>The salt air invigorated you, as it did every morn.
>It reminded you of home. Not of some distant continent on the far side of the world, with its towers, castles and knights, of pomp, circumstance and court.
>It was a memory of the sea. Of your ship, The Aqualine Star. Not the fastest ship in all the world, like or not, that was probably some Kelpie design. She was plenty fast but could not best the wind.
>Nor the prettiest. Pleasure barges of the Princesses or some pompous Saddle Arabian prince were said to be as perfect as the stars themselves. She was plenty homely, but she wasn't ornamented in gold or onyx.
>It wasn't even the largest. The Polar Bears had their Whalers, great hulking Leviathans nearly as large as a castle, plodding along the frozen seas to fight the largest sea creatures of the depths. She was large, befitting a merchant's vessel, but no castle.
>But you were not aboard her right now.
>For the next day or so, the port city of Withermont was your home. Unloading the ship was the work of the Longshoreponies. You were here to relax for but a single day, find goods to buy and sail on to the next port.
>The Eastern Shore of Equestria was as far from home as one could possibly get. Anthoporia was on the far side of the world, and humans like you were a rare sight so far from the mountains of home.
>Most men were homebodies. Living on the same farms that their parents had tended to. Looking after sheep and cattle and the chickens. They paid their taxes to their lord, some man who had never worked a day in his life, and prayed for rain, for peace, for nothing to change.
>You were not most men. You sang to the sea whenever it rocked your Star, challenging the Storm to splinter your ship apart, paying your own men to work for you.
>A restless animal, you could not sleep inside this inn past noon; try as you might. As the sun rose that late autumn morning, you rose with it. With winter approaching, it was the end of the harvesting season. Perishable food was dirt cheap; dried goods were beginning their seasonal price hike, and the northern sea passages were starting to close.
>Putting on your light cloth coat, you left the bathroom of your rented room and clambered down the steps, leaning against the railing for good measure. The drinks the night before had yet to leave your system entirely, and they threatened to send you overboard.
>The parlour was dark; only a few crusty ponies nursing their first few pints of the day sat at the tables. At the bar, a young mare cleaned the stills while behind her, the kitchen prepared itself for lunch. Pushing off the bannister, you passed it by, leaving a few golden bits on there as payment for the room, and stepped out into the streets of Withermont.
>Cobblestone streets weaved through the town, each nearly entirely covered by buildings that loomed over the streets. Oil lanterns stood at the ready every thirty or so paces, likely needing to be lit in only a few hours. If you had sailed from the North, you might've made a killing selling whale oil here. But your plan was to head that way next and risk the North East Passage before it closed for winter. The sea ice locking out the quickest way between Equestria back to Anthoporia from this part of the world. 
>If you missed the chance, it'd be a four-month-long trip down the coast of Griffonia, then back up. Or heading back the way you came, south around Equestria.
>You were not overly excited to return to Anthoporia. Your family were not in great standing in the court of the emperor, and some cousins of yours would surely beg for a loan the moment you set foot back there.
>But you had little choice. A letter had arrived from your father, meeting you in Prance. He was apparently approaching his deathbed and wished to see you one final time. He was a minor noble of sorts, owning a small keep on the coast. Once, you had been his heir, the secondborn son, your older brother dying in the forty-year war. You had all but told him to disinherit you when you set off for Caspia-by-the-sea, and from there, the rest of the world.
>He had not, yet.
>You weaved through the crowd, used to looking down to dodge ponies as they trotted through the city, some busy with work, others seemingly going nowhere at all, as was the pony way.
>That he had held on hope that you would take reach him was... Comforting, in some small way. You had made it to Withermont with every intention of taking the fastest route back to Anthoporia and particularly to the port city on its western side, Caspia-by-the-sea. Your family keep was only a few miles from the city, maybe a day by Tyrhound. Hopefully, you could make it before...
>You paid the thought no mind, ignoring that gnawing. You had a day left in Withermont, and you intended to treat it as you would any other stay.
>Firstly, buying goods. Your second was in charge of selling what you had brought from Prance, mainly Grapes, Wines and Perfumes. All great Heart's Warming gifts. You were to find the best deals yourself.
>The first warehouse you entered was a thing of oak and stone, a far older builder than the plaster and pine that the rest of the city seemed to be made of.
>"Glad tidings, human," the little pale green mare at the desk said as you entered the room, ducking beneath the low doorway.
"Glad tidings, pony," you repeated. That would likely be the extent of pleasantries, something both of you knew the moment you had entered the warehouse. "I'm looking for something non-perishable, heading across Griffonia back to Anthoporia. I'm thinking something magical, but in bulk."
>"Anything in particular?" She asked, putting away her polite, charming smile and steeling herself. Yes, she had done business with men before, it seemed.
"Not gemstones-" you mumbled to yourself. Gemstones were so plentiful in Equestria they could be picked up off the ground, which meant that the diamond miners of Anthoporia had lobbied for tighter customs on such goods, and it wasn't worth the headache of trying to smuggle them into the country, not when you had to be there soon. "I was thinking Celestial Ink?"
>Celestial Ink was a wonder of the mages of Canterlot, an excellent reagent in the writing of magical scrolls. Given that men were not the most magical of creatures, anything that could help was worth its weight in gold. 
>If you had time, before winter set in, you would've commissioned a caravan to buy the stuff directly from Canterlot and meet you in the next port up North, but you weren't sticking around for that long.
>"We've got five barrels. It will be the last of the year, so it's not going cheap."
>Ah, yes. Even in the remarkably fair markets of Equestria, it always paid to pay more than you should.
"I'm sure I could sail onto Prance and get it cheap there."
>Warehouses like this liked to keep track of the ships entering port. Likely, your second had already sold at least some of your haul to this same warehouse. There was a fair chance they knew where you were going, the route you would take, and where you had come from. They knew what it was you were likely to buy and just how much they could squeeze out of you.
>Of course, like all good merchant adventurers, you had paid to keep your manifest delayed in the mayor's office until you left town and had said nothing to hint that you absolutely were heading to Anthoporia. With luck, as far as they knew, you were heading off in any old direction and were just chancing the North-East Passage for lack of anything else to do.
>She studied your face, your clothes, the sabre at your waist. Pony sailors abhorred weapons, but then again, they could fly, kick with the force of a canon, or they could use magic. Humans made do.
>"600 bits per barrel."
>You'd been scalped worse. It'd sell for nearly double that in Caspia.
"550 each, and I'll take all five."
>Didn't hurt to haggle, though.
>"Done."
>Ah. That probably meant they'd be willing to dip even lower. Alas, it also didn't hurt to not argue with people for hours on end.
"Alright. I'll also take enough provisions for thirty men making the passage. Ten barrels of hardtack, a barrel of cabbage, a barrel of sauerkraut, two boxes of ships biscuits, two barrels of lemon juice, and a barrel of salted pork."
>She wrote this all done, her lips manipulating the squill with practised ease, only slightly flinching on that last order. Even ponies that worked with humans often still never enjoyed hearing of our omnivore diets. That pig, after all, had a life. A soul. Probably spoke with the pony who looked after it, probably even helped around the farm for all you knew. 
>It was a weird standard to abhor eating some clearly smart creatures, like ponies, griffons and zebras, yet wait patiently for animals like cows and pigs to die with hungry eyes.
>A rare few rich nobles back home even purportedly ate Dragon, but the Dragonslayers of old had gone with the rising of the Sun.
