG as Narwhal provided covering fire. She wasn’t exactly treating my head lightly as she focused on keeping us both safe rather than making sure it was a smooth ride. But as I tried to collect my bearings from the mad dash, Red had at least gotten us to where we needed to be.

Flipping open a rusty metal box, she pulled out what looked like the junkiest looking RPG I had ever seen. Probably the junkiest one ever fucking built, actually! Seriously, it looked like it was going to fall apart from just a stiff breeze.

“You sure that won't blow up in our faces?” I had to ask as she looked over the degraded weapon.

She hefted it up in her magic with a smile. “I only needs to be shot once. Trust me, it will work.”

An explosion went off near us before Red could fire, causing her to drop both the RPG and my head. She had a choice to grab either my head or the RPG, and in doing so, I’d like to think she proved her character with that choice. As she tightly gripped around my head, the RPG bounced away from us and over an edge that dropped down to the lower deck.

I could feel Red scream internally as she wore a blank look on her face.

Turning her head and mine, we saw that we were surrounded. My body struggled valliantly, but it had been covered in three layers of nets, and Narwhal looked to be out of ammo. My body struggled, but the pirates holdin it down tugged the nets in three different directions, pinning it in place.

“Whores thought we chosen would be frightened by evil magic!” One of them yelled.

Another shouted, “Aye, I call dibs on the headless! I like a mare who can't complain.”

That made me feel sick to my stomach.

A unicorn mare stepped out, holding a broken bottle in her magic. “Firstly, I’mma cut up Red's bitch face. She’s always thinked she be so much better den us.”

The group of pirates cheered, which was followed by an explosion in the crowsnest. Every creature paused as we all slowly looked over at the now smoking wreckage of the crowsnest crash down onto the deck below. Red tilted my head over the railing to looked down, and we both found Mayall holding the now spent and smoking RPG.

Carving Doll burst into the air from the smoldering wreckage. A trail of black smoke trailed off her still sizzling, ember filled mane and tail. Turning towards us, just her angry glare alone forced the mob of pirates quickly clear out. My body once again failed and tried to free itself as the three of us were left in the monsterous captain's sight, murder in her evil eyes.

Red backed up to my body. Narwhal took a combative stance, flipping her rifle around and holding it like a bat. Carving Doll howled and crashed down into Narwhal, sending the masochist flying. The look of shock across her face was frozen as her body was ripped clean in half. Her upper torso flew free, landing nere Red and I with a meaty thump. She only had a second to look at us as she realize what had happened before she passed out and went still.

“Right, I was going to just play this out, have ya die without needing to lift a feather.” Carving snarled at us, her tail still on fire. “Make it ah big fuck you to Flintlock Hook. Her own shit spawn, killed in her own ambush, and her target was not even in ta fight. But ya had to make it difficult, didn’t ya, Red? What, with all of ya tricks and ya heathen freaks!”

“Oh captain.” Red spoke with confidence and passed my head to my body that now had removed the nets from it. Her head tilted up as she drew her sword and let a twisted smile part her muzzle. “I am beyond difficult, and yar a fool to have gambled away such valuable sailors. But they were of yar ilk, destined to be thrown overboard by the good grase of the goddesses.”

“Enough bullshitting, Red.” The revving of the ripper wings hit my ears as Carving spread her wings. “Time to bleed!” She charged in, making a wide sweep of her cyber wings, forcing us to jump back.

I aimed my revolvers at Carving, but they only clicked. Fucking body hadn’t had the common decency to reload after using up all my rounds? We didn’t have time for this!

Carving herself ignored me and attacked Red. Unlike before, Red could not simply dance around her target. Using her sword to deflect the rippers, Red could only give ground in the fight, unable to even attack the captain.

Now reloaded, I fired at Carving. My shots didn’t do much, but they were forcing her off Red as she jumped back and took to the sky. Quickly turning around from her short climb, Carving went in for a dive, this time at me.

Not wanting to make the same mistake as Narwhal, I dove out of the way. But unlike my corpse body trick I’d used earlier, she’d seen my move coming a mile away. Carving turned in the last moment, skidding on the ground and crashing into me hard.

My head rolled, stopping in time to see her try and cut my body with her rippers. Luckily my meteoric iron legs held up better than a cyberleg, sending showers of sparks flying, but nothing more.

