Australus

[augercorn]

(New rotation, travel you can post where you feel you fit) 

 

all the the ponies were now free, somewhat. They were still in some dark dungeon with a  giant evil bird monster, and his insane boss, on an island filled with creatures and criminals.

 

Then something weird happened. as soon as sable was done with her suggestion, the remains of Clive collapsed and the burnt out skull looked straight at her as if saying "you ain't taking me bones lassy!" 

 

But the the fire from the corpse seemed to have another effect. The heat from the flames seemed to be doing a number on the floor. heating the stones and destroying the material holding it togather. The particular Area of flooring seemed rather shoddy and cracked. With the heat making it give way!

perhaps with a little force and more heat the floor could collapse?

 

meanwhile from below in the underground pool, shatter would hear the voices. Above him and see little rays of light from the cracks. The tiny section of stone roof seemed to be crumbling but holding sturdy for now.

[Shadowbolt0]

Midnight allowed herself to be dragged by him, her mind scattered and unable to recall the other areions name. Despite standing, her eyes were empty and, as Gibbons let her hand go, she stood still, not moving an inch. She had no reason to, the main reason they were bringing her....why. Why! Her mind screamed for answers, but was met with only a void of silence that consumed her.

 

She took a deep breath through her noise, a smell that was unpleasant, but familiar, filled her noise. She quickly found the source, a burning corpse. Her eyes stared at Clive's body, watching it slowly burn away, with almost a fascination despite the lack of emotion racing through her. She stood there staring at the corpse, unmoved and emotionless.

[SeaJay]

He made a move to stand  up from his crouched position. Away from the smell, the bones...the remains. He wasn't good with this sort of thing. Never was. At least if he was remembering correctly. The sound of Sable's voice brought his attention to her.  Flux had done a surprisingly decent job at working with what she had. The thief's fingers looked to be set and tied snugly to the wood. Perhaps their insect like friend dabble in the medical arts? Well before all their knowledge and skills was stripped away. He focused back on Sable as she spoke following along until-. "Bone s-shivs?" He stuttered out in disbelief. Was she suggesting...Gibb's hand clapped back over his mouth once again quite aware of the  burnt remains near him. He pushed down the urge to empty his stomach and with his eyes screwed shut manage to calm himself as best he could. Nope, not going to loose it. Not in front of everyone.

 

 "My dear southern bell, I do believe you very well are the most hardcore person I've met." He preened quickly shaking off  the discomfort in his features, replacing it with his normal toothy grin. He stole a glance at Clive's bones. Was he really going to do this? Well, he could always give a proper burial once they were free. "Right, bone shivs...."  The Areion held his breath, a shaking hand out stretching toward the bones. "Sorry mate." He mumbled. He would be lying of he said he didn't flinch when the bones crumbled into dust. "Well, I suppose that is out of the question." His eyes traveling back to Sable. It really was a plausible idea. One that would have provided them with some sort of protection. And he had to give it to the thief. She was rather resourceful. Standing up the sounds of breaking wood and loose stone echoed under his feet. He could feel the floor starting to give way. "This may lead down to a sewer or something. What do you say? Care for a swim?" 

[PrinceoftheNight]

Lightning didnt liked this place at all, and what just happened made him like it even less. What on Celestia's name was that?!

After a small sigh he noticed that the ground below seemed to be loose and could be broken easily. Perhaps that was some sort of a last way to helo them by thr pony that was now bones.

 

"Is our only way out. I say we do it." he soon said to Gibb as he looked down to that particular area. "There are worse ways to get out of somehwere." he soon added with a small disgusted face becaus of what they were planning to do.

 

"Hey... You alright?" he soon aske to Midnight after seeing how she was.

[PyroBlaze]

Flux returned the girl's smile, bouncing on her feet a bit before heading over to where the water had been heard. She frowned at the body that was there, giving a little whimper. She didn't like seeing dead things, they were no fun anymore... 

 

The changeling looked at the cracked floor, listening to the sounds of water for a couple seconds before jumping onto the cracked floor repeatedly to break it. 

[Hundashter]

Sable snorted in amusement at Gibb's words. " Heh, ah'll take thaht as uh compliment, 'n maybe ah'll tell yuh why over that drink ya promised me. " She watched silently as he moved down towards Clive's body, her eyebrows rising sharply as he collapsed into ashes, all but his skull, which she had the strangest feeling was mocking her with its hollow eyes. She smirked at her light brown companion's comment, nodded in agreement, then bent down herself and carefully plucked Clive's skull from the floor, blowing away some of the ash from it as she held it somewhat awkwardly between her splinted hands.

