Hi all!

My first octonauts fanfiction! I've loved the Octonauts since I was a child and have decided to finally put this idea I had in my head into a story!

I would rate this story as 13+ since there are themes of violence, death and thoughts of self harm. The story does get better, it has its ups and downs but I thought it best to place this warning at the begining. If you are sensitive to this content, either skip over it or find another story. I will give more warnings depending on the content of each chapter.

TW for this chapter- Death, Murder (from begining to about half way through)

I promise this story will get happier as time goes on, you have to get through the dark to enjoy the light. Enjoy and please drop a review or two!

Chapter 1

'Well, well, well. What do we have here?'

The little Welsh pony snorted, swishing her tail as the kittens and puppies of the orphanage hid behind her for protection. The ship they had been travelling on was under attack from pirates, Momma Bear who was the matron of the ship had instructed all the children to take safety inside the ship as the captain and the ship's crew had tried their best to outrun the pirates. They didn't know what had happened but from the tone of voice she knew it wasn't anything good.

'Ashima, I'm scared.' A little pup whimpered, pressing closer to the fillies golden legs. 'Where's Momma?'

Ashima didn't reply, her attention focused on the stranger in front of her. The stranger had a sword in his hand, a horrible black wolf that made her nightmares like happy places to be. She watched as the stranger lit a lantern, trying to be strong and courageous for the younger orphans. 'Stay behind me children.'

'Argh, looks like we got us some youngins.' The stranger exclaimed, holding up the lantern. Three other wolves joined him, chuckling in low, evil tones. 'We can have some fun here-'

'Stay back!' Ashima snaked her neck, arching it as she pawed the ground. 'Get away from us! Leave us alone!'

'Well, there doesn't seem to be anyone left to save you-' He chuckled, the light illuminating the blood on his sword. 'They were no match for us.'

'Ashima-'

The fillies eyes blazed. Who did these pirates think they were? 'I'm warning you for the last time-' She took a step forward, squealing and stamping the ground with her hooves. 'Leave us be.'

'And what's a punny little thing like you going to do?'

The filly looked down at the young animals around her ankles. She had to get them out of this situation. She was the oldest orphan and with no one else left, it was up to her. 'When I say run, run and don't look back.' The young animals nodded, their eyes wide with fear. She looked back up as the pirates walked closer and she reared, roaring. 'Run!'

Her hooves came down hard on the closest wolf, the young animals making a run for it in the chaos. Something sharp slashed her leg and she spun around, her back hooves connecting with a wolves chest.

The wolf wiped the blood from his nose as the filly fought with his crew members. The filly was putting up a fight, a jolly good fight too. He snarled, picking up his sword again and ran forward-

Ashima reared and bucked at the same time, puffing and bellowing like an angry stallion as she bravely fought against the four pirates. Her golden coat was now streaked with blood, her usually white mane dripping crimson as a sword was slashed over her neck. Suddenly she found herself thrown to the ground, kicking and struggling to get up but to no avail.

The leader chuckled ghastly as he twisted the fillies neck so she couldn't breath, leaning down low against her head. 'I applaud you on a good fight, I thought you were going to beat us but well-' He twisted her neck up higher, the filly desperately trying to breathe. 'It seems we've won.'

Ashima gasped for air as the wolf finally let go, the wolves stepping away from her as she laid on her side, panting and heaving in exhaustion.

'Alright boys, to the plunder!'

The sound of the wolves walking away blurred with that of the sound of the door to the hold being closed, the filly still trying to catch her breath.

'Ashima, you okay?'

She looked up at the little grey tabby kitten, the kitten stroking her face with her soft paw. 'Remi, why didn't you run when I told you?'

'I couldn't leave you.'

'When I say to do something, do it.' She laid on the blood soaked boards a little longer then struggled to her feet, shaking and swaying. 'I hope the others managed to hide.'

'What are we going to do? Why did they want to hurt us?'

'I don't know.' She nuzzled the kitten gently, the kittens purring helping to sooth her. She stood there for a moment, gathering strength then started to the door 'But I have to stop them.'

'Ashima, wait for me-'

'No Remi-' She nudged the kitten back from the door. 'I want you to hide, you need to stay hidden, okay?' She could hear the screams of terror of the other orphans beyond the door, a welling anger boiling up inside her. 'Do not come out. Promise.'

'Promise.'

'Good girl.' She again nuzzled the kitten then looked back at the boxes they'd been hiding near. 'Go hide.'

