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Post by Bella on Dec 1, 2005 20:21:33 GMT -5
The day had gone well, with no sight of pursuers from the big merchant vessels of Dream Valley. Aye, there was an odd wooden boat that seemed to stay constantly on the far horizon, but Ratskull hardly doubted they had to worry about it, and so he had brushed it out of his mind as thoughts instead of ransom took hold.
He knew exactally what was in his hoofs, even if the others on board may not. And Dream Valley, or any valley for that matter, would pay a pretty penny to get it into their grasp, whether that was where it belonged or no. Course had been having a good few years, perhaps he would ask the King if he'd like a chance to get his power back from his wife.
Clucking to himself, for he was supposed to be a good friend and confidant of the Queen, Ratskull kicked his back legs up onto a barrel of whiskey and leaned back in his plush and comfortable chair in his personal quarters. Maybe he wouldn't sell it. Maybe he wouldn't sell the locket at all. Maybe he would wear it around his own neck until he went mad with the power it pulsed out like a warm heartbeat. Afterall, there was something to be said for going mad by power; for instance, the parts about having great amounts of power. And once he had used his power enough, who really cared if he went mad? Might be a rather nice end to such a life as his.
Eyes locked on the gold bauble before him, the captain didn't notice the slight bump against the wooden side of the boat at his quarters, nor the sound of scrambling hoofs as they tried to find purchase on the hull.
The sea green pegasus who had fought before at Rascal's side before he was a captain, before he was even a pirate, was trying precariously to keep her balance as she found a way to sneak up onto the ship and into the storage area. Oh yes, and food. She really could use a bite to eat, as it was well past dark and her stomach had growled the entire flight.
(Other pirates welcome to actually join this Ratskull thread, since you didn't join the other...)
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Post by Bella on Dec 27, 2005 21:29:18 GMT -5
(Well then, I guess I will just go on alone...)
Kail's wings held her hovering on the side of the boat while she looked in windows for a storage area to sneak into. She was sure the locket was on this boat, and knew that if she could get the locket herself and fly back to the other ship they could turn around and go home, adverting whatever disaster on the seas Jewel had forseen. As she made her way around the portholes on the sides (which were all too small for her to climb through) she found a rather large window towards the back. Captain's quarters, she decided from her rough knowledge of the pirate ship she had just come from. The light was on, so she peeked her head around the side in curiosity and gasped, letting go of the windowsil and dropping into the ocean below the ship in surprise.
Shaking her mane and coughing a little from the sudden, cold water, Kail resurfaced and looked up at the passing box of light on the ship above. She knew that pony! Her mother had fought by his side many times, and Kail herself had helped him with some dangerously deep cuts only a few years ago when the Dark Rainbow attacked Course. Rainbows, this may not be as hard as she first thought.
Shaking the water from her wings, Kail struggled to get up from the water and back into the air for only a few minutes before she was once again at the window. Knocking, she waited patiently, holding on to the sil as she hovered, as the pony inside dropped the locket around his neck and looked around in surprise for the owner of the sound. Kail knocked again and waved as Ratskull turned toward the window and looked at her curiously and wearily. He slowly got to his feet and made his way over, and she ducked as he opened the window to find out who was catching a ride on the side of his ship.
"Pone?" he said, increduously at the light hit her face.
"No, Kailani, her daughter." It was strange to hear her mother's old name used instead of Bella, but Kail had heard her father use it enough to know who Pone was. "I was on my way to Course and got a bit tired of flying - I was hoping I could hitch a ride, and maybe some food, for a short while?" Silently wishing she had the charismatic power of the Rainbow, Kail smiled her best and hoped he wouldn't see through the small lie. She could feel the power of the locket, and knew its incessant beating had stepped up a notch in the presence of the Champion; she also knew that she would probably be glowing with a green aura soon too, if it weren't already visible. She hoped that Rascal was as drunk as he appeared to be, and wouldn't notice the nearly palpable change in the air.