She chuckled and gave Gibb a sly look. " Sure, s' long ahs yuh don't mahnd sseein' uh soakin' wet girl an' maybe helpin' if ah start tuh drown." She glanced back at the skull, then sorta turned it towards Gibb and gave a little shrug. " Ah think ah'll bring him along with us, call me sentimental, but in uh way, he helped us get outta here, an ah'd just feel real bad tuh leave him here...well, ahlluh him here anyway. "  
 

As the changeling started jumping repeatedly on the floor, Sable took a step back and called out to her. " Whoa there girl, might not be sucha good ahdea tuh hop on it lahk that, ah think we should be more cautious ahbout this! " She managed to sorta hug Clive's skull to her chest, half cradling it, half tucking it under one arm, so it was about as secure as she could get it for the moment. 

[augercorn]

As soon as sable finished warning the changeling; that's when the floor began to crumble. The old stones quickly fell apart and the whole party fell.

 

it would be a frightening experience, falling into the darkness. But then they would hit the water and sink a few feet before the current would throw them to the surface. 

 

They are close and being lead to the pillar Shatter was hanging on.  The smell of wet dog lingering in the air. There would be just enough room for them to all to hang on; that is of they can catch it while being thrown with the current.

those who can't catch the pillar would be sucked into the water flowing with the river into the tunnel. 

 

The water is surprisingly clean and cold. Perhaps a bit refreshing after being in a hot, smokey dungeon, at first. The darkness around them engulfs them entirely, it is impossible to tell how deep the water is or how large the axial chamber they are in actually is.

[Shadowbolt0]

Midnight had let everything pass her by, a spectator in her own life. That was right until she fell. She had been standing on the edge of the cell, right where Clive had left her, when it broke and her poor footing meant she had no balance. Thankfully, while she may have been docile, her raw instincts weren't. Her wings flared out and she flapped, trying to keep herself out of the water. However, with her strength drained, she only managed to slow her descent into the water, not preventing it. Thankfully, her eyes had let her see the pillar, and she landed near it, and managed to place herself on it.

She took a moment of relief, she wasn't drowning anytime soon. She took a deep breath through her noise and opened her eyes, and that's when she noticed she wasn't the first on the pillar-like, thing. There was something, or one, else. She didn't know who, or what, but she stared at it in the darkness, hoping that maybe it was just a figment of her imagination playing up.

[SeaJay]

 Gibbous raised an eyebrow in interest as a chuckle rumbled in  his throat. He meeting her sly grin with one of his own. "Oh?"  A taste of his own medicine? It was few that could take his teasing and throw it right back to him. However, when he did cross paths with someone that could it proved to peak his interest even more. "Well, since you were able to control yourself with all of this" With a flick of a his wrist, he motioned to himself. "Prancing around before you." Mischievous vibrant gold eyes sliding to meet alluring amethyst "I suppose I can implore myself to do the same." He finished tilting his head back and placing the back of his hand to his forehead, as if the simple notion was enough to make him swoon. He grew quiet as she went on to explain her intentions with the remains. "Agreed. We should honor him once we are well away from this place. " He replied, a since of guilt striking as he meet the sockets of Clive's skull.  It was odd how fate worked.  If he had opened his mouth a moment before Clive and spat out some smart remark, their roles could have easily been switched. It could be his skull that the thief was cradling to her.

 

 The sudden absence of the earth mare and her alarmed voice brought his attention to the source. That source being the spirited changeling jumping up and down on the unstable floor. "Take it easy, darling." His arms out stretched in a stopping motion. There was no telling how sturdy the floor was and all their added weight could not be helping. And who knew if there was  deep water enough to keep them from hitting the bottom. "Let's just ca-"  The gut wrenching sound of loose stones echoed from under his foot. He only had a moment to think before his left foot fell completely through the floor causing the rest of him to crumbled to the ground with a umph. With shaky hands placed under him, Gibb moved to push himself up though not succeeding as the floor fell from him completely.

