A PIRATE'S LOVE
CHAPTER 26 Broken
The moon illuminated the pony as they emerged from the gloom that enveloped them in a veil of dark shadows.
The moonlight spilled across half of their face, casting an alabaster glow over their features.
Fluttershy nearly let loose a deep sigh of relief, her eyes flitting over the mare's, picking up every detail.
"Thank goodness!" She giggled, it was just Twilight!
Just then something caught her eye, maybe it was the way the unicorn's jaw was clenched and the muscles in her sides pulled taut as her stiff limbs fell silent on the squeaky floorboards. Whatever it was it sent a chill up Fluttershy's spine, tingling her back as a shudder coursed through her body.
An emotion was swirling around in the the pirate's eyes, tumbling through her purple orbs and cracking against her pupils like lightning as her nostrils flared wide.
"Um, Twilight?" Fluttershy blinked in surprise as the mare jerked forward, a heavy hoof landing on the wood with a resounding thump that made the princess flinch.
Cadance backed away, regarding the unicorn with unsure eyes, glancing at the yellow prisoner beside her as if for guidance.
Twilight's ears lowered until they were pointing behind her like spears as she marched forward, a storm of conflicting feelings flashing across her face in rapid succession that scared the prisoners into confusion.
Each hoofstep of Twilight's hit the wood with a loud smack that made them jerk in surprise every time the sound burst into their ears.
Eventually the approaching lavender pirate started to race towards them, a storm of anger bursting across her face in an instant as her lips curled up to reveal sets of pearly white teeth gnashing and grinding.
Fluttershy squealed in terror as the lavender mare galloped towards them with fury exploding in each of her swift steps, lancing up her pounding limbs.
"Twilight?!" She cried, confusion and fear sparking in her voice and wavering through the air, unaware to the steadily arriving pirate.
Twilight soon screeched to a halt in from of them, lowering her head until her back was neatly arched, her shoulder blades clicking into place.
Cadance gasped with fright, extending a large, majestic wing and curtaining the yellow prisoner beside her as both mares uncertainly backed up until they were a reasonable distance from the advancing pirate.
"Why are you taking away our prisoner?" Twilight whispered menacingly, the words sending Fluttershy's heart into overdrive as she felt it beating sporadically against her chest, the blood pooling in her ears and making it hard to focus.
"I-I, um, she..." Fluttershy stuttered, shaking like a brittle leaf in the wind as the pirate drew closer, the unicorn letting out a snake-like hiss that seemed to draw on longer than necessary.
A sound wound through the princess's ears and struck at her nerves, the lavender equine letting out a deep growl that rumbled in her chest and reverberated through her throat before sneaking past her teeth into the cold night air.
Without a seconds notice Twilight's muscles coiled like a spring, looking like a big cat about to pounce on her prey before she sprang.
...
The pirate lunged at her victim, soaring through the air before landing on the princess, smacking the alicorn's wing away with a strong hoof.
Fluttershy was sent sprawling to the ground under the weight of the lavender unicorn, hitting the floorboards with a heavy thwack.
Pain was sent splintering up her sides as she felt her wings crushed under her body, black spots dotting in front of her vision as her head fell onto the wood with a loud thud.
She gasped with shock, her vision clouded and her head emitting a fuzzy sound that rang in her ears as she struggled under Twilight.
"I SAID, WHY ARE YOU TAKING AWAY OUT PRISONER!" She shouted, piercing their ears with her shrill cries as her hooves fumbled over her victim's, pinning the limbs to the floor with much more power behind her shoves than first thought possible.
Fluttershy squirmed in the hold of the pirate, the fear making it impossible to summon a word as a giant ball formed in her throat, choking the prisoner.
She trembled with fright, her muscles spazzing as she desperately gulped air into her shaking lungs.
Twilight's loomed above her catch, eclipsing the prisoner in her dark shadow as her hot breath escaped from her mouth, scalding Fluttershy's muzzle in the burning carbon dioxide.
Fluttershy's heart exploded in her ears as she quaked with terror, the blood pounding in her veins as fear smashed through her system, shutting down all coherent thought.
Twilight's eyes were trained on her victim, menace ignited like a fire as anger fuelled the flames of her fury, her teeth gnashing together as she eyed her prey like it was the sole purpose for her emotions.