>"Alright, that should come to roughly... 3,195 bits. Plus 20%."
>Sales tax. The bane of sailors.
>You reached into your coat, rifled around the large inside pocket, past a book of matches, a wineskin of black powder and your pipe, and grabbed a simple book.
>Written upon the cover were the words "Royal Bank of Equestria, Guarded by her majesty's writ." A chequebook. It was annoying to have to hold one book per continent and have to split up your money across so many banks and accounts, but it was far more convenient than carrying several hundred pounds of gold with you everywhere. You opened to the first untorn page, scribbled in 3,810 bits, and then grabbed your sword. Running your pinky finger down the blade, you splattered the blood on the cheque. With a click of your fingers, the blood glowed and boiled, shifting and coalescing into your signature.
>You handed over the cheque or, more accurately, placed it on the desk as, quite understandably, the mare did not wish to put her mouth on a blood-covered cheque. Even if it was good for the money.
>"Thank you. I am obligated to remind you that should the cheque bounce or the funds be found missing, the East Equestria trading coalition is legally obligated to extract the money from you in any manner it sees fit, including, but not limited to: seizing of property, indentured servitude until the debt is paid off, or in extremity, sending Griffon lawyers."
>They were no joke. You knew a Conpony in Griffonia who had ran up several accounts and simply changed name whenever they tried to collect through normal means. 
>Last you heard, he was working in a gem mine in Diamond Dog country, with no name. And no face.
> With supplies brought, you chucked a few bits to some ponies, griffons and dogs milling around, getting them to help you load the barrels back onto the ship. If you could best the passage before it closed for winter, these provisions would last you all the way to Anthoporia.
>Miss the passage, and you'll not only need to take on more food, but you'll be out of pocket with the Celestial Ink.
>With night falling, quicker than the day before, you strode onto your ship, up the gangplank with practised ease. A quick scan and headcount told you everyone was here.
>You had 30 people in total in your crew. Half were human. Ten were griffons, the remaining five were ponies. You had lost your unicorn to a squall off the coast of Zeborica. They were extremely valuable, especially those well versed in magic, but Ponies were homebodies, even more so than most men, and those rare few adventurous Unicorns were in high demand and could command an equivalent price.
>"Setting off at night, Captain?"
>You turned to your second.
>Incognious Armand, a man nearly double your age, grey crawling across his beard and hair, twisting around the few remaining darker hairs like vines. His face was worn, flushed red, and salt bitten. He was a sailor for most of his life, but one mutiny too many had made him weary to ever take up his own ship.
>The man was a harsh taskmaster, demanding much from the men at his command. It bred resentment, which bred mutiny.
>"Another five. Sky should clear soon, I want the stars visible by the time we've left the bay."
>He nodded, shouting at some of the men to make ready with the sails and take any whores or whorses they had taken aboard off the ship before she set off.
>Much to my amusement, there was a gaggle of women and mares who quickly made their way down the gangplank.
>"So... Home?"
"Anthoporia," You corrected.
>"Ah, yes," He said, tapping the railing of the ship for good measure. "What are you likely to receive in the inheritance?"
>Always blunt, that man. Likely, Incognious didn't believe you'd make it back in time.
>You shrugged and answered the question anyway.
"Outstanding bills my father didn't pay off. Perhaps a patch of land in the mountains. Probably an ancestral sword or some other such thing. As eldest living son, I will inherit that, even if my little brother gets the title and lands."
>"You ever think about taking it for yourself? This life of ours... It truly is only our life."
>You smirked, realised what he was talking about.
"As far as I know, Incognious, I have no children. One life is plenty enough to plan for."
>You shouted at the men to set off, the great cyan sails of the Aqualine Star unfurling above your head, dragging the ship out of the dock. The waxing moon reflected off the sea. The oil lanterns dotted about the ship were lit, one by one, allowing the men to work through the night. And that included you. You took off your cloth coat, passing it to a nearby cabin boy, and headed into your cabin, Armand following close behind.
>"You see yourself doing this forever?"
>You chewed on that question for a second while reaching into a chest, pulling out your heavy wool-lined coat, the outside made of thick seal hide, dyed by some strange magics your custom light blue.
"Like you? Probably. Make enough money, and I'll buy a place by the sea. Somewhere warm, isolated, and I'll pay for other people to go out on ships and travel the world while I sip on fruity drinks and work on my tan."
>"A truly noble aspiration."
>You smiled, patting your first mate on the shoulder.
"Ain't it just?"

_________________

>You woke with a start, tasting salt on your tongue. Stretching, you folded your bed back into the wall, ambling out onto the deck in just your underwear. The air was brisk, your breath fogging up in the morning mist. You had only had three hours of sleep, having worked well into the night to get your ship onto the passage trade route.
>"Nothing to report, Captain!" Someone shouted from the crow's nest. You looked up, spotting the Griffin Garuda flapping his white wings. "Fog's pretty thick, though. I'll do a flyby in fifteen."
>You nodded.
"That's what we want to hear. Pirates know the passage is closing soon, so we'll need your eyes sharp to spot them."
>Pirates swarmed in the northern seas in autumn and spring, when travel across the North-East passage was at its busiest. Everyone trying to get through before the snows closed the route, sometimes they slacked in protection or carried cargo more valuable than was safe to do so. Entire Griffonian treasure fleets could be picked off one by one in the ice fields if they risked the route just before it closed. You were at least a week ahead of Last Dance, the name for the last possible chance for a ship to travel the 300 miles across the strait without being frozen in the ice.
>You were ready for pirates. You were the best fighter aboard the ship, but the others were no slouches. One of the men, Silenus Velary, was a crack shot with his musket. Nomina Fyr was a former Sea-Watch knight, and half of the griffons were ex-pirates themselves. Only the ponies were weak fighters, but they made up for it by being by far the strongest creatures aboard. If something needed to be broken or fixed, you could rely on an earth pony.
>Someone, probably Armand, had placed a flagon of firerum in your hand without you even noticing them. You sipped on it, lazily making your way over to the side of the ship and staring out into the fog.
>You had made the Last Dance twice before. Last year and three years ago. Both times, you had squeaked through by the skin of your teeth, nearly getting locked in and having to spend all winter there. You had no intention of risking being that close again.
>While going over the quickest route in your head, staring out into nothing, you spotted it.
>For half a heartbeat, you thought it was the northern lights. Early in the morning, and very low. But it was an easy way to explain the flash of pink light piercing through the fog.
>You stood up straight, staring right where the light had come from, sipping from the flagon and waiting to see...
>The light flashed again. Just for a second.
>You couldn't hear singing, so it wasn't a siren. Giant Angler's lured sailors in with blue lights, not pink. And there was no way there was a breast cancer awareness lighthouse several leagues out to sea.
"Helmspony!" You shouted, turning to the rear castle of your ship.
>"Captain?"
"Hard to port. 90 degrees. Something we've gotta check out."
>"Aye, Aye, sir."
>The ship lurched while it quickly tilted to the right, crunching through the sea foam. You kept your footing, but others on deck slid slightly till the ship righted itself. Incognious rushed over towards you, glaring at the others to keep doing what they were doing.
>"What happened?"
"Saw a strange light off to port. We're going to check it out."
>"Could be an angler."
"Angler's aren't pink. No... I've got a..."
>You let that sentence trail off. Sailors were a suspicious lot, even you. 
"Well, one of those feelings."
>"Treasure or Treachery?"