 

Was this it? To come so far only for his body to be crudely smash to pieces by whatever was below.  He really didn't have much time to dwell on the outcome before he was plunged into the cold water below. The initial hit and temperature of the water was enough to give a mild case of shock.  The Areion's body pliant to the will of the currents. It would be of little use to actively fight against. That would just leave his already exhausted body spent. Gibb found himself  in desperate need of air  as a sudden sharp pain seared into his left shoulder blade. What was that?! A silent scream of agony escaping from him in a flurry of angry bubbles. Luckily, his plea for relief was answered as the current pushed him back to the surface. He let out a gasp once his head broke the surface. Right, now was the time to swim.

 

 He kicked his legs and pushed his arms through the water. In a futile effort to gain some sort of control over the rapids. Again Gibb found himself thankful of his biological make-up that allowed him the advantage of night vision. There seemed to b a piller of sorts collapsed over the water allowing for some sort of reprieve. Okay he could do this. Just had to time it right. The coal haired male slammed into the stone structure hands slapping on the sides in a desperate attempt to stop himself.  Once he had a strong enough grip he willed himself to look around.

 

 The water was ruthless yet it seemed the youngest of their group had successfully landed atop the pillar.  Good, she seemed so weak earlier that he was afraid she would allow the water to sweep her away. Though, at the moment she seemed the safest out of them all. What of Flux and Lightening?  Please. Please let them make it.  Something struggling a bit ahead caught his eye. And it was then he remembered the injured thief. There was no way she could mange this in her condition. Gibbous waited until the water pushed her closer before he made an attempt to grab her. He cursed through gritted teeth, the water ripping her from his grasp. No! They were all so close to freedom. They couldn't be picked off here. In a split decision he let  his hold on the pillar loosen allowing him to float a bit further down. "I got you!" He growled out once his hand clasped around her forearm and he was able to drag the magenta skinned female closer to himself and the safety of the pillar. He was exhausted and the pain in his shoulder increased with the added support he was giving Sable. "Hah...that was...hah...refreshing." He puffed out letting his forehead rest against the stone with a tired smile. A bit too drained to pull them up to stand on top of the pillar.

 

 

[PyroBlaze]

Flux looked over at their protests, tilting her head as she landed again, this time breaking through the floor. She gave an excited shriek as she fell, letting the water take her along until she grabbed onto the pillar and pulled herself out. 

 

"That was fun! How'd you guys like it?" She asked, looking around a bit. 

[Hundashter]

" SH!T! " Sable cried out as the floor fell out from beneath her and she tumbled downwards towards the dark water below, curling up into a ball before she hit. She sank down into the darkness, then abruptly was swept back up to the surface as she gasped for breath, still tightly hugging Clive's skull to her chest as she tried to use her legs to keep herself upright. She caught a glimpse of some of the other's clinging to some exposed stone structure and she threw out her hand towards them in desperation, knowing full well that she wouldn't be able to use her hands to swim. 

Just as she was about to be tugged back beneath the surface by the current, she felt a tight grip upon her wrist and was pulled towards the outcropping. She struggled through the water as best she could until she managed to get a leg up atop the exposed stone and draw herself up out of the water. She lay there, gasping for breath and soaking wet, Clive's skull still impossibly tucked beneath her arm, when she heard Gibbious's words. 

She let out a snort, then a soft chuckle, followed by relief filled laughter, nodding in response to his words as she lay there. She was starring up at the ceiling, her vision still tinted various shades of purple by the ring that had never left her finger from earlier, the night-eye effect still granting her near perfect sight in the darkness, but for the moment she just wanted to catch her breath, she she stayed looking straight up, breathing heavily as she took a few moments to collect herself.  

[Shadowbolt0]

Midnight looked around her. Her eye-sight in the dark was near perfect, due to her being an Areion. As such, she looked as...the other Areion whose name skipped her mind, saved the...thief? They'd, in her eyes, all managed to not die, and for them, that could be considered an accomplishment. After all, they were the ones with the drive to survive. While hers was severely lacking. She began looking around for any sign of an exit, but even with her eyesight, there was no obvious signs outside of flying back up to where they'd fallen, which she doubted she was strong enough.

 

She looked down at the others, and her eyes fell on him yet again. Why did he insist on saving them all? Was he...the hero? Her mind went back to a time when she was the worlds, or one of, the most beloved writers. Her endless heros and villians and anti-heros and anti-villians and creatures from another world, all the ponies she'd created in her own mind. Despite having birthed all of them, none compared to him. She tried to think why, to remember why, but she couldn't...A pang of sadness washes over her, not being able to remember anything. His

"Maybe it's because I've spent the last Luna knows how long, parading around in nothing but my trousers, trying to get us all free."