Fluttershy's was so confused, the mere thought of such a friendly pony glaring down at her like she could kill terrified her, numbing her senses until all she could do was shake in fright, pressing herself down into the floor.
Twilight let loose another shriek, leering backwards before lurching towards her pinned prisoner.
...
Fluttershy screamed, the sound shrill as it stabbed at the air, anxiously pulling herself to the side as the pirate's sharp horn whizzed past her ear.
She heard the whoosh it made before the pointed tip was lodged in the wood, sending splinters raising to the surface of the floor.
Twilight grunted with a hiss, shaking her head violently as to free herself.
Fluttershy merely avoided the unicorn's indigo mane as it lashed past like a whip, the prisoner trying to slide out from under her struggling attacker, the wood rough and unforgiving underneath her back. The weight of the wriggling pirate on her stomach made it feel like her body was caving in on her, her ribs crushing the organ they were designed to protect as the bones stabbed into her heart with each desperate movement the unicorn made to free herself. Fluttershy escaped with a deep gulp of the tantalising cool air, darting to her hooves, gasping as she rose to stand next to the frightened alicorn who was quivering with fear.
Twilight gave another strong tug, tearing free from the floorboards with a ripping sound as a noticeable hole was left in the wake of her magic tool.
The pirate swivelled to face her victims before prowling towards them once more, each snort that left her flared nostril sounding like heavy grunts as her angered purple eyes flickered between them as if choosing her prey.
The unicorn snarled, and Fluttershy had never seen a more animalistic look in any pony's eyes before, the anger burning there and spreading through her eyes like ashes as the pupils were almost tiny slits just flickering back in forth in the purple fields of her orbs.
The prisoners could see the veins bulging in the unicorn's neck, throbbing like infected flesh as her lips twitched, revealing her sets of grinding, dangerous teeth.
Twilight abruptly reared, her back arching as she stood silhouetted against the moon, the light casting an eerie whiteness over her fur and making the pulsing red veins stand out in her luminous white eyes.
The unicorn came down with a heavy thud and a growl, lashing her tail behind her as she stalked towards the prisoners striking a bolt of terror tearing through their pounding hearts.
Fluttershy whimpered fearfully as her attacker drew closer, seeming to savour scaring the prisoners out of their wits.
Twilight halted, rising to her full height as she leered over her prey with an angry hiss that would sound more at home coming from a snake's mouth.
Fluttershy cowered in fear, tears beading at the corners of her eyes as her instincts screamed at her her to run, to flee and save her flesh from the onslaught that was sure to arrive.
Yet as she stood there shaking she couldn't summon herself to move, her limbs frozen in place like they were incased in solid ice.
The mares gasped as Twilight's slitted eyes zeroed in on the princess with animalistic desire sparking like lightning, her tongue sliding across her lips and coating her muzzle in fresh saliva that drizzled from her mouth and dripped down her chin in foamy bubbles.
Cadance quivered and her eyes snapped shut, the eyelids clenched down as a frown was plastered on her features.
The alicorn held a look of pure and desperate concentration as her horn started to emit a buzzing sound that caught the attention of her fellow prisoner.
The magic tool suddenly started sending off sparks, the blue lights floating to the floor before sizzling and burning out.
Cadance took a deep inhale before she reared back her head as far as she could, hurtling it forward in a single moment.
A blue beam exploded from the tip, shooting towards the pirate were it stabbed the unicorn in the shoulder with a great amount of force.
The bright magic hit the lavender mare like a bullet and she was sent hurtling backwards with an agonised cry that sent her rocketing to the ground.
...
Fluttershy gasped with shock as Twilight lay down limp on the ground, save for the hoof clutching as her shoulder as she let loose pained grunts.
The unicorn rolled onto her stomach, staggering to her hooves as a limb still held onto her shoulder.
Fluttershy glimpsed at the extent of the wound, biting her lip as she spotted blood pooling from the gash that covered the majority of her shoulder, the crimson liquid trailing down her leg in little streams that stained her ruffled fur.
"Twilight?" The yellow prisoner voiced with concern, her lip quivering as the pirate's hoof retracted from the wound and was placed into the floor, revealing a pink and white wound that looked like a nasty burn.
The unicorn's ears lifted at Fluttershy's words, her body whipping around to glare at the mares with furious eyes.
"For the love of Celestia!" Cadance cried out with annoyance, her wings spreading from her body as the alicorn took a more threatening stance, half of her body covering the yellow princess as the scared Pegasus quaked with fright.