>You leaned over the railing to look ahead, staring across the bow of the ship, trying to see if the light would flash again.
"Not sure yet. Maybe neither. Perhaps both. Either way, I'll get dressed. Pick five men, get them armed."
>"Yes, Captain."
>You rushed into your cabin, throwing on a loose linen shirt, some leather trousers and your sealskin coat. You grabbed your sabre, holstering it at your belt, and finally, one of your pistols from off the wall.
>The closer you got, the worst it was. Driftwood started to hit your prow. Then came the bodies in the water. They floated on the waves, most face down. All ponies, you noticed.
>Then you saw the fire. Distant, but still burning.
>"Looks like a chance for treasure then," Incognious said.
>You stared at the flames dancing behind the fog.
"Or treachery. If this ship did get destroyed, whatever did, it can't be far off."
>The wind turned, and the fog started to clear. Allowing you to see it.
>She was once a beautiful ship. A large, luxurious vessel of painted wood, nary a barnacle clinging to her enormous hull. She was easily triple the size of the Aqualine Star, with triple sails.
>She was also aflame. The rear castle was all but gone, a smoking carcass. The rest was slowly burning and sinking from the back.
>You turned to your assembled men. Four humans and a griffon, each armed with pistols and swords.
"Alright, there's no way we're going to be able to get her shipshape, and with all the bodies in the water, I doubt there are many survivors. We're going aboard and heading straight for the hold. Don't take anything so large you need two men to carry it. We're looking for small valuables, something to grab before she sinks beneath the waves. Stay away from the fires, and we should be fine."
>You lifted your pistol, pointing it up into the air while the Aqualine Star inched closer and closer to the ship. You'd have to climb the outside to get onto the top deck. With your other hand, you reached into your coat and drew a gold pocket watch.
"Set your pocket watches for five minutes. Once that's up, you've two minutes to make it back to the Star. If you're not on this ship after those two minutes, you're swimming back."
>With that, you and your men either flew up or started to climb your ship's rigging. The other boat was tall enough that you'd almost have to leap from the Crow's Nest to get aboard, especially with it starting to sink from the back. You were aiming for the forecastle.
>You clambered atop the crow's nest, balancing on the railing with practised ease. 
>Well practised, your Helmspony brought the Aqualine Star alongside the pleasure boat, as close as she might get.
>Taking a deep breath, you ran and leapt from the crow's nest. 
>You landed with a roll, nearly slipping on the soaking-wet deck of the other ship. The Griffin didn't even bother to let his claws touch the ground, instead immediately flying towards the mid-ship.
>He likely knew they'd be a fight for the loot in the safer part of the ship.
>As you stood up, you turned just in time to catch the next man after you, stopping him from falling over the side into the freezing cold water. You dragged him up the side, then motioned for the door to the lower deck.
>Unlike your own ship, which was lit at best by a few lanterns, this luxurious boat was lit by glowing crystals that seemed to shift into pale forms of every colour of the rainbow. It was a weird effect, but it meant they were probably safer lights than the oil lanterns aboard the Aqualine Star. While your crewmate went left, down into the corridor, you continued down the stairs.
>Trying to walk down them at this weird angle was quite the effort, but you had developed your sea legs by the time you were six and ten.
>The ship was made of five or so decks, generally getting less opulent the further down into its belly you went. But something called out to you to travel lower and lower, even as the ship tilted upwards.
>She groaned and creaked, shuddered and faltered. This enormous vessel was not long for the surface, and you still didn't know what it was that had gutted this enormous ship.
>The worst part was the lack of bodies. There had been corpses in the water, but nothing inside. And still no hint as to what the bright, pink light had been.
>On the second from lowest deck, you stepped out. The stopwatch in your coat ticked away, suggesting a minute or so had passed.
>You glanced inside the rooms. Once again, not a hint of a struggle, not a bit of blood. 
>You looked down at your feet, noticing a thin scattering of dust. As luxurious as this boat had been, it clearly didn't have the best maids.
>Turning a corner, you noticed it at last. On the port side, facing away from your own ship, lay an enormous gaping hole in the side of the boat. It was nearly three decks tall, and perhaps a dozen metres wide. It was a nearly clean cut, the timbers on the edge still smouldering and burning. A spell, you had no doubt. A powerful one.
>You looked around, listening still to the ticking of the clock. There were no valuables here, not this far low down. So why did you remain?
>That's when you noticed it. In the freezing water. The dimmest flash of pink.
>You took off your coat and stumbled down the ship, nearly sliding down as it continued to tilt.
>The light flashed again, even dimmer than last time.
>You reached a hole in the floor, able to look down into the sea. And that's when you spotted it.
>In the water, face down, but with her horn still glowing, lay a pony.
>She, you could tell from the angles, had pinkish fur, and a flowing mane of many colours, shifting from Purple, to white, to pink. And she was not merely a unicorn, and didn't merely have a horn.
>Wings. Large ones.
>You knew of only one winged unicorn, or horned Pegasus. Alicorn, that's what they called her.
>And this far smaller, far pinker pony was not Princess Celestia.
>She was also definitely drowning.
>You took a few steps back, then ran forwards, throwing your arms over your head while you sailed through the air, diving into the freezing sea. It was a harsh and sudden shock, almost like being hit by a bullet, but you remained conscious.
>You swam up towards the surface and the drowning mare. Her horn sparked every few seconds, weaker and weaker but serving as a beacon through the darkness.
>You grabbed her and pulled her head up above the water alongside your own. 
>With every muscle tensing from the freezing cold, you dragged the two of you up onto a bit of the ship yet to sink and threw her onto the ground.
>You shivered in the cold, unable to do much of anything else for a few precious seconds, then turned to her.
>You placed your head on her chest. She was breathing still, but it was faint. Her heart had yet to still. 
"Alright, c'mon now."
>You flicked out your arms, shaking off as much water as you could, then shakingly picked her up and over your shoulder.
>Then, clambered up the lowest deck, ignoring the crates and barrels around you. No doubt, at least a few were filled with valuables, but you lacked the strength or the time to loot them.
>The ship creaked and sank further, shaking apart at the seams. You placed the unconscious pony down and rushed back to grab your still-dry coat, throwing it over yourself, then going back to her.
>Your stopwatch clicked, signalling the five minutes were up. You carried her as best you could, trying not to bang her head while the ship tilted to nearly 60 degrees to the rear, every step up the stairs more akin to climbing a ladder.
>You were the last to arrive on the top deck, following the other crewmen, who were all laden with jewels, chests and valuables.
>They spotted you, soaking wet, dripping onto the sinking, tilting deck, and the pony in your arms but made no comment yet. The deck was sinking faster and faster now, such that the highest point was only a few feet above the main deck of your own ship. One by one, you and your crew leapt from one boat to another. Even the Griffin couldn't fly with all the loot they were carrying.
>You landed with a solid thud, shivering in the cold.
"Ready the surgeon," you ordered.
>You and the pony in your arms stumbled down into the bowels of your ship, your heart racing, bones shaking inside your flesh.
>You knew the symptoms. Soon you'd start to boil, to feel a heat that was not there. You had to be slowly brought up to normal temperature. And she had to as well.
>You collapsed in the surgeon's quarters, letting the darkness take you.

________________

>When you awoke, you awoke to a towel over your shoulders, naked as the day you were born.
>You were situated close to a lantern, giving off just enough heat to warm you up, without burning you to cinders.
>Blearly, you opened your eyes.