Ratskull, for his part, was distracted by this strange turn of events, and not thinking clearly enough to notice the locket change its intensity. "Um, sure, yeah. Comon in lassie. Have a seat, I'll send for a drink."
"Food only, please," Kail said as she climbed in through the window, the gold compass around her own neck bumping lightly against the throbbing second symbol on her chest. She hoped he wouldn't ask her about the obvious annomoly.
"Aye, food as well then." Ratskull made his way to the door and barked out an order for food and drink as she sat down selfconciously.
While he was busy she tried sending a message back to the Champions. Razz, I've found the locket, and I think I can bring it back if I'm lucky. And if she wasn't lucky? Well then at least she would only be coming back empty-hooved.
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Post by Orivy Assassin on Dec 28, 2005 17:39:43 GMT -5
[[OOC: Are we going to end it like this, no fighting? Or is she going to fail?]]
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Post by Bella on Dec 28, 2005 18:14:17 GMT -5
(She's going to fail - I wouldn't make it that easy on the Champs! But I also got really really bored, thus Kail's going to try to do it herself, just so I have something to do.)
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Post by Orivy Assassin on Dec 30, 2005 3:15:11 GMT -5
[[Haha, ok, you had me worried there for a bit!]]
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Post by Crescent on Jan 3, 2006 4:26:45 GMT -5
[[...enter the new bad pirate.]]
Surge usually spent most of his time hauling cargo or doing other things like that. He was a strong stallion, and didn't mind the more menial jobs so long as he got his pay. When he wasn't handling cargo, he usually hung close to the captain's quarters, and on this particular trip he made sure to keep very close to the captain indeed. Ratskull wasn't the only one intrigued by the power of the treasure they had stolen from the palace. He felt drawn to the Locket like a moth to a flame, and he wanted to make sure to get himself noticed by his latest captain, to ensure he'd get his share of the prize. He wondered what the captain was going to do with the Locket. Sell it to the highest bidder? Hold it to ransom?
...keep it? Surge didn't think even Ratskull was that crazy. Still, who knew? Being just one pirate among many admittedly got onto Surge's nerves sometimes too.
Surge himself didn't desire the Locket for himself, though. He was content in serving the winner, but there was little lure in too prominent a position, in Surge's opinion, anyway. After all, when they came after the Locket - and they would - the one to hold it would be the first they'd do away with. Surge rather remained at the background. That was the surest way to remain alive.
He had been sitting on the floor near the captain's room, carving a piece of wood, when the door of the captain's room swung open. Surge was a bit startled and looked up. The captain barked an order for food and drink.
The large ice grey stallion sheathed his knife and threw away the half-carved whistle. He could make a new one. He trotted to the door and nodded briskly to the captain.
"Aye, aye, Cap'n!" he answered sharply as he trotted past the door toward the mess to fetch some food and drink. "Comin' right op!"
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Post by Bella on Jan 3, 2006 22:45:10 GMT -5
It wasn't until the door opened and she saw the other sailor on the other side that Kail started having second thoughts about what she was doing. Yes, it was true that she probably couldn't be hurt or killed, especially with the locket so close, but it was also true that she could very well make the situtation worse. And with the appearance of Glasye during the last battle there was every possibility that it wasn't just pirates who were stealing the Rainbow. She may not be up against a half-drunk, power mad pony with an old, wooden ship at his command who owed her his hoof - she may be up against the Dark Rainbow itself, and she certainly couldn't fight that power alone.
Oh Rainbows, this was not a good idea was it?
The green pulsed with warmth around her as Kail tried to push these thoughts to the back of her mind and focus on the task at hand. Surely if they were working for Glasye he wasn't actually on the ship right? They were probably headed for the Darklands in that case (for Kail couldn't think of a better place for the Dark Rainbow to set up camp). The thought that the ship was going straight to Course didn't cross her mind.
