Author's Notes:

Welcome back to Emperor's Territory! Sorry this update has taken so long, but I got a job literally a day or two after I posted the first two chapters, and I've been having less and less time to devote to my stories since. Fear not however, this story is planned to go on until its finish, however long it takes. (Those of you who read my Snape in Equestria fic know that I was bad enough with updates when I was in school, so don't expect too much, ha ha)

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy everything I have planned for this chapter and for the upcoming ones!

-TBK

Worries of pirates, battles, and other looming dangers seemed to fade from Twilight's mind as she fell asleep and was greeted by Luna's magic, giving her dreams beyond her own imagination's scope, revitalizing her and renewing her spirit. It had been a long while since she had slept so well. Though she did not yet know it, this period of rest was a final blessing.

Twilight awoke roughly as the entire vessel tipped to one side, pirates and ponies alike running around wildly. Her friends were missing, and the light of dawn had not quite come. Yelling and panic ruled the early morning as the tremors continued to come, each one waiting a little less before erupting and moving the Red Force about like a great wind.

"The Blackbeard Pirates!"

The lavender Princess practically flew out the door and rushed to the deck, where the fog drifting slowly over the sea blocked their view of what was headed their way. Twilight tried to get the attention of several sailors, but none of them seemed to be minding much on their own ship. They were all focused on what was yet unseen, but surely marching undaunted through the dark waters. For the first time Twilight saw the quaking waves rush from the covered unknown and rush towards the ship, practically throwing it over its side. Even the shore moved and stirred as the steady voyage of eruptions continued, stronger and faster each time.

Twilight summoned an eyeglass, looking as best she could for any sign of the enemy, but all she found was fog, a white mask that concealed the incoming pirates perfectly. Beginning to panic at the situation at hand and the lack of contact with her friends, Twilight found herself fixed upon the darkness approaching, unable to look away despite the need for her to be a leader in the absence of Princess Celestia.

The crewman in the crow's nest hollered again, shaking as though he had seen ghosts; Twilight wasn't sure he hadn't.

"The Blackbeard Pirates are coming! They're here!"

"So much for being delayed," Yasopp grimly commented, suddenly standing on the deck beside Twilight with the other senior pirates of the Red Hair crew.

"Maybe they blew past the Old Man? He isn't what he used to be..." Rockstar replied with just as much a grim disposition.

"Even Teach would suffer some sort of loss if he and the Dark King went at it," Benn Beckman stated firmly. He appeared to be the most fearless member of the crew, and Twilight was amazed that she too was beginning to feel calmer in his presence.

But that peace was quickly shattered by another quake, which would have surely toppled the ship if not for the senior members; the air around them shifted, as if they were stronger than matter itself, bending the reality of the situation to their wills. It almost felt something like the time Shanks had knocked out the entire force of guards on the beach just by showing up. It was no less a fearsome power coming from them, and Twilight slowly realized that like them, she had to dictate the terms of this confrontation, not only react to them.

Then, like a knife running through the fog, the sea, the air itself, a loud and proud laughter erupted along with the largest quake yet, "ZEHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

The pirates and few guards aboard the ship whispered to one another as something evil poked out the fog. A strange creature, much like the Red Hair pirates but distinct all on his own emerged aboard an even more fearsome ship than the Red Force. It came into full view as the last quake, which split tremors and opened fault lines on the sand and the grass, was averted to some degree by Benn Beckman and the other seniors. It was a warship of immense size, easily dwarfing Shanks' vessel and looking something like a giant bunk bed, two massive levels with two decks and two hulls, one pair atop the other. There were enough cannons to blow Canterlot to ashes. Standing atop the higher deck surrounded by fearsome pirates of all sizes, was the man Twilight knew to be Blackbeard.

True to his name, his beard was blacker than shadows and he was missing several teeth. Far more than Shanks and any of his crew, Blackbeard repulsed Twilight and embodied the stereotype for the scum of the sea; he was large, proud, and laughed maniacally at his emergence upon Equestria's shores.

"Ahoy! Land called Equestria! Bow before your new ruler!"

His audacity was as overwhelming as his vile nature. In his declaration of antagonism, Twilight sensed a great history. A conflict and air of legend that surrounded this pirate, but it was tainted. He was so far from being anything like Shanks that Twilight saw the entire Red Hair crew in a new light after gazing upon this tyrant's darkness. This pirate called Blackbeard had seen and done amazing things, but Twilight was now more determined than ever to stop him. Her home and happiness depended on it.

The pirates all seemed quiet, nobody in particular wanted to give answer-except Twilight, and she was glad to see it. She inhaled deeply and watched the sun as it poked over the horizon, beginning to spill an orange glow over the bleak scene. Flying up into the air and making herself a target, Princess Twilight Sparkle yelled back in unshaken defiance.

"Equestria bows to no pirate!"

She felt Benn Beckman smile, and the Red Hair pirates and Equestrian guards applauded her, but Blackbeard looked taken aback.

"What's this? A...pony? Roger's second closely guarded secret....what's going on!?"