>"Diving in arctic waters isn't the smartest thing you've ever done, Captain," Your surgeon said.
>Esponymont Goodsir. Barber Surgeon you had hired from the docks of Thyria-by-the-Flames. A dark-skinned man, a wizard with a scalpel, and good enough at medicine not to kill most of his patients. Which, for Barber Surgeons, practically made the man a God.
>You blinked slowly, stretching on the fold-out bed, basking in the flickering orange glow of the lantern.
"Did I lose anything?" You asked, scratching your head.
>"No necrosis on your extremities, so no frostbite. That includes your dick; you might be glad to hear."
>You smirked, looking down to check.
"Small mercies."
>"Is that what you call it?" Goodsir asked with a smirk of his own. He cleared his throat. "The Pony you brought in, she was a little worse for wear. She used her magic to keep herself alive, which, thank god. I could see various signs she was face down in that freezing water. Must've thrown up a barrel of salt water while she was asleep. Horn's worn out; she won't be casting much in the way of magic any time soon. The wings, though..."
>You nodded.
"An Alicorn. I thought there was only one."
>"As did I. This one's a lot smaller than the Sun Princess."
>You looked past the lantern, over towards the sleeping Alicorn.
"That ship was torn apart. I think she did at least some of it. But not all."
>Goodsir nodded.
>"Ice pirates wouldn't go after a target this big. Must've been under full royal guard, armed to the teeth. Probably even had escort ships, though they must've already sunk."
"Dragon?"
>Goodsir considered the question.
>"Didn't hear or see one. Dragons rarely fly this far out, less they are just travelling. And Ice Dragons won't go this far south till winter. And of course, Dragons aren't dumb enough to attack the personal boat of a princess. If they ever wanted to live in Equestria again."
>That unnerved you. Something dangerous enough to tear apart an Equestrian pleasure barge and that wasn't afraid of the backlash.
"We should get out of here."
>"Incognious is well ahead of you. We're back on schedule, heading for the passage."
>You nodded.
"Has she come back to consciousness?" 
>"Not yet. Like I said, a lot of throwing up, a lot of shivering."
>You gritted your teeth. You wanted to be back on deck beneath the evening sky, preparing the ship for sailing through the night.
"I'll stay till she's awake. Don't want her waking up in a strange environment, with strangers, and blowing up my ship."
>"I'll get you some coffee."
>For the next hour, you sipped on coffee, staring at the unconscious alicorn.
>You weren't overly well-versed in Equestrian politics. It was less feudal than Anthoporia, but the royal family were still a big deal. Hard not to be, when the Princess raised the sun and moon.
>After an hour, she slowly shuddered awake.
"Hey. You're alright."
>Sharply, she turned to face you, her wings unfolding.
>"Where am I!"
>You raised your hands in surrender.
"Aboard my ship. The Aqualine Star."
>She leapt at you, throwing you against the wall and pointing her horn at your throat. It danced over your adam's apple, sparks occasionally shooting off.
>You swallowed, your throat nearly touching her horn.
"Would it help to know that I'm not whoever attacked your ship?"
>She blinked and trotted back slightly.
>"Who..."
"We were passing by when I noticed some bright lights. I ordered my ship to turn, whereupon we found the wreck of your vessel."
>The Alicorn swallowed, nodding.
>"Who else made it?"
>You tilted your head in apology.
"I only found you. The ship is long gone by now, beneath the waves."
>She furrowed her brow. For the briefest moment, you could see a flash of sorrow.
>"We were attacked. Out of the blue. Three boats and a flying..."
>She paused.
"We're not far from it. I don't know who you are, but if you are being hunted down, I'd like to know."
>"An airship. The largest I've ever seen. It shot something, and tore apart the front of the ship. Then they boarded. I fought them off as best I could, but..."
>She turned her head down, looking at the floor. A single tear rolled down her face.
"Airship? Like an air balloon?"
>"Bigger. The ship was as large as my own, the balloon as large as an elder Dragon."
"Well... That's concerning."
>She nodded, then wiped her tear with the back of her hoof. She looked up at you.
>"Who are you?"
>You smiled.
"Captain Anonymous Carcaspia. Captain of the Aqualine Star, merchant adventurer."
>"Merchant Adventurer. So, pirate?" She asked wearily.
>you shrugged your shoulders.
"Not often."
>"You looted my ship, didn't you?"
"Absolutely. You'd still be face down in the sea if we didn't."
>"I suppose I ought to be grateful."
"You don't have to be."
>She tilted her head to look at you.
"So, I gave you my name. How about you give me yours."
>She slowly nodded.
>"I am Princess Mi Amore Candanza."
>You blinked.
"Ah. So, Celestia has a daughter?"
>She shook her head.
>"It's not important."
"Well, whatever. We'll drop you off in Skynavia. You can make your own way back from there."
>She seemed surprised.
>"Princess Celestia will pay handsomely for my safe return."
"I'm sure she will, and if this was any other time of year, I'd do that. But the Last Dance is upon us, and I will make it through the North-East passage before the ice locks it off."
>"... Whatever you're carrying, it can't be worth more than the reward from..."
"I'll ask you not to repeat this. My men needn't hear this."
>"But... You're a merchant."
>You gritted your teeth.
"I am needed in Anthoporia with all haste. You can make your own way back from Griffonia."
>"... Why?"
"Hmm?"
>She blinked. When she opened her eyes, they seemed to stare into your own, glowing slightly.
>"... Why do you need to go to Anthoporia?"
"Because I want to."
>You stood up, pushing her off you.
"We'll be in Asyverik in three days. From there, you could probably book passage back to Equestria."
>You walked out of the surgeon's quarters, satisfied this Princess understood what was happening.
>Back on the top deck, the fog had mostly cleared. You could see for miles in every direction. A clear sight.
>The men were relaxed, some in high spirits from the looting of the equestrian vessel. You would promise to pool the loot and split it with the rest of the crew, taking no cut of your own. If they heard about a possible reward for sending this Candanza character back, it might keep them calm.
>"Captain on deck!"
>You turned to face Incognious, nodding at him.
"All good?"
>"Clear skies in every direction. We'll be within sight of Griffonia tomorrow."
"Excellent. Any trouble?"
>"Nothing to report on that front. Considering what we found, I did send one of the griffons off to scout. They'll be back soon."
>You looked up, noticing the still heavy clouds above.
>If the Princess was right, and this unknown foe of hers had an airship... It might be stalking you now.
>You shook your head.
"East." You mumbled to yourself.

_____________________

>It was five in the evening, as the sun was beginning to set, that the Princess finally stumbled onto the top deck. The men, all of them, gave her a wide berth and plenty of looks. In human culture, women were considered bad luck aboard ships, to be tolerated only if they paid, never as crew. You knew at least a few captains and first mates who'd say otherwise, but sailors were a superstitious lot.
"At ease, Men!" You shouted, walking down from the rear castle and the wheel. "Good to see you are up and about, Princess."
>The word drew the other's attention. You had been rather silent on your "guest" so far.
>"Thank you. So, en-route to Griffonia?"
>You watched her, waiting to see if she would talk of a possible reward. She glared right back, challenging your own challenge. But, instead, she merely looked out across the horizon.
"Yes, Princess Amore. Griffonia. We're on a trade run from Withermont and are heading to Anthoporia. Many of the men haven't been home in well over a year."
>"Might we discuss something? Inside your cabin?"
>You nodded, gesturing to the door beneath the rear castle.