Twilight stood there hunched, growling with anger as the predator like pony inched closer, each step seeming to take an eternity.
"Twilight!" Fluttershy called out, watching as the pirate paused, her head cocking at the words before she continued her agonisingly drawn out steps towards her victims.
"Twilight please!" The princess cried again, this time the unicorn halting curiously, her ears perking at the use of her name as her eyes glanced at the yellow mare.
"Twilight, it's me, your friend!" Fluttershy called out one last time, Twilight stopping completely.
The unicorn's ears were positioned upwards as they caught the words leaving the yellow pegasus's lips.
The lavender mare blinked rapidly, shaking her head as if to rid it of thoughts as recognition flashed across her face in an instant.
The unicorn gasped in shock, her legs trembling as she brought a bloodied hoof into the moonlight, glaring at it like the limb was an ultimate weapon of destruction.
"Twilight?" Fluttershy whispered and she was stunned into silence as she saw tears sliding down the pirate's unusually pale cheeks.
Twilight's sides were quaking as she let out a shaky breath, her clouded eyes fixated on the floor as tears flooded from the formally animalistic orbs and trailed down her face.
"What did I do?" The pirate demanded, her full attention still focused on the floor as her lip quivered.
"Y-you attacked..." Fluttershy confusedly started but trailed off as Twilight let out a strangled cry into the cold night air.
...
The pirate collapsed both mentally and physically, crumpling to the floor as she clutched her head in her hooves, ruffling up her already messy mane.
Violent sobs wracked through the unicorn's body, leaving the pony shaking and trembling as her limbs jerked uncontrollably.
Tears flooded from Twilight's eyes like a broken dam as they cascaded down her cheeks and dribbled onto the floor, leaving salty trails on their wake.
Twilight sucked in quaky breaths, letting free strangled gasps and cries as her sides heaved.
"A-are you okay-?" Fluttershy tentatively stepped forward only to jerk back in surprise as Twilight lurched away from the princess, panting with the effort.
"S-stay back! I'm too dangerous!" The unicorn exclaimed shakily, lifting a trembling hoof to run it through her messy mane as more tears filtered from her eyes.
It was like she had snapped, bent under the pressure, it was like she was broken...
Thin blood dribbled from her shoulder wound were it trickled down her limb until it pooled on the floor, staining the wood crimson and blending in with the other hastily scrubbed up bloodstains from previous wars over turf.
Inner turmoil flashed across the pirate's face like she was in the middle of a battle with herself, the unicorn desperately encasing her head in her hooves like it would redeem herself in her own eyes.
Fluttershy couldn't stand to see a creature so depressed, so full of self loathing as she felt her own tears silently sliding down her cheeks and gathering onto her chin, leaving the fur cold and damp.
Twilight let free another strangled cry, her eyes flashing open with thin slitted pupils before slamming shut again, the eyelids flickering crazily.
The unicorn staggered to her hooves, her muzzle curled into rolls as fierce concentration overtook all other emotions.
Cadance peered at the mare suspiciously, an equal mix of morbid curiosity and protectiveness gleaming in her eyes as she took a stance that would make it efficient to take down her enemy, or if necessary flee.
Twilight took one glance at the alicorn's charged horn and her spread wings and let out a loud sniffle, hastily wiping as her eyes as she hurriedly stumbled off into the shadows, ignoring her slight limp.
The pirate fled the scene, disappearing into the gloom with rapidly firing breaths that sounded loud in the still night air
Fluttershy's eyes stayed fixated on the spot from where the unicorn had left her view, a hoof lifting into the air and wiping tear tracks away from were they had gathered on her chin.
Cadance stood up straight, her wings folding to her sides on instinct as she peered around her surroundings nervously, a hoof fidgeting with her curled mane as she flipped it back into place.
"L-let's get you out of here..." Fluttershy blinked worriedly as she turned away from the shadows with a tired glance in her teal eyes that didn't go unnoticed by her fellow prisoner.
The alicorn simply nodded in response, her eyes darting around eagerly as she looked for an escape route that wouldn't stir up any trouble.
And idea hit Fluttershy like a baseball bat as it struck her mind, sending resounding thoughts through her brain.
"Perhaps..." She softly whispered while stumbling over towards the edge of the boat, her limbs numbed after the crazy spectacle she had just witnessed and taken part in.
...