 "It would be rather disheartening to see all my efforts go to waste."

His voice echoed in her head, That annoying, stupid, persistant...caring voice. Why did he impact her so much, she'd barely met him! She knew nothing about him, and he knew nothing about her! Yet why!

 

So deep lost in thought, she let her footing slip, and nearly fell into the water, only managing to stop herself by accidentally getting her hooves lodged in the pillar, but her face hit the water, and without thought, she opened her mouth. But as she pulled it out, she frowned. The water was....fresh? But...Fresh water.... She tried to remember what a stream of fresh water meant...

"Follow the stream...." she whispers to herself before looking over at Gibbons, a name that still allued the girl and whispering into his ear "Fresh....we should follow it..."

 

[PrinceoftheNight]

"Aaaahh!" Lightning siad as he felt into the water below. Wait water? Oh dear...  he was not such a good swimmer. At least he managed to pull himself out onto the pillar everyone seemed to be going up to.
He hurried up and also grabbed the pillar to make sure the water didnt took him away.
"Fun is a way of saying it..." He soon said the the mare that was all happy after what happened, panting for the lack of air he had for a moment after the fall.

He soon turned to a mare that seemed to had fallen down... only to catch herself at the last moment. He let out a small sigh at that. "So... what now?" He soon asked.

[SeaJay]

   The slow build up of the thief's laugh was a pleasant thing to here.  The weak yet genuine sound a good indicator that she was okay, despite the rough rapids. Voices of the other members of their rag-tag group floated in the darkness as well. Judging by their tones, they seemed a bit weary but, still intact. Gibbous kept his eyes closed enjoying the moment of peace that the dark lower levels provided. He was soaked to the bone and his curly coal locks clung to his face, the water making absent of their usually fluffy appearance. The stone in which he laid upon was hard and the wicked licks of pain that radiated from his left shoulder blade did not make things any more comfortable. However, at the moment he could care less.  He was free. They were free. No longer stuck behind bars in a room slowly filling up with toxic smoke. No longer were they at the mercy of some loon and his pet prick. Sure, their current location was unsavory  as well. But it was a start! A giant step up from before.  If he wasn't so worn out he probably would have cried tears of joy. However, due to the days events he would have to settle for the weary chuckling his mouth was releasing.

 

     He didn't want to move and honestly didn't care to. His body was nearly at its limit, making it all too tempting to succumb to the exhaustion that threatened to overtake him. That small annoying feeling off  'Get up! You still have things to do' was the only thing to rouse him. As much as he didn't want to,Gibb allowed his eyes to flutter open and sitting in an up right position.  Thanks to his heritage the darkness that enveloped them, did very little in inabilitaing him from seeing.  He glanced to the magenta skinned female beside him whom still seemed to be gathering her thoughts. Still holding on to it. He thought eyes locking onto the skull clutched tightly to her as an amused grin tugging the corner of his lips. He decided to leave her be for now and focused his attention to the opeining in the roof. Their point of entry, a thin lipped frown formed as he watched a few chunks of old brick dislodge an fall into the water.  Ah, that must've been the thing that struck him. He mused allowing his fingertips to lightly glide across his bare back. He wished he had some sort of mirror to properly see the damage done to him. However, going by the pain it exude, it was easy to assume a massive discolered bruise to be forming at the impact location along with possible thin streaks of absent skin. Nothing too severe just more of a discomfort. Tsk. Just what he needed,

 

   He watched as the ever excited Flux conversed with Golden. She seemed to have gotten quite the thrill from the fall and raging rapids. Personally it wasn't his cup of tea for fun. To each his own he supposed. However, he did appreciate her enthusiasm and found it to be endearing. "Heh, well that is something to cross of the bucket list." He added his two cents into the conversation. A brief moment of panic hit as he watched Midnight lose her footing and nearly falling back into the water. However, he was able to breathe easy as she righted herself once more. Gibb found himself looking up from his sitting position to lock eyes with her as she approached, the same sharp toothed smile directed her way.  He was a bit surprised when she leaned down a bit to whisper in his ear. "Fresh water?" He repeating her relayed message. "Well, dove aren't we the smart one? Oh, look at you using that head of your's and taking charge." The older male preened like some proud parent. "Careful dear,  your determination is showing." He teased with a wink before getting to his feet.  "I agree with Little Sister." He announced to the rest that may not have heard the girl; placing a delicate hand on her shoulder. "Following fresh water is our best bet in navigating out of here.  It should lead us to an out. Perhaps we should link arms?  I do believe some of us are not as well adjusted to the dark as others. And we wouldn't want anyone to take a nasty spill."