"By all means."
>She followed you inside. You firmly closed the door behind the two of you, pulling the curtains closed, then moved to light the oil lanterns inside.
>"Is there no chance to convince you to turn around?"
"None."
>"So, you simply must return?"
"Return... Of sorts."
>"I am not ungrateful for your rescue, but it seems strange to struggle so much to save me from the sea, at an expense to yourself, from what your surgeon told me, only to pass up a reward."
"If you must know, Princess, I am going to Anthoporia to see someone, and it cannot possibly be delayed. Much to my own surprise, I am willing to give up whatever Princess Celestia might offer me in exchange for reaching there in time."
>You could hear her trot about, sitting at a chair in your cabin.
>"... Someone close to you. A loved one?"
>You grimaced, finally managing to light both lanterns.
"It matters nought to you."
>"I would mention the possibility of a reward less if I knew what you considered more important."
>You turned, marching behind your desk and sitting behind it, looking down at the Princess.
"Tell you what. You tell me something, and I'll tell you something."
>She didn't even blink, even take a moment to nod her head.
>"Alright. I am Princess Mi Amore Candanza. I became an Alicorn several years ago and was taken into the royal household shortly after."
"So, you're not born into royalty?"
>"I believe that the rule was that you have to answer one of mine first?"
>You clicked your tongue, gesturing for her to speak.
>"Who is so important that you are willing to ignore the opp..."
"My Father. I received a letter that he was dying. Making the Last Dance is the only way I might reach him in time before he dies. I have not seen him in four years. This will be my final opportunity." You admitted.
>She sat there silently for a few seconds, a dance of sorrow and pity playing out across her face.
>"I'm sorry. That... You're a good son."
"How much would Celestia pay for you to return safely?"
>The sudden question took you by surprise.
>"I... I'm not sure. Does it matter? You made it clear you're not going to."
"I'm not. But there's a chance I could sign up on another ship to make the Last Dance and leave my crew to escort you back to Equestria. It'll be slower, I'll be poorer for it, but I might make it."
>"Are you so..."
"My turn. You just asked me one."
>She opened her mouth to argue, raising a hoof, then considered, and begrudgingly lowered her hoof.
"Why were you attacked? Do you have enemies?"
>"Other than being a princess, and other than representing Equestria? No. I'm the Princess of Love; I'm not one for feuds and bitterness."
"Love? There's the Sun and Moon, Celestia, a living god, and then you, representing love?"
>"You skipped my turn," she pointed out with a smirk. 
>You sighed, gesturing for her to ask.
>"Are you really considering leaving me in a foreign city to make it back on my own, with people trying to kill me?"
"Yes. Sorry, Mi Amore, but time is of the essence. Alright, my turn. What will it take to make you accept being dropped off in Asyverik?"
>"Knowing whoever tried to kill me is defeated and locked away."
"Well, you best send a letter to the Royal Guard."
>"I was not asking you to do it. I simply mean I have no intention of leaving this vessel while I am being hunted."
"More than welcome to come with me all the way to Anthoporia. I should be back in Equestria in eight months."
>"Eight Months?"
"Three travelling up and down the Western Coast of Anthoporia, once my father is dead. Three travelling along the southern and eastern coast of Griffonia before finally making our way to Equestria again. I suppose I could speed things up, should the wind be at our back. Maybe seven months."
>"That's insane! I am a Princess!"
"I'm sure you are. I am not an Equestrian Citizen. Technically speaking, for tax reasons, I'm a member of the Wannapeak Buffalo tribe."
>"You know, with me on the ship, you yourself are in great danger. Equestria is only a day away by sea."
"Three days. The wind is at our back going West; we'll be fighting against it the whole time. And who knows what the wind will do after that? Well, Pegasi, but they lose their grip on the weather the further out to sea. By then, the North-East Passage will start to freeze over, and I won't be able to make it all the way out before it becomes a part of the arctic ice."
>"Can't you just sail around?"
"I see we're just giving up the one question each?" You asked. "Sailing around the entirety of Griffonia will take months. I could take a canal boat up the River Kingdoms to shorten the journey, but we're still talking about a month, maybe two. And my destination is in the North of Anthoporia, so let's add another month for safety. My father will be dead by then. So, no, I cannot just sail around."
>She sat there, fuming. On the one hoof of hers, she was stuck, acknowledging you did have a pretty good reason for your haste. On the other, you were being rather stubborn.
>"... Fine. Asyverik."
"Good to hear."
>"I will request, of course, all the valuables you and your men stole from my ship. Continuing to hold them is a crime."
>You whistled.
"Maritime law allows for the salvaging of vessels and goods when a ship has been abandoned at sea."
>"I was still aboard. Ergo, the ship was not abandoned."
>Dammit
"Technically, you were in the water and no longer aboard."
>"That does not seem like a legal argument that will succeed, especially with Princess Celestia serving as judge?"
"I saved your life. Does that mean nothing?"
>"You are all but abandoning me to die should you dump me in a foreign city while someone is trying to kill me. So, no, not especially."
"I could throw you overboard. That way, the loot is mine."
>You glared at the Princess. For a moment, she did look genuinely worried, but after a few seconds of returning your glare, she smiled.
>"You are many things, Captain. But I do not believe you're willing to murder a twenty-year-old mare for some trifling bits."
"I'm always up for pushing my horizons."
>"Given your previous lovers, that doesn't seem overly true."
>You blinked.
"Excuse me?"
>"Oh, I can read it in your eyes. Captain Moniqur Almos, human, woman, your age. Lady Isdensy Malquin, human, woman, your age. Oo, Sudomym Carcaspia, human, woman, your age. Your cousin, admittedly a bit daring."
"Normal for human nobility. And you say my age; we were both fourteen at the time."
>"Proving my point."
>You lowly growled.
"What do you want?"
>"I assume going back is still entirely off the table?"
"Yes."
>"Alright. Escort me safely to Anthoporia, and I'll pay you for your trouble. I shall even pay you for saving my life and ignore that your men stole from me. I'll find my own way back."
"That's it?"
>"I am without my magic, at least for a few days. Nobody can teleport this far, and I cannot risk flying back. So, yes, I am willing to pay you."
>You considered the offer, but in truth, there wasn't much to consider.
>You reached out with your hand to offer it, but suddenly the boat rocked, and a loud boom split the silence.
"What the hell!"
>You grabbed your coat and a pistol and kicked open the door to outside, the Princess following close behind.
>A cannonball careened past one of your crew's head, nearly taking it clean off, before slamming through the railing on the other side of the ship.
>You followed the path of the ball, looking out to port and noticing a few lights bobbing on the water and the vague silhouette of a ship. A frigate, by your estimation.
>You had maybe six cannons aboard, nothing against a well-armed frigate. 
"Alright, let's see if we can't outrun the bastards. Everyone, if you're not busy getting us out of here, grab a weapon. We may be boarded!"
>You rushed up to the rear castle, the helmspony keeping the ship steady. You patted him on the back.
"Hard to starboard. Present as thin a profile as possible; let's keep 'em missing."
>He nodded, and the boat groaned as she turned in the water. The Princess fell to the floor from the sudden turn while you marched on over to the far rear of the ship, gun weighing down your coat.
>You picked up a telescope and looked through it.
>With some quick mental maths, you knew you could maybe just about outrun the frigate, so long as nothing slowed down your ship, like a reef, the weather turning, or damage.