"Are ye feeling alright?" Ratskull asked as he turned from the door and made his way back to his luxerious (as luxurious as a pirate can own in any case) chair. "You're lookin a bit green around the gills so to speak."
Kail smiled, "I'm green everywhere, thank you."
He returned her smile, although distractedly. It would do no good to argue that she wasn't green around her fish symbol, nor through her hair or eyes. Ponies always took offense when you pointed out the obviousness of their lie. Besides, it was probably the drink he'd had that made her seem to shimmer with that green-ness - just her boundries blurring in his vision.
"Headed to Course, eh? Visiting family?" Ratskull leaned back in his chair and propped his back hooves up on his desk.
"Well, yes, I suppose you could say that."
Picking up a large glass jewel that looked impressive but was worth nothing, he held it up and looked at her through it. There was a distinct greenish light coming through, and he thought perhaps that drunken vision shouldn't be the cause of it. What it could be though he couldn't hazard to guess yet.
"Do yer parent's still live in Dream Valley?"
Kail hesitated, wondering why he was asking. "Yes, but I moved out a few years ago to Ponyville. Right after the war in Course.... you remember?"
"Aye lassie, I remember." He smiled, showing his crooked teeth that were nonetheless clean at the least. "I do believe I owe yer mother my left paw here."
"No," Kail looked up honestly and without hesitation, "you owe me. I'm a healer as well, and a fair bit stronger than my mother."
"Aye! Is that so!" A laugh escaped his mouth and he put the glass back on the desk to look at her a little clearer. She was glowing, there was no doubt about it. Glowing like a green heartbeat in pulses he could clearly see now. "Well then, I suppose the least I can do is give ye a ride to Course then? We'll make a jolly time of it, since we're both on the way."
They are going to Course?!? Kail had no time to finish the thought as the door opened and the seapony sent off to fetch the food and drinks returned.
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Post by Crescent on Jan 4, 2006 3:51:40 GMT -5
Surge had not taken a long time in fetching the food, well, he knew his way round the ship well enough, after all, and usually when Ratskull wanted something done he wanted it done right away. He didn't bother knocking, if Ratskull wanted polite manners he'd have to fetch himself a few courties, Surge wasn't about to get fancy.
However, the sight inside the room took him by surprise. He carried a tray full of food and drink - the strong kind - in his mouth, and pushed the door open with his shoulder, but when his eyes caught sight of Kail he nearly dropped the tray.
A pony that glowed green?
A frown came over Surge's brow and his eyes shifted colour from sea blue to light indigo as they narrowed. Pausing at the door for a moment, he walked close to a table and placed the tray there.
"As requested, Cap'n," he said, his eyes returning to Kail. "Awful... green this visitor of yers," he noted, just a bit cautiously. He didn't want to annoy his drunken captain in anyway, but suspicion was present clearly in his voice.
Casually Surge circled round the room and stopped in front of the window, through which he guessed Kail must have come in, as he'd been outside in the hallway all the time and would have seen her had she come through there. He didn't know who or what this green-glowing pegasus was, but if it was up to him, she wasn't going anywhere until he'd figured out why she was glowing, or until Ratskull let her go.
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Post by Bella on Jan 4, 2006 12:36:21 GMT -5
Kail's eye twitched at the pony's comment about her green-ness but she didn't say anything other than a polite thank you for the food.
Ratskull smiled as the food entered and his blurry vision was confirmed. So the girl was glowing green afterall. She hadn't been when she first climbed through the window. What in the rainbows was going on with her?
"Aye, very green she is," the captain agreed with a hard look at her. "Been tellin me she's a healer, so she has. Said she's the one kept me from loosing this here hoof." He held up his hoof which still had only a faint scar across the ankle from where it had nearly been severed clean off his arm. "I suppose if she did, I owe her this trip to Course, don't you think?"