"I am Princess Twilight Sparkle of Equestria, a proud and sovereign nation that requests you turn back at once or face our wrath!" The words seemed to come to life all on their own and shout themselves at the tyrannical sea dog, but he smiled at them and laughed heartily again.

"Van Auger...let's commit regicide!"

A tall pirate stepped forward, a weapon much like Beckman's in his arms. He held it out and fired a metal pellet at Twilight in a matter of seconds, and Twilight had barely enough time to erect a shield that stopped the attack. Had it hit, she would have been seriously hurt, if not killed. The sniper took aim again, but before he got off a second shot another attack broke his weapon, shattering it to pieces. Twilight saw Yasopp smiling as the enemy pirate dropped the broken weapon.

Blackbeard did not seem deterred. Rather, at the interference of Shanks' men, he laughed a third time.

"Look at that...the Red Hair pirates have come to die to protect these pitiful creatures!"

The armies behind him laughed and he cracked his neck looking with bloodlust at the Red Force, Twilight prepared herself, magic glowing in her eyes and lighting her horn ablaze. Blackbeard's hand curled inwards, he looked lustfully at his fist and then at Twilight and the pirate ship with hatred. He moved his hand behind his back and smiled wildly. It was coming. His attack was imminent. He paused and let the tension build before slamming his fist forward, and to Twilight's shock, it shattered the air.

A shockwave raced towards the shore and as Twilight tried to take in the fact that all these odd pirates seemed to be able to bend reality (a fact which scared Twilight more than she cared to admit) she hardly managed to create a shield, large and thick, she focused everything in it, making sure it would withstand the force thrown against it.

It did not.

Purple magic shards shattered like the very air itself had a moment ago, and as it evaporated Twilight panicked to erect more shields, each one being crushed and shattered with ease. She hoped the pirates on the ship could stop it, because she was sinking in despair as she quickly realized that she could not. Tears began to well up and her heart stopped as the shockwave flew faster and began to implode, knowing that it would surely destroy the ship and all the pirates and ponies aboard.

Blackbeard was smiling wickedly until he gasped at what Twilight could not see. There was was indeed a pirate capable of stopping the attack, and Twilight formed a platform beneath Shanks as the captain jumped out towards the shockwave, dispelling it with a swipe of his blade and landing safely on the purple stand Twilight formed for him.

"Shanks!" Twilight cried out with joy, landing beside him on the purple platform and smiling at his success. He gave her an acknowledging nod, but was far more serious than he had been last night.

"Blackbeard...." the crimson haired Emperor addressed his fellow as the pirates on both ships grew quiet and still, "Not one secret....will be stolen from this land."

"Shanks..." Blackbeard acknowledged with a small chuckle, "I almost thought things weren't going to be fun."

The sea began to stir and the waves began agitated. The skies grew dark and the still rising sun was hidden behind ominous clouds. Twilight knew that this was the work of the rivaled wills of Blackbeard and Shanks. In truth, she was beginning to realize how dependent she was going to be on the pirates. And as she thought of how she might best support the pirate captain beside her, he suddenly turned to her and smiled, not goofily or with total light heartedness as the day before.

"Princess....don't hold back...and follow me."

"Fire!" Blackbeard screamed, and a stream of cannonballs were shot out over the storming waters below.

Twilight crushed the incoming projectiles as best she could, and Shanks sent flying power soaring at the incoming cannonballs like spells, but their combined efforts were not enough to stop every cannon, and those that were not stopped by Yasopp, Beckman, and the Red Hair range fighters exploded in the raging waters or tore up the hull of the ship; the first volley did not cause much damage, but it was clear that the cannons were the first objective.

Twilight conjured platform after platform, giving them a path right up to Blackbeard's warship, and the pirate took the same form, flexing his arm and throwing his hand over his shoulder and behind it, and this time Twilight noticed a white sphere of power forming around his fist. If it went off, she would be blown away.

Shanks leaped forward again, his sword colliding with Blackbeard's fist, and Twilight expected him to be blown away, but amazingly, it was Blackbeard who was shoved back, falling on his back and relying on his allies to save him from Shanks' next attack. Though they tried, Yasopp and Ben Beckman gave support and fired their weapons at Blackbeard's pirates, and Shanks was more than capable of protecting himself. Twilight flew up and began tearing the cannons from the deck, flinging them into the roaring waters.

Although Shanks was a fearsome opponent, Blackbeard did not seem to mind him as much as Twilight disarming his ship, and quickly drew his pistol. The shot tore past Twilight's mane and burned it slightly, putting her on guard. The pirate cursed as his men threw themselves at Shanks, and prepared to fire again.

Twilight charged a spell in her horn and shot it off, giving it enough power to destroy rocks and turns trees into splinters. Blackbeard closed his eyes and shocked Twilight as an immense darkness began swirling around him, like shadows turned into guardian spirits. Her blast was absorbed and Blackbeard opened his eyes with some personal revelation that lit up his face. He had regained his confidence and more.

Her next effort involved a dome of magic that erupted with her as the center, but Twilight was dismayed to see that Blackbeard's darkness absorbed it with ease, and seemed to grow larger around him. He looked upon the Friendship Princess with murderous intent, but his attention was quickly drawn away from pained cries as Shanks continued to mop the deck with the fodder swarming around him.