 

 

[PyroBlaze]

"Yay! Nopony died!" Flux said, smiling and clapping a little in excitement as she looked around at the group. She giggled at the two responses she got, looking around briefly before the offer to follow the stream further came up. 

 

"Sure! Sounds fun! Let's go!" The changeling smiled, striking a pose and pointing down stream. After a few moments, her pose broke and she began giggling again. 

[Hundashter]

Sable let out a determined sigh and pushed herself up into a sitting position as she looked around the area they were in. Instinctively she'd begun to shoot her arm out to grab for the young girl as she fell, only to remember she wouldn't be able to grip her to keep her from falling, though luckily she didn't have to as the girl spread her wings, then spoke. Sable let her eyes follow the flow of the water as Gibbious agreed with the girl's assessment. 

 

Sable let out a short hum in agreement with the both of them as she stood, then a snort of amusement at the changeling's childish energy. " Raght then, who all here cahn see clearly in th' dark? Ah cahn on account uh mah ring, an ah'm willin' tuh take th' lead if thaht's acceptable tuh th' rest of ya. " 

[Shadowbolt0]

Midnight felt her face burning, although why she didn't fully remember. The other Aerion was complimenting her, using what little of her mind remained to get himself and the others a plan to survive. But despite that, Midnight herself felt no desire to. She looked back at the water, and a dark thought came to her mind, a rather simple one.

'If I go first...and its lethal, they won't follow...they might live...'

 

She wasn't sure where the thought came from, and why she was listening to it. Gibbons has been trying to pull her along with him the entire time, and her mentioning of following the water was a result of this encouragement. She shrugged his arm off of her, walking to the edge of the pillar, ensuring to keep her balance as she looks down the route of the water. S

I know everything, and yet nothing...He might think I have what it takes to survive...but, I don't The thought dawned on her He's fighting with everything, and I...I just don't care what happens to me. But I don't want them to die, they want to live....They deserve to survive...

 

She turns to face Gibbons, as she realized she hadn't told him, or anyone for that matter, her name. She shook her head, fate was a cruel mistress indeed.

"If I scream..." she says, loud enough for everypony to hear her "Then it isn't safe..." she states simply before she took the final step backwards, off the edge of the pillar, and unless somepony was prepared to catch her, would crash into the water and let the stream take her, wherever it flowed.

[PrinceoftheNight]

"Had been in worse situations. I guess throwing myself down to what seems like fresh water, with a bunch of strangers, doesn't sound that bad..." Lightning said, half sarcsticaly, half honestly as he looked down. He was not the one on the very bottom of the group, so he had to wait for someone to take the lead in this.

"I am open to suggestions on who should go first." He then said. "Though I don't mind being that guy" he added with a really soft grin. Well, this was going to be fun

[SeaJay]

"We  Areion folk are right at home in the dark." He stated running his fingers through his damp locks. "Creatures of the night if you will."  He added sending a flirtatious wink to the rest of the group. Well, to anyone that could see it.  The thief claimed she could see as well because of a ring. How curious. In his line of work enchanted objects were nothing out of the ordinary. He'd smuggled and sold plenty. If he was remembering correctly that is. Meh. He rather not wanted to focus on his shattered mind right now. Best not dwell too deeply in the matter.  He mentally waved the thoughts away. He had to keep it together. They were so close to freedom. He could feel it. There would be time for mopping and self pity later. That however, was not now.  "Isn't that right do-" His hand falling to pat the girls shoulder once more  though, was surprised when it did not make contact. He quirked a brow and glanced around until his eyes settled on her once more. When did she get over there? Gibbous watched her quizzically as she stared into the water, mentally trying to guess what her thoughts were.  She spoke and he met her eyes when she addressed them. If she screams? With brows furrowed he cocked his head to the side trying to make sense of the girl's mumblings.

 

Oh, no she didn't.