>"I recognise those sails!" The Princess shouted once she picked herself up off the deck and trotted over by your side. "Those are..."
"Yeah, I figured they would be. We'll outrun them if the-"
>You threw yourself over the Princess, forcing her to the ground as a cannonball tore through the railing where you had just stood, nearly knocking the wind out of you merely by its approach.
>To your horror, you heard the sound of cracking wood and looked up, only to see the main mast of your ship nearly splint into two, hanging on only by the rigging and a few splinters.
"Well..." You said, pulling out your pistol. "Best prepare to be boarded."

>You stood up, marching down the stairs from the rear castle back onto the main deck.
"Princess Mi Amore, best find a place to hide. Go down to the hold, find somewhere amidst the cargo," you ordered.
>She opened her mouth to say something, but you glared at her.
"No, now, Princess."
>She twisted her mouth into a grimace, but trotted off down the rickety steps into the belly of The Aqualine Star.
>You stepped out onto the main deck, helping sailors with handing out weapons, whether it be pistols, swords, billhooks or whatever might do as a weapon in a pinch. The ponies, pacifists that they were, focused more on fixing the rigging.
>Glancing around, you noticed something on the floor. The splinters from the destroyed railing and mast started to shift, rolling across the deck.
>You raised a pistol at the point where they started to coalesce, lifting into the air and shifting around.
>Slowly, they formed a silhouette. It was bipedal, mostly. Hunched over, horns floating around where the loose approximation of a skill and face started to form. Most of the splinters formed at the throat, creating a fairly detailed voice box.
>"I wish to speak to the Captain of the vessel we have just crippled," The shifting amalgamation of splinters and woodchips asked.
>You stepped forward.
"I am. Captain Anonymous Carcaspia of The Aqualine Star. What the hell do you think you are doing?"
>The silhouette turned to face you.
>"Ah. Anonymous. We've heard of you."
>You crossed your arms over your chest.
"Can't say the same. What are you?"
>"Captain Montke Comais, Captain of The Tempest's Eye, Captain of the Storm King's army."
>Ah. The Storm King. A bandit leader from the badlands. You knew of him, having occasionally sold arms to his army. A megalomaniacal weirdo, but he did at least usually pay on time, which was an improvement from many bandit leaders, like the Beast in the Tall Grass, the Shattered Star and the White Bear of the South.
"Right. I suppose there's a reason you started firing on my ship?"
>"Do I need one, Captain? We are pirates, after all."
"I'd say so. I can tell you what I'm carrying, if you like. Five barrels of Celestial Ink, two chests of Prancian Silk, four quarts of dragonblood and some dried food. Probably not even worth the cannonballs and blackpowder you just used up."
>The mass of shifting splinters and woodchips blinked its strange eyes.
>"Oh, I know better. You're the one ship it in the area, all alone. But we sunk another. I believe you have a piece of cargo from that ship."
>You gritted your teeth.
>"We know that you have her. Hand over the Princess, and your ship will remain afloat."
>You shook your head.
"Princess?" You asked. "Celestia? If she was aboard, wouldn't your ship by a pile of ash floating on the sea?"
>The floating mass of woodchips stepped towards you.
>"Hand her over."
>You glanced beyond the magical apparition to the rest of your crew. At least a few, no doubt, were not in favour of risking their lives for a guest who you had brought aboard.
>But you were the captain. The ship, yours. The crew, to an extent, served you.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. But be warned, Captain. Step aboard my ship, and you'll have as many holes in you as that woodchip monstrosity you are controlling right now does."
>The twisted mass snarled and then immediately collapsed into a pile of scattered, broken wood.
>You tapped your foot, then drew your blade. The Anthoporian steel sang as she left the sheath. You turned to look behind your ship, at the approaching frigate.
"Ready yourselves, men. They'll be a fight yet."
________________

>Six men stepped with you towards the back of your ship, flintlock muskets in hand. They aimed them at the approaching ship, waiting for your command.
>They fired as one, the musket balls slamming into the prow of the approaching ship. The things about The Tempest's Eye returned fire, bullets whizzing past you while you steadied your aim with your pistol. A single ape hadn't ducked low enough while it tried to reload its musket, hurriedly pushing the black powder down the barrel of its gun.
>Closing your left eye, you squeezed the trigger. The ornate silvered steel hammer of your flintlock pistol slammed into the striker, which almost instantaneously roared with flames and smoke. Your arm lifted, and the musketball fired.
>A few seconds later, the ape fell back, blood splattering against the thing next to it. The ship was coming closer and closer. You decided against reloading your pistol again, instead shouting orders to your men. Abandon trying to fix the main mast, snuff out every lamp and light on the ship. With night fast approaching, the darkness would be your ally in the coming boarding attempt. If this Tempest's Eye wished to capture Princess Candance, they had no choice but to try and board your ship.
>You had sailed her through the seas of Griffonia, fought pirates off the sea of flames in the south of anthoporia and even skirmished with a sea dragon off of the coast of Abyssinia. You had never allowed another to take your ship, and today would be no different.
"Let darkness be our shield. Let the stars be our guide!" You shouted.
>"Aqualine!" Your crew shouted in response.
"Let this Tempest learn what it truly is to be in the heart of a storm. Let's show them who rules the sea!"
>"Aqualine!" They shouted once more.
>You ran your pinky finger down the length of your sword, covering it in blood. Blood magic was the only magic most humans were capable of. You were no different. You could let blood write your name, you could use blood to cast rudimentary spells of protection, and you could set your own blood aflame.
>With the sun setting, you had no great want to do that last. At least, not yet.
>The two ships, the Aqualine Star and the Tempest's Eye, exchanged gunfire for the next three minutes. With the sea shifting the boats in every direction and the innate inaccuracy of blackpowder weapons at long ranges, few died. That wasn't the point. They were firing to slow down your preparations, to scare you and your men into ducking for cover. You fired in response to stop them.
>But with your ship limping without the use of its main mast, it was inevitable the Tempest's Eye would catch you. The prow of that frigate slammed into the rear castle of your ship. You dropped your coat on the deck of the ship and rolled up your sleeves. The men and griffins around you held their weapons ready. Those marksmen and the helmspony rushed onto the main deck, stowing away their long arms and grabbing weapons more suitable for a boarding action, like axes, clubs and cutlasses.
>The ponies made their way down into the hold. While each was strong or an excellent fighter, they weren't of a warrior spirit. They would be the last line of defence for the Princess.
"Aqualine!"
>"Star!"
"Aqualine!"
>"Star!"
>You could hear their approach just as the sunlight started to fade. Your men huddled around the steps leading up to the rear castle, hoping to funnel them into that.
>There wouldn't be a chance. The pirates leapt over the railing onto the main deck, turning quickly to attack your men. They each wielded steel weapons, whether swords or axes. Some two. They were no ragtag group.
>One turned and fired his pistol right into the skull of Garuda. His beak shattered from the musketball, and a wet splatter of blood and brains exploded out of the back of his head.
>Your grip on your sword tightened, and with a bestial roar you charged right to the boarders, your other men following you like a shadow. The blood on your set alight with fury, and your sword met another.
>Glowing red hot, your swung and swung at the ape, who tried his best to parry your blows. Your sword was built to withstand the bloodflame it was coated in. The ape's sword was not. With a strong enough blow, you sliced the blade in two and slashed the ape in the face, cutting his right eye out and melting the other from the heat of your sword passing in front of it.