Two throwing knives slipped out of my scarf, held by blue flame. With quick swipes and jabs at Carving, the forced her to lose her aggressive focus. She managed to jump back in time to avoid each of the swipes, only losing her eyepatch. Inside the eye socket was a very bloodshot and obviously blind eye. The only damage Rototom had managed to inflict in her fight with her.

“Is that all ya have, captain?” Red mocked. Gunfire erupted from Red’s derringers, peppering the captain. However many hits she scored, none of the shots hitting anything vital as Carving blocked much of it with her cyber wings. “Yar stand in put up a better fight than this!”

“Says the unicorn who can't even hope to beat me.” Carving revved her wings again. “All yar traps are used up, trump cards revealed, and pawns proven useless. So come an’ try me.” Carving charged, and Red jumped back, throwing that stupid floppy hat at her. “I’ll make mincemeat out of ya!”

*werrr, pop!*

Smoke puffed out of one of the rippers as the floppy fabric became entangled in its teeth. Red stuck her tongue out at Carving, the rings one her tongue on full display.

“Ya didn't think my mother would give you those rippers without a fatal flaw, did ya? Why ta fuck you think we don't use rippers more often? Grinds through almost everything, but get ta gears all tangled up, they become nothing more than a shit club.”

“I’ll remember tat,” The captain chuckled, and revved the rest of her three working rippers. “maybe even tell yar mother about it when I deliver yar head.”

Pulling off my scarf, the thing swung around quit well due to the weight of it.

“Carving!” I shouted as I tossed my scarf. Predictably, she tried to knock it away with her other wing, catching both rippers in the fabric. Similarly to with red’s had, the motors whined, but the teeth couldn’t cut through it. It made me laugh, seeing her now trapped, as I held the other end of the iron wool scarf. “I going to cut out your other eye, just like my sister did to the first.”

“And I’ll pop tat head like I did ta her!” Carving screamed as she revved her last ripper, and charged at me. I blocked the ripper with my leg, once again sending sparks, as we locked eye to eye. Her eye didn't just bleed, it burned with a green flame, piercing into me.

I felt myself sinking back, the ground becoming like liquid, and bursting from it were cables and skeletal hooves. Whipping around me, pulling at me, dragging me further down. But the creeping fear from before? I didn’t feel it now, just a calm acceptance slowly being replaced by cruel excitement.

Staring right back at her with as much will as I could force behind it, everything stopped for a moment. The skeletal hooves let go of me, and instead, reached out for Carving. More pushed up through the ground, not just hooves, but claws, paws, and other bones. They grabbed at her, tearing her flesh and pulling her down. From the floor, skulls of all kinds emerged, biting into Carving, eating her, and ripping out chunks of her flesh. From behind me, a massive skeletal dragons claw rose, towering above us, slowly at first it moved down at us, then in a snap, it slammed down onto Carving Doll.

The illusion broke, and Carvings ripper fell to my side, grinding on the floor. Before she could recover I slammed my hoof down onto her cyber wing holding it in place. “This is the end for you!” I scream as I drew a knife from my scarf, and plunged it into Carvings eye socket. She screamed as I twisted the blade, and cut her only other eye out.

“Bitch! Cunt! Fucking whores!” Carving thrashed as she revved her one remaining ripper uselessly. “I will kill you and eat you!” She screamed right before a badly chipped sword plunged through her neck, silencing her for good.

An exhausted looking Red removed the sword, and wiped it, sending blood to the floor in a messy line. Taking a deep breath she thrusted the sword up into the air above her. Her horn flared as it pulled Carving’s severed head up along with it, and displaying both, she let loose one hell of a bellowing roar.

I let myself fall to the ground as she basked in her triumph. It wasn’t that I was exhausted, just glad that it was over. I’d avenged my sister, helped Red, and now? Finally, I could move on. I can finally focus on my real enemy, and stop with all this side crap. All I had to do now was wait for Red to sort out her shit, and take control of this ship.

Which as always, I’m sure wouldn’t end up being that easy.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Footnote:

Faction Alliance Obtained: Pirates of the Weeping Pegasus.

Quest Perk Obtained: Privateer. (You’ve set down a dangerous path of your own choosing, with no way to look back. But isn't that part of the adventure? Gain an extra x2 to critical damage to any faction caught unaware, and +10 to stealth vs any faction your wearing the same armor of.)