The filly waited until the kitten had disappeared then turned back to the door. She hated that she didn't have paws to make things easier but it was something she'd learned to adjust to. Grabbing the door knob in her teeth she tried to open it but couldn't. It was locked.

She snorted, shaking her head then took a couple steps back and turned around. With a bellow she belted both hind hooves as hard as she could into the door, the rusted hinges letting go and the door crashed onto the floor. Turning, she trotted up the ramp onto the deck, staring in horror at the sight before her.

Blood. Blood was splattered everywhere. Blood, and bodies. Bodies of the crew, bodies of the adults who ran the orphanage, bodies of the younger animals. The screams, the screaming as they tried to run from the wolves- her eyes flamed. She would make these pirates pay.

With a roar she charged, bolting towards the nearest wolf as he held a young pup at sword-point. She crashed into him, send sword and wolf flying. Quickly she turned to the pup. 'Run! Hide!'

Out of the corner of her eye she saw the pup running then turned back to the wolf. She'd winded him, winded him good as he tried to reach the sword. She stomped her hoof down hard on his paw, the wolf crying out in agony. 'That's a mear taste-' She snarled then reared, crushing him under her hooves. She could see wolves running towards her. Oh horsefeathers, just how many of them were there?

'She's got Fang!-'

She didn't hear the rest of the sentence as the wolf stopped moving beneath her hooves and she looked up towards the pirates running towards her, the deck littered with the bodies of the crew, workers and orphans. 'I'll make you pay for this!'

Ashima, the normally quiet, sober filly charged forward, enraged and running on adrenaline. The swords didn't worry her, she didn't care for them as they slashed at her, the filly fighting back strongly. One, two, three- More wolves surcumbered to her thirst for revenge as she fought hoof-to-sword.

'What is going on up here?'

She glanced up as the wolves stopped attacking her, spitting out the wolf she was holding in her teeth up at the stranger. Blood dripped down her body, both hers and the wolves. 'I. Warned. You.' Her voice was cold, angry, spiteful. Thankfully, she couldn't see any of the others that had managed to escape the massacre.

'S-she g-got F-Fang-'

'WHAT?' He roared, the old ship shaking as he snarled at the filly. 'ATTACK!'

The wolves lunged, the filly dodging their attack and giving them a good belting with her hooves. She was getting tired, the pirates were getting desperate- suddenly something was thrown around her neck, choking her and she turned to charge the wolf when another rope was cast around her ankle, throwing her to the ground.

'Well-' The leader smirked as he grabbed a pawful of the fillies blood-soaked forelock and lifted her head closer to his. 'It seems we win again.'

The mare watched, waiting. Not listening to him then found her moment. She lunged, grabbing his arm in her teeth and bit.

'AAAAAAHHHHHHHRRRRRGGGGGG!' The wolf belted the fillies head with his other paw but couldn't break her grip. 'GET HER OFF, GET HER OFF!'

It took seven wolves puffing and panting to finally overpower her and make her let go of the wolf's arm. She glared at him as he cradled it, spitting out the rest of his oily fur. 'Had enough?'

The leader looked at her, snarling. 'Tie her to the mast!'

The filly fought and struggled against the wolves as they dragged her to her hooves then dragged her to the mast, tying her up to it. She fought, biting and kicking when she could but she couldn't get free. She glared at them, snorting. Again she kicked out, trying to free herself but she was tied fast.

'Well, my pretty little thing-' The wolf snarled as he walked over, the filly eyeing him as she snorted. He ran a finger over her cheek, laughing when she tried to bite him but he pulled away too quick. 'Too bad, tsk tsk.' She glared at him and he chuckled then turned back to his crew. 'Search the ship, leave no box or barrel unturned. Find the rest of those children and bring them up here.'

'What are you going to do with them?'

He ran a finger across his sword then brought it to the fillies throat and pressed the blade against her fur. 'Wouldn't you like to know?'

Ashima glared at him, the wolf finally stepping back as the rest of the pirates started searching the ship. The sound of thunder made her look up, her blood stained mane blowing in the cold breeze. She sniffed the wind, pinning her ears back. Storm's coming. She looked around, the adrenaline starting to wear off and she began to become aware of the pain coursing through her body. She snorted, closing her eyes to focus. Must get out of this and save the others. She started struggling against her bonds again but found they stuck fast. She couldn't move.

A shiver ran through her body as she looked around, glaring with disdain at the pirateship alongside them. It towered over the little vessel the Matron had hired to move the orphans to another country. Where they were supposed to be going she had no idea but she had a feeling they wouldn't make it.