Cadance had curiously joined Fluttershy as both mares peered into the dark depths of the ocean, the black waves splashing against the side of the ship as the liquid rolled and tumbled about.
The moon's reflection rippled lustrously as the white orb joined the millions of twinkling stars on the surface of the sea.
Fluttershy took a deep breath of the salty air, pursing her lips and letting out a long whistle into the still night.
Intrigued, Cadance took a small glimpse into the rolling waves, eyes searching for any signs of movement.
A particularly strong wave caught the prisoner's attention, spraying droplets through the air as some creatures broke the surface of the water.
Fluttershy instantly perked up, a definite mix of pride for her achievements and happiness shining in the depths of her eyes.
...
Cadance couldn't believe her own eyes, there floating on the bumpy waves was a pod of dolphins, their skin glistening under the moonlight as water slid down their sides.
"How?" The alicorn whispered in awe, turning to glance sideways at Fluttershy with a curious gleam in her eyes.
The Pegasus didn't reply, merely lifting up the hem of her tattered green dress to reveal three graceful butterflies adorning her flank.
"Interesting." Cadance replied, turning to glance down at her own cutiemark.
"Um, excuse me friends? I have a small favour to ask of you, i would be ever so grateful!" Fluttershy's soft voice rang through the air, the perfect mix of polite and kindness, a solution no living creature could possibly resist.
The dolphins responded with eager clicks and whirs, a few leaping upwards as they flung themselves into the air.
Cadance stepped back from the edge, avoiding a jet of water as it sparkled through the air before landing.
"They'll take you back to your ship." Fluttershy smiled warmly, nodding towards the grey skinned mammals below as they gave encouraging whistles to their soon to be passenger.
...
Fluttershy watched intently, ready to help out as the pregnant alicorn slung a hind leg over the side of the ship, quickly followed by another back leg.
The tall mare heaved herself onto the edge, gripping the boat tightly as to not let herself fall.
The wind whipped around them and blew their manes across their necks as Cadance fearfully peered into the dark rolling waves below.
"It'll be okay, I promise!" Fluttershy called out in an effort to comfort the pink mare as she stood beside the wavering alicorn.
Cadance bit her lip and gave a firm nod, her death grip on the boat loosening as she closed her eyes.
Fluttershy saw the pink mare fall, her wings outspread as she rocketed towards the dark water.
...
Cadance's head erupted from the water, her soaking mane being flung through the air as the alicorn took a deep lungful of salty air.
The pink mare paddled in the liquid as the dolphins raced towards her, circling the tall pony.
The water mammals lifted the mare onto their backs with an extreme amount of teamwork, communicating through clicks and whistles.
Cadance shivered as her teeth clattered together, Fluttershy watching anxiously from the safety of the boat as the alicorn collapsed onto the slippery backs of the dolphins, the mammals righting her until she lay flat across a number of the grey skinned creatures.
The pink pony glanced upwards, giving the observing Pegasus a tired half smile as the dolphins started their swim into the distance.
"Goodluck!" Fluttershy called with a smile and Cadance suddenly jerked upright, nearly slipping on the mammal's wet backs.
"Wait! I didn't get your name!" The alicorn desperately cried after her rescuer, her eyes flickering back and forth as she anxiously waited for a reply.
"Fluttershy!" The mentioned answered with a small wave, watching as the pink mare started to drift away into the darkness of the night.
"Princess Fluttershy?" A bolt of recognition struck the alicorn in her mind as she watched the Pegasus disappear from sight.
Fluttershy nodded with a slight frown that vanished like morning dew under the harsh beams of the sun as the alicorn was dragged away into depths of the rolling waves.
...
Cadance wasn't visible on the oceans surface anymore and the yellow prisoner sighed with relief, her shoulders sagging as her tired limbs nearly crumpled to the floor.
It had been a long, active day and the princess was exhausted, a yawn escaping the cage of her lips as she stumbled back towards the prison.
Her mind was numbed with tiredness, coherent thought wiped from her brain with a cloth of exhaustion as she tripped down the cold stairs towards the prison she had grown to know as her bed.
The slam of the cell door snapped her to attention if for a second as she dragged herself towards the mouldy pile of straw fit for a king.
Or a princess in this case.
As soon as her body touched the damp tiles the mare felt herself drifting off into the land of dreams, the vortex of sleep inescapable as it swallowed her into it's depths.
...