 

However much thought was not needed as said girl  proceeded to let herself fall backwards. Gibb's mouth gaped open as he floundered for words. He wanted to yell stop or something of the sort though, the only thing leaving his mouth was loud gasp. She was going to fall. She was going to fall and be swept away. And there would be nothing that they could do about it. As if moving on its own, Gibb's body launched himself forward his arm shooting out to grab the falling Areion. His fingers curled into the front of her tattered smock of a shirt stopping her from her decent. With a growl Gibb pulled her closer to himself and back safely onto the pillar. The rapid beating of his heart giving away the fear her actions had caused. His breath came out in short puffs as he tried to quell the shock and pull himself together. She was fine. They were fine. Everyone was fine. He slowly opened his eyes and looked down at the young teen in his arms. The usual light and charming warmth that they held was replaced with a burning golden anger. Why? Why was she doing this? Did she really have no sense of self-preservation?  He wanted to ask her. If only he could grab her by the shoulders and shake some sense into her. After a few moments he loosened his grip on her, letting out an agitated sigh. It really took what little self-restraint he had left not to completely lay into the female. To tell her how reckless she was being and demand that she stop. However, giving her an earful would most likely only make things worse. Not only for her but himself as well. At the moment he was pretty sure he was in the good graces of the group. And letting his anger get the best of him would most likely jeopardize his image.

 

"Alright, so your 'walking by yourself' privilege is gone." He stated in a matter o' fact tone, his mouth pulled into a tight smile. The brown skinned male turning to address the rest of the group. "Well, shall we get a move on? Before anyone else decides to fling themselves into the raging waters." He asked, his livid temper slightly seeping out at the last part. Gibb turned and nodded at the theif and Golden. "Lead a way, love. Little dove and I shall bring up the rear." He finished lacing his fingers with the smaller female, having a firm yet painless hold. There was no way he was letting her out of his sight now. She couldn't be trusted with herself.

[augercorn]

Mission complete 

[augercorn]

The group stood together on the pillar. And as they made the plunge into the darkness they feel a weird presence as if the Avian may have been watching them! 

They hit the icy and somewhat dirty water and are brought to the edge of the cave and sucked into the void!

 

It's pitch black and the echoes of the rushing water create a strange, ethereal noise. Those who are comfortable in water, and are able too keep calm; do well. There  air holds. But anyone who is fearful, and not good with water; will have a hard time holding there breath! 

 

Darkness, holding there breath. It's like trekking thru another universe itself. Any one close to the edge will feel the jagged rough rocks of the cave!

 

They flow thru the darkness away from the wretched prison and soon in a flash they are greeted by bright light!

 

In the center of this light is mare. In these conditions it would be very easy to mistake her for some sort of angel. But as she sees them; in a very ungraceful motion she jumps back in the surprise. After identifying them as ponies  She swims forward with great speed and grabs them where she can. Guiding them up and helping by throwing them to the air!

 

Once they break the surface and get some sweet, sweet oxeygen they see the sun and the coast. 

 

They are free!

 

A large wooden ship is near bye. It's a impressive ship. With large black sails and a few impressive looking guns. The sailors are calling each other out and they throw a net overboard for them to climb up! 

 

Once everyone is on there boat there "angel" follows. She ... Is most certainly not an angel. Although it looked like if she took care of herself she could be very beautiful. She has a tight hard body with just enough muscle to show some strength. And her white fur is very pretty. Her main is beige but very greasy and knotted. She has some scars on her and her teeth are a bit rotten. Lastly she has a bit of a gut, and to add to her raggedy look; one leg is clearly stronger than the other, as if it were injured long ago and never recovered full streanght.  As she climbs up and stands before them one of the crew help her dress in a long red coat. Which she covers herself with. 

 

As the group observes the sailors it's pretty clear that these mares and stallions are pirates, and the mare that just saved them is there captan. Angrily she says 

"Every time I try to go for a nice swim! Every time! Krackens! Sirens, storms! That weird elk guy! Who are you all and what are you doing at the bottom of the ocean!" She demands! Her voice sounds like she gargles a cup of broken glass and hard cider every morning. But it also has a stern air of command and experience behind it.

 

The crew surround the group protecting there captan. They seem very friendly but they rest there hands on there weapons ready to execute them at a moments notice 

[Shadowbolt0]

Midnight wasn't sure what happened. One moment she'd been about to fall, then...she didn't. Instead, she found herself in, his arms...and he didn't seem happy. Why not? If he'd let her go, if it was dangerous, she'd be able to save them all. Isn't that what he wanted? She felt him lace his hands with hers, a shackle to stop her from going her own way.  She was about to question him, when she found herself being thrown into the Ravine with him. This left the girl more confused, and nearly drowned, only being saved when the female angel/siren thing pulled her out and her body involuntary took a breath.