Kail had been silent, although she could feel her muscles tense beneath her coat. Ratskull suspected something, although she was sure it had nothing to do with the locket, and this other pony was obviously not very trusting either. Instead of saying anything she decided to simply wait and see how this conversation would pan out.
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Post by Crescent on Jan 4, 2006 12:50:35 GMT -5
Surge didn't let his eyes stray from Kail's glowing form. He was still unsure to think what she was. Did the glowing mean she was a Goddess? Or a semi-goddess? Or some other religious or magical creature? Or was she maybe infected by some weird disease? Radioactive?
Still, Surge was not a coward.
"I suppose if she did, I owe her this trip to Course, don't you think?"
Surge glanced at the hoof his Captain held up, and grunted, his expression still full of suspicion as he looked at Kail.
"I suppose so, Cap'n," he said, tossing his mane back a little. His eyes glowed deep indigo now. It was a sign of threat, to anyone who would have known him. "You two go back far, do you, Captain?"
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Post by Bella on Jan 4, 2006 13:12:01 GMT -5
"Well, not me and her so much, but I knew her mother fairly well." He smiled slyly at her, "no worries lassie, not that well. We only fought together under the Queen." Looking back to Surge, the captain could tell he was not happy with the situation.
"I don't suppose your mother knows where you are lassie?" Ratksull said conversationally. "Letting a filly like you fly across the ocean by herself - doesn't sound like your mother to me."
Kail laughed and shook her head, "in all honesty she doesn't know where I am, no. But I'm not a filly, sir, I'm 21 years old."
"Well isn't that something. I wouldn't have pegged you a day over sixteen. Course, I don't suppose your mother would have let a twelve year old fight in a war, now would she?"
"I don't suppose she would have had any choice, seeing as how the Rainbow took me there," Kail spat back before thinking. She hated when ponies assumed she was young and defenseless and had a tendancy to make that the only time she ran her mouth off.
"The Rainbow?" Ratskull's hoof grasped the locket around his neck tightly and he could distinctly feel the pulsing beat of the energy within. Pulsing just like the green glow around the filly. And then he remembered where he knew the name Kailani Hoofspen from, and why he hadn't recognized it before. He only knew her as Pone's daughter before - the little sprat who put his hoof back together. But to Course she was Bella Hoofspen's daughter, not Pone's, and she had been the one to take the brunt of the Dark Rainbow's attack and live. It had been Kailani Hoofspen, and not her mother, that the Rainbow sitting around his neck had sought out when the war came to Course, and that little filly was having an effect on the power in the locket right now.
"Well," Ratskull said as nonchallantly as possible, "perhaps its time Surge here showed you to a room." He turned to the other pirate with hard eyes, "find her someplace comfortable for the rest of the voyage to Course. Something with no windows. We wouldn't want her to be scared by any unexpected visitors coming through now would we?"
Kail had realized her mistake when Ratskull grabbed the locket, and now she was sure she was in big trouble. "Really, its ok," she said a little pleadingly, "I should really be going now. I've had my food and rest and its time for me to be on my way to Course. I'll just show myself out..."
Surge was blocking the window and she was sure she wouldn't get far going out the door, but she headed towards it anyways. "Thank you for your hospitality Rascal, er, Captain." Giving a quick bow she darted out and into the interior of the vessel.
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Post by Jewel on Jan 4, 2006 13:15:55 GMT -5
A short distance from the ship, the pegasus spoke in a whisper, "Any ideas as to how to excute this?"
For she herself was at a loss of exactly what to do. Fight hoof to hoof? Be stealthy and sneaky? Put on some fantastic story?
"Your wings are smaller and much quieter than mine," The pegasus said, partially thinking aloud, "Do you think you could get in close to some of the windows and see what's going on inside without being seen?"
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Post by Crescent on Jan 4, 2006 13:35:59 GMT -5
Surge was no idiot. When Ratskull grabbed the locket, something clearly went on in the Captain's mind. Surge glanced at Kail sharply. The Rainbow had brought her? They had the Locket of the Rainbow. She glowed green. Surge's eyes went just a little wider. Could it be....