"Captain! We need help!"

Blackbeard looked over both Shanks and Twilight, and decided that Twilight could be dealt with later, perhaps when he had more time to enjoy the act, but whatever the case, he set his sights on Shanks, and fired the next shot at the captain of the Red Force. Shanks seemed to repel it as though it was a negative thought, sending it flying back to Blackbeard with his sword. The malicious pirate absorbed it with his darkness and laughed yet again, enjoying the odds presenting themselves to him.

Twilight allowed dread to enter her heart as she felt an odd force drawing her towards Blackbeard. Her wings would not carry her where her mind wished to go and her magic seemed to be faint at the moment, and she was slowly being edged towards the pirate, who continued to stare down Shanks.

At last the second volley of cannons burst and cannonballs flew out at the allied pirates again. Twilight attempted to stop them, but was still being drawn mysteriously towards Blackbeard, who was still paying her no mind at the moment. Shanks relented and sheathed his sword, holding out his outstretched palm to his ship, signaling them to stay put. Twilight was confused, and immediately relieved to discover what Shanks had predicted.

Princess Celestia teleported in the air with a blinding flash and suspended the motion of every cannonball and projectile, holding them firmly in place and preventing any damage from being done. Her stern expression was usually scarier than any look Twilight knew, but at the moment it was a great relief to see the Solar Princess stare like that.

"Forgive my lateness, Shanks, Twilight...I am here now, to end this conflict and protect these lands."

Blackbeard looked intrigued; certainly his idea of a fight went along the lines of the more the merrier, at least as long as he could conceivably win. But surely he knew this situation was hopeless for him. He had to. Twilight wasn't much of a match for him, but Princess Celestia was much more powerful, and it seemed that Blackbeard outright feared Shanks...so why did he look so thrilled.

The Princess of the Sun flung every cannonball back, aiming right for Blackbeard himself. Shanks and Twilight put space between themselves and the attacking captain, who hunched over and roared.

"Black Hole!"

That same twisted darkness that had once surrounded Blackbeard but since vanished returned, swarming out like an infection and absorbing every cannonball and projectile sent flying at him. The darkness formed into a funnel, throwing back everything it had absorbed, raining down projectiles on the Red Force and the shore, even sending a few cannonballs to the outskirts of the town in the distance.

"ZEHAHAHAHA!! Recognize me as the World's Strongest Man! ZEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

Shanks lunged faster than Twilight's eye could track and swung his sword violently at Blackbeard, who caught it with his still looming darkness. Shanks did not seem deterred, despite the effortless block.

"You'll never be half the man either Whitebeard or Roger were, Teach, not in a million years."

"I'm already twice the man they were! Useless figments of an ancient era! This is my age, Shanks!"

They separated at once, and as the winds grew colder and the clouds darker, Celestia ignited herself with flaming armor, taking measures Twilight had only heard about indirectly before now. As the flames coated the Solar Princess and made her a beacon of light, Blackbeard took interest in her at last.

"I am surrounded by allies, Teach. I cannot fail because I am part of something much bigger than any one person can be; this is your end, one way or another."

Celestia continued to ignite her new armor and was soon almost completely enveloped in the yellow and red dance of fire. Twilight lost herself in the awe and spectacle of the moment, drifting slowly back as Shanks and her mentor took opposite sides and caught Blackbeard between them. He did not seem surprised or threatened, once more showing a striking disregard for the threat before him, or a secret edge that would save him from defeat.

"You think you're the only one with a trump card, Shanks? I've grown more powerful than since we last met, and I too have nakama to watch over me!"

There was a temporary silence and uneasy atmosphere flowing from the scene, and without another word, Celestia summoned her power while Blackbeard lowered his, leaving himself open to attack. Shanks hesitated, analyzing the situation, but Celestia hurled her might at him without a second thought, a spiraling flame that was said to be as hot as the flames on the sun's surface. Blackbeard refused to flinch as an as-of-yet unheard voice called out over the scene.

"Arara...so hot tempered..."

A sudden and lightning-quick blast of ice shot off from the lower deck and intercepted Celestia's blast of flame, canceling out without much apparent effort.

Shanks looked mortified, if only for a second. The rumors were true after all.

"For instance," Blackbeard taunted, "I have Kuzan here with me...former Marine Admiral Aokiji!"

Twilight did not recognize the name, nor had she ever seen a man like this one, tall and more relaxed than seemed normal, even for the likes of these pirates, but the way in which Blackbeard announced his ally, the way in which he showed himself...

"Princesses!" Shanks called out, "Make a retreat! Now!"

Kuzan slowly leaned forward and fell over the side of the ship, diving into the water below. He looked as though he was staring at an old painting, showing no signs of fear of worry at all.

"Retreat?" Twilight called out in question.

"Protect the town! Save the city!"

As Kuzan landed in the water below he seemed to become ice itself, and then he stood and froze the water beneath him whole once more. He spread his hands out over the water; Celestia and Twilight wasted no time in erecting shields over the Red Force and the town, hoping that it would be enough.

Kuzan breathed in and exhaled with chilled sigh, "...ICE AGE!"