>While it roared and screamed in pain and darkness, you turned quickly on your feet to parry another attacker. This one wielded two blades of black iron, rugged and crude, but the force of each blow belayed not only the weight of the swords but the strength of the animal wielding them. You caught one blow with the tip of your sword, then quickly brought up the basket hilt of your sabre to push against the next one.
>Grabbing the ape by the face with your left hand, you chanted under your breath, the blood still dripping from your pinky finger burning as it left the wound. You quickly swiped your hand up the ape's snarling face, coating it in your burning blood. The baboon-like creature snapped its teeth and jumped into the air, kicking you with both feet and launching you back across the deck.
>The baboon wiped his face free of your burning blood and marched over towards you, slashing his twin swords against the deck.
>He stood stock still, shaking in pain and surprise after three feet of harpoon lodged itself in its chest. While it collapsed, you looked behind you to see Armand grabbing another weapon to arm himself with.
>You shared no words, no meaningful looks. None were needed. Instead, you got onto your feet and kept fighting.
>Though your men put up a valiant defence, the better-armed and more numerous pirates forced you back below deck. The tight corridors and small doorways made excellent chokepoints, but you were loathed to surrender the top deck of your ship to these animals.
>Blood dripped from your every limb. A fresh scar marred your arms, leg and face. Your once brilliant blade of steel and flame had burnt out, and you had no more energy to set it alight again.
>"Captain."
>You turned to face Armand, who was in not much greater shape. In normal circumstances, you'd order him to see Goodsir immediately, what with his right arm hanging limply by his side, clearly broken, and his face a swollen bloody mess, but Goodsir was busy with the actual dying, as was Gault, the griffin who was the closest thing to a chaplain aboard the Aqualine Star.
>"We cannot face them all. We've put up a valiant defence. None can say we didn't try. But she is a stranger to us. And not worth our lives."
"She's a princess of Equestria. If it gets out that we surrendered her to save our own skins..."
>"We will not have skin to save if we do not give her up. They start blowing up the ship. Eventually, they'll make it through trapdoors and down the stairs. And they'll be no mercy for us."
>You gritted your teeth, standing as tall as you could in the cramped corridor.
"She needs our help, Armand."
>"We're not heroes, Anonymous. We're merchants."
>You sighed.
"Get her up."
>Armand nodded, limping away further down the ship. You sheathed your blade and unholstered your pistol, holding the weighty weapon in both hands.
>He was right, of course. You had fought pirates before, but to save yourself and your men. She was neither of those things.
>Sure, she was a princess, but you had left Anthoporia precisely to get away from such troubles as royalty and nobility.
>Father needed to see you. His death was fast approaching. She had said herself that was a noble reason not to return to Equestria. Perhaps it was enough to...
>Armand returned, the pink alicorn following close behind.
"Thanks, Incognious. Go to Goodsir. Get that arm sorted."
>Your second nodded and limped away. You held your pistol with a single bloody hand and knelt down before the still-unmarred princess.
>You must've been quite a sight to her. Bloody, bruised and sweety from battle, your eyes shaking from that strange rage, lust and fear that only battle could bring.
"Princess. We cannot hold them off."
>Her eyes met yours.
>"I understand." She said mournfully.
"What magic do you feel capable of?"
>"What?"
"I've never surrendered to a pirate before, I shall not today. What spells might you weave?"
>She was clearly shocked. Almost certain you were to give her up. Logically, you should have. She was but a stranger to you, nothing more than cargo.
>Perhaps it was pride, as you claimed, that made you certain to fight.
>Perhaps it was rage. Bloodlust.
>You yourself knew not, only that it was an abominable act to discard her life for your own.
>You doubted that men and beasts that worked for the Storm King would so easily let you go anyway. There was a logic, you told yourself.
>"Almost none. I burnt myself out keeping myself from drowning and... Whatever it was I did to protect myself before I fell into the sea."
"Almost isn't nothing," You encouraged.
>"I could cast perhaps an illusion. A shadow shape, invisibility, a false flame or storm, but..."
"Invisibility?" You asked, a plan forming. "Do it."
>"What?"
"Cast the spell upon me."
>She looked at you in confusion. What good would a spell to hide you from sight do in such a close, bloody battle? Such spells instantly shattered upon trying to perform an action to harm. Almost any action might break a spell of invisibility, especially one cast by a mage so weak right now.
>But you did have a plan.
>She nodded, and her horn started to glow. It spluttered, and the light shining from the tip was incredibly dim. Even a mere candle might match the brightness. It lacked that telltale warmth that magic so often had, whatever its source.
>Candance clearly was not lying about being so weak.
>The arcane energies gathered across the horn, then they condensed into a single brilliant spark of shifting hues and shimmering light that gently glided across the distance between the two of you, gently resting at your solar plexus.
>It sat there for a second or two, and then you blinked. When you opened your eyes, you had disappeared. You could even see through your own closed eyes. It was disorientating, not being able to see yourself. But it meant the spell would work.
>"The slightest action might break the spell, and a hostile one certainly will. Be careful."
>Incredibly, her eyes unerringly settled on your own as if she could see you even beyond sight.
>Not daring to speak for fear of wasting the spell, you walked over to a nearby porthole and climbed outside.
>The wind was starting to pick up, and night had at last fallen. Flames danced across the top of the ship, and the great cacophony of violence and shouting echoed across the top deck. You climbed up, relying more on touch than sight to make your way back onto the main deck.
>Most of the beasts that had boarded your ship had their back to you. It would be quite a surprise to bring your sword down upon one of their backs and take them by stealth.
>But you had larger aspirations.
>You crept past the various squads of ape-like creatures trying to bash the door and trapdoors open, only to be met by shoves, stabbings and gunfire from your men.
>And instead climbed the rearcastle of your ship.
>Hopping onto the boarding figurehead of The Tempest's Eye, you quickly and carefully ran across, unable to see your feet to ensure you had a decent footing. You tripped and rolled onto the deck of the entangled ship but didn't break invisibility.
>Daring to break the spell, you started to slice apart the ropes connecting your ship to theirs. The tide might push you apart, but you had to hope that a slow, cautious motion like that wouldn't break the spell, even if you used your sword.
>One by one, the ropes snapped apart.
>The shimmering mist that was your form faltered, but with the last rope, it still didn't break. You'd have to be careful, though. When you blinked, you noticed the world getting a bit darker each time. The spell was weakening.
>You leapt down from their ship's forecastle. The chimplike Captain of their ship, the same one who had spoken through the woodchippings, stood near the mast. His coat billowed in the quickly rising winds, all manner of magical implements hanging from every pocket.
>He was the only well-dressed one amongst them. The rest were clearly slaves or captured crew, forced to serve. Shirtless even in the arctic night, their backs marred and scourged by whips. Chains and manacles hung limply from their emaciated wrists and ankles.
>It was a sad, horrifying sight to see, but not unusual.
>You pushed on, inching past the crew and making your way further down into the lower decks of the ship.
>Unlike your own, where you focused on light and warmth, it was always midnight in the belly of the Tempest's Eye.
>In the dark, you bumped into a wandering slave, only realising your invisibility broke when you blinked, and the world was even darker for a brief breath.
>"What the..."
>You scrambled away.
>"Hey!"
>You drew your blade as you ran. A point of light in the distance promised an opening, and you prayed it was the one you required.