"Well," Ratskull said as nonchallantly as possible, "perhaps its time Surge here showed you to a room." He turned to the other pirate with hard eyes, "find her someplace comfortable for the rest of the voyage to Course. Something with no windows. We wouldn't want her to be scared by any unexpected visitors coming through now would we?"
Surge's lips curved to a smile as he nodded to his Captain, a bright blue sparkle flashing through his dangerously indigo eyes. He nodded and took a step forward.
she was sure she wouldn't get far going out the door, but she headed towards it anyways. "Thank you for your hospitality Rascal, er, Captain." Giving a quick bow she darted out and into the interior of the vessel.
Surge's eyes had never left Kail, and he was quick to leap after her.
"I don't think so!" he shouted to the green pegasus as his heavy hooves thudded against the ground just behind the running mare. He reached out and grabbed a mouthful of Kail's blue tail. His teeth snapped shut, and his hooves rooted to the floor at the doorframe. He jerked his head backward, using all the strength of his powerful body to pull Kail back into the room by the tail. At the same time, one of his hooves was going for the dagger.
- - -
Rain nodded to Jewel's suggestion about her flying ahead.
"Stay close by," she said and winked. "I'm an expert at sneaking. We should find out where she is. I'm curious about that lighted window over there, myself." She pointed at the window that led into Ratskull's room. "From its position I'd say it's the captain's cabin. It would be a good place to start, I think. I'll go take a peek and wave at you if I need you, okay?"
Not waiting for an answer, she dove, caught a suitable air current and then glided noiselessly through the dark air toward the little speck of light in the hull of the pirate ship. She felt her heart thudding in her ears. She might have gone through many adventures, but they had never really felt altogether that dangerous. After all, she was a princess. What could ever happen to a princess? Was there not always some prince or knight to rescue her? But now she was with the Champions. This was serious. No room for error.
She got to the window just in time to see Surge grabbing Kail's tail and throwing her back into the room, reaching for a dagger. Her eyes went wide with horror and she nearly squealed. Just barely she managed to keep quiet as she ducked her head away from sight. Furiously she started to wave at Jewel. She might have been brave, but she wasn't stupid enough to rush to Kail's aid all alone.
It hadn't yet occurred to her that she had no idea how they were going to get the window open. She herself had certainly not enough strength to kick the window broken.
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Post by Jewel on Jan 4, 2006 13:50:08 GMT -5
Jewel nodded her agreement to the flutter, and watched with sharp attention as she approached the ship. As Rain was younger than her, Jewel felt an inclination to protect her, and felt slightly guilty for sending her ahead instead of going herself, though it was actually the safer for both of them.
As Rain motioned eagerly to her, the pegasus glided swiftly to her side, holding onto a coil of rope on the side of the ship with her forelegs, and bracing her back legs against the ship so as to allow her wings to rest a moment. She felt an odd humming in her veins, not unlike that which she had first felt upon the Rainbow's choosing her. Yes, this was definitely the right ship.
Jewel inched closer to the window and looked in with an expression of both fright and horror at the situation. There wasn't much time to act.
"She can heal herself if she's wounded," The pegasus whispered, "But she can't heal herself forever, I imagine. What do you think we ought to do?"
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Post by Bella on Jan 4, 2006 13:52:41 GMT -5
Kail let out a surprised squeak as Surge grabbed her by the tail and dragged her back in. She landed hard on her bottom and bit her tongue, but she was much more concerned with the dagger he was grabbing at.
Stupid Filly! she yelled silently to herself. Run off to a pirate ship and you left your own weapons on the other boat! Stupid, stupid filly.
Using a hoof to keep her throat covered so the dagger couldn't possibly reach her most vulnerable area, Kail tried to back away from the grey stallion.
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