 

Slowly, she regained her focus. Everything had happened so fast and she wasn't paying much attention to her life, so she'd manged to jump from the water prison to...this boat? Despite her crippled mind, she was smart enough to put everything together. A pirate ship. Her eyes flickered, going from the captain, to her crew, back to the captain, then to her own group. Part of her mind was screaming, although she couldn't make out all the words. Danger. They were in Danger. Why? Why are pirates dangerous? Bandits, thieves, murder...Slavers. Midnights mind crystallised, realizing, with no small amount of horror, what happens to female slaves. But more importantly, what would happen to the others, unspeakable, and the males, executed. She glanced over at Gibbons, and, oddly, she felt her heart beat as, despite how much she hated living a useless life, she saw something to live with.

'Save the others....Save all the lives you can, then you can die'

She knew that was a line she'd written long ago...and a line she could use now. To save everyone. She didn't have to be herself, she could be....anyone she wanted to be.

"Attacked...." she says softly, enough to grab the attention of, hopefully, everyone in the area near her, including the captain "We were ambushed, taken...They tortured us, broke us...then, when we refused to speak...tried to kill us by drowning us" She says, repeating, almost word for word, the lines of one of her characters who had been placed in a similar situation, captured by a rival pirate ship and thrown overboard. Of course, she was delivering the line differently, the character in her book was much more, cheerful, carefree.

"W-we're grateful to you, we'd of drowned and taken our secret to the locker..."

 

What was the secret? Hell if Midnight knew, she figured either one of the others would make something up, OR she could point at that bird freak...But for now, now she had to make them believe her. They had to, otherwise...Gibbons would die, and she refused to let that happen.

[augercorn]

The captan steps forward, Listening to midnight. She has a look on her face of thought trying to analyze and figure out what she meant. She looks to her crew and commands "pull the anchor. Head to the warf. Let's get the surgeon up here for them." 

The crowd of the pirates thins out. The ponies dutifully following her orders. There's still plenty of pirates on gaurd around them. Each one is well armed with a variety of blades and weapons, suited to there Indivual preference. Almost none are wearing shoes. 

 

The captan stops a few paces away from the party and asks. Her voice still naturally rough but now filled with genuine concern 

"who? Who are the ones that did this to you? What banner did they have and what did they look like?"

[PrinceoftheNight]

Lightning stared coughing and letting out the water he had in his inside out. This small 'trip' they had down the water. He remembered seeing a white angel waiting for them once they exited the dark tunnel onto the light. Was that really and angel and they were dead? Or was that just some sort of optical ilussion made by staying in the dark for that long? He hoped it was the later, as he didn't wanted to die. Not yet at least.

 

He rubbed his eyes a bit to take off the watter on his face and blinked a few times as he oppened them to see his sorrowindings, panting softly for air after what happened. He soon noticed this white mare covered on a red robe. She seemed... rather pretty, although the theeth and her mane breaked the illusion. Still, nothing that a good bath and a visit to the dentist (with the help of some magic of course) couldn't help.

 

After exiting his imaginary world of picturing how the captain would look in better conditions, he realized where was he. It was a pirate ship! A pirate ship! Oh boy, now the small 'dreams' of a righteous palading dating a rebel pirate swarmed his mind. Great, just great. Thanks Celestia...

"I.. *cough* ... thank you miss..." He said with a small tone of respect towards her thank to the fact she saved their lives. He noticed the pirate guards around them soon enough. On normal circumstances he would be able to easily dipatch them, but this were no normal circumstances. "We... don't know who it was..." he soon replied to her question. "Only thing we know is that he was a madman..."

[PyroBlaze]

Flux wasn't entirely sure how she got here, the whole trip down the waterway a bit of a blur. As it was, the changeling was sprawled on the deck of the ship, staring at the sky and listening to the others talk. She moved her head so the pirate lady was visible, the changeling blinking a bit as she realized who they were talking about. 

 

"You mean Bird-Face McMeanypants? He's a jerk." Flux spoke up, waving in the vague direction of where they had just escaped from. "He kept us over there somewhere, did some weird magic stuff on us."