>Sure enough, three men stood around a canon, scrambling for weapons at your approach. You cut the nearest one down without a moment's thought, ducking beneath the swing of a cannon's ramrod that nearly hit you in the head. You turned your back to the assailant while dragging your sword up behind you, slicing the crewman from balls to brains. The last scrambled on the floor, trying to crawl away from you.
>You paid the poor man no mind, instead moving towards the barrel of gunpowder they kept near the gun. 
>Pouring the blackpowder on the ground, you held up your already rather cut-up left hand to your sword.
>And sliced it open. You held a pool of liquid flame and stepped back away from the gunpowder.
>You caught your breath for a moment, then turned around and ran for your life, throwing the blood in your hand towards the pile and barrel of black powder.
>Once free of your hand, the bloodflame roared into life, lighting up the entire deck. The boiling liquid fell as a fine mist onto the blackpowder, only just giving you enough time to reach a nearby ladder.
>Your world was darkness, heat and thunder when the flames touched the blackpowder, and you were thrown from your feet for a good dozen yards. Your ears rang, and you could do nothing for a full minute but groan and grit your teeth while rolling around on the floor. 
>When you could eventually try and stand and open your eyes, the entire deck was now a hell of light and flame. Other explosions, further away from you, luckily, shattered the deck. Splinters tore their way through the bunks, and through the flames, you could see the crew and slaves scrambling to escape.
>You stood up and made your way to another canon poking out of the ship. You removed the blocks from around the wheels, letting it roll back away from the opening, and climbed out, scrambling up the side of the ship.
>Leaping over the railing onto the main deck, the Tempest's Eye was in complete chaos. The crewmen fighting off desperate slaves, the apelike captain scrambling towards you, towards the rear castle and the wheel. You climbed the ladder onto the rear castle, cutting down the helmsape that was watching in astonished horror.
>The captain soon joined you.
"I'll ask for your surrender."
>He looked incredulously at you.
>"How? What?"
"Surrender, and I'll allow you to find refuge aboard the Aqualine Star. your ship is sinking, and we'll both die if you refuse."
>"Both? My men will take your ship and the princess. A shame to lose mine, but yours will do. The Storm King will reward me handsomely for my success."
"That would be if you can capture the Aqualine. The man standing in the hold with a lit match and a barrel of Celestial Ink might say something about that."
>The ape captain's eyes widened in terror. Had to hope he'd fall for the bluff. Had to sound convincing.
"I've never seen a detonation of five barrels of celestial ink mixed with gunpowder and bloodflame. It should be visible from the shores of Equestria."
>"You wouldn't dare."
"I'm certainly not willing to give my ship up. We humans are crazy, and we'll die for a boat. Will you?"
>Captain Montke stared at you, watching your expression. Another explosion below deck rocked the ship. While the rest of the terrified crew, some trying to scramble onto your ship, others throwing themselves into the sea. Those trying to reach your ship fell into the arctic water below, the two ships having separated. You could see the boarding party aboard your own rushing back to see what happened to the Tempest's Eye.
>Flames started to poke through the cracks in the floor.
"Running out of time," You challenged.>Captain Montke reached for his sword and drew it in a shaking motion. Then threw it at your feet.
"Order your men back."
>Montke reached for one of many magical implements in his coat, a tooth-like stone with swirling runes etched into its surface that glowed a faint blue.
>"This is Captain Montke. Stand down!"
>He repeated himself. You looked towards your ship, spotting the apes throwing down their arms and being quickly manhandled by your own crew. You brought your fingers up to your mouth and whistled three times.
>The flames started to burn the planks beneath your feet, but three griffons took off from your ship. They flew over and wrapped their claws around your arms and lifted you up from under your armpits.
"Him next."
>Montke sighed with relief.
"If you feel like it."
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>Of the Tempest's Eye, only about twenty of its crew survived its eventual explosion. You and your battered men fished some out of the ocean, others from those that had surrendered.
>You could barely stand, using your sabre as a cane to try and stay upright. But you had to command.
"Get them into the hold. Lock them in a box for all I care. We'll take them to Asyverik."
>Your men, mostly the ponies uninvolved in the worst of the fitting, started to take the crewmen and slaves away, down into your ship.
>You started to turn away, but Montke spoke up.
>"Wait!"
>You turned to face him, your hand shaking on the pommel of your sword.
>"Asyverik will kill me."
"Your pirates. They'll hang you all."
>"Allow me to leave in peace, and I'll give you this."
>He reached into his coat. Six men carrying six guns aimed themselves at his head.
>You waved them off.
>Gingerly, Montke continued to reach into his coat and drew a fancy crystal.
>"A teleporting crystal. Once per day, it can teleport you anywhere that you can see. From here to the horizon."
>That was quite a prize.
>Still, you were a merchant. Haggling was in your blood.
"Just that? For all you and your men?"
>"My men?"
>You gritted your teeth, holding back your disgust.
>You limped over and snatched the crystal from his hand.
"Get him out of my sight."
>"Is that a yes?" The ape shouted while two earth ponies dragged him below. You stumbled into your cabin and fell into the bunk, collapsing into the darkness of sleep the moment your head hit the pillow.

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>The city of Asyverik was commonly known as the northernmost city in Griffonia. The Ice Citadel, the sentinel, she had a thousand and one nicknames.
>To you, she was the final stop before the Last dance. The last gasp of civilisation. 
>You were there for a day longer than you liked, having to quickly repair your mast. The money you earned from the bounty on every pirate easily covered the cost of the repairs, but time was a currency of its own.
>This time, you slept and awoke aboard the Aqualine. Even while carpenters and shipwrights worked on the mast day and night, creating a cacophony of wood, hammers, nails and sails, you couldn't dare be apart from her while she was hurt.
>You and the Princess were the only ones who didn't leave the ship.
>She entered your cabin at noon while you were still half-sleeping.
>"Captain Anonymous?"
>You shuddered, sitting up in bed and rubbing your head. You reached for a nearby bottle of icerum, an Asyverik delicacy of Rum, Snow and Salt.
"Princess."
>"I... I just wanted to thank you for... All that. That was an incredibly brave thing you did."
"Money is worth the risk. You're the biggest payday I may ever have."
>"Is my life worth six?"
>Six. The number of your crew that died in the battle. Garuda, Nomdejure, Eonymous, his brother Titularr, Seastrider and Galm. Armand was likely hiring whoever he could to replace them, but with many ships trying the Last Dance, cheap labour was not so cheap right now.
"If you pay up, I may be able to compensate their family handsomely. Besides, we all dream of being buried at sea. I'd hate to be burnt like a common vagrant."
>She winced.
"Still, you bring up a point. With six men sinking to the bottom of the sea, we're a bit short-staffed. I'm afraid your time as merely a passenger aboard the Aqualine Star has passed."
>She, much to your surprise, nodded. You nodded yourself, quietly impressed at her attitude.
>"I can read the stars..."
"I need no navigator. I have one. No, you may be forced to do manual labour, Princess."
>She furrowed her brow.
"If that is to much, you'll likely find another crew to take you back to Equestria. Many ships here are likely on their way back."
>You couldn't believe the words falling from your lips. You were all but giving up an enormous payday by telling her that. Your crew would have every right to kill you for telling her this, offering her this. She was your cargo.
>But to your complete shock, she shook her head.
>"I realise, Captain Anonymous, that that would indeed be quicker. But this Storm King might still be in these waters. And I don't think any other crew... Nor any other captain would've done as you did."
>Your eyes met. Green against her deep purple. Both found wanting, searching.
"... Welcome, Crewmate Candence."