Her ears pricked again hearing a commotion coming from below the deck, the wolves were returning, dragging the scared and screaming orphans along with them. She snorted, baring her teeth. 'Let them go!'

The wolf chuckled as he walked over to her. 'Sorry, no can do. Don't feel like it today, especially after you killed three of my crew-' He slashed his claws across her cheek. 'And my brother.'

'But you never really liked your brother-'

'Argh!' He glared at the wolf that had spoken. 'Doesn't matter about that-' He turned back to the filly. 'Alright boys, do your worst.'

'NO!' The filly kicked and struggled but there was nothing she could do. One by one the screaming orphans were mercilessly slaughtered, their bodies thrown onto the deck and all she could do was watch. She couldn't save them.

The wolf smiled as the last kitten was murdered then chuckled as he looked at the filly. 'So, my dear, what are you going to do now?'

She lunged at him but the ropes held fast. She snarled, her eyes filled with greif and anger. 'You filthy monster.'

'Yeah-' He turned his paw over, flexing his claws. 'I've been called that before. It's not for nothing I earned the name 'Merciless Marco' now is it?'

Ashima spat right in the wolf's face. 'I hope you rot.'

'On the contrary my dear, it is you who will be rotting. Along with what's left of this darstad ship. Come on boys, let's finish plundering.'

The filly glared at him as he and his hench-crew headed back below deck, finally dropping her head in exhaustion. Saddness, greif. The feeling flooded through her. Tears ran down her golden cheeks as she looked at the corpses of the youngsters who had only a couple hours ago been playing games and looking forward to a new life. Now their bodies lay still on the bloodied decks-

'AAAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHH' She screamed to the sky, the thunder and lighting overhead answering her angry bellow. It wasn't fair. It just wasn't fair!

Momma Bear's body lay still, the kind grizzly bear who had taken her in when she'd been orphaned. Her herd had been killed only a couple years back- Staring at the bodies around her brought that day back.

The sound of the pirates brought her back to reality and she shook the tears off her face. She wouldn't give that monster the pleasure of seeing her cry.

The pirates kept taking crates and barrels onto their ship, the filly watching as they plundered the supplies. The ship hadn't been carrying much in the way of valuables, of that she was sure. Just cargo and orphans- She flattened her ears against her head as Marco looked over at her and she baired her teeth at him. He chuckled then continued overseeing the proceedings of his crew.

When everything of value had been taken his crew boardered their ship again, Marco making his way back to the filly. Grabbing her by the mane he dug his knife into her just behind the shoulder. The filly screamed, thrashing frantically to break free but she couldn't and he chuckled as he pulled the knife out again. Not enough to kill her instantly but enough of a wound to prolong her death.

Ashima glared at him, her eyesight going fuzzy with the pain she was in as she gasped.

Marco smiled, wiping the blade off using her fur. 'And a couple more things-' He placed his knife back in his belt then slashed the fillies body with his claws. He laughed as the filly hollered in pain then smiled as he stood back and looked at her. 'Vola.' He turned, heading back to his ship then glanced back at her as he climbed up the ladder. 'So long.'

The filly sagged against the ropes, her strength wearing out as the pirate ship began to sail away then her eyes widened as she saw them loading cannonballs to fire at the ship. They were going to sink it. She neighed frantically as the first cannonball punchered the ship, the ship lurching as a second cannonball went through the side. She was going to drown. 'Please, please just kill me!' She screamed as the pirates began sailing away, the sound of laughter the only thing that reached her ears.

The pirate ship was soon out of sight, the filly resuming her fight as the ship started to sink. No, no, no! I don't want to drown! She screamed, bellowed, neighed, thrashed in panic. No, no, she couldn't drown. No.

'Ashima!' The grey kitten bounded up the stairs then gasped.

Oh Remi! She shuddered, seeing the kitten. She hadn't wished for her to see this- The ship lurched again, bringing her back to reality. 'Remi, Remi, the ship is going to sink. We have to get off. I need your help.'

It seemed to work, the kitten coming out if her trance and she ran over to the filly. 'W-what can I do?'

'Find something to cut these ropes. Anything. Hurry.' She looked at the water as it started to lap at the deck. 'Hurry Remi!'

The kitten looked around, spying a bloodied knife on the deck and ran to it. Grasping it in her paws she ran back to the filly, trying to cut through the rope. 'I can't'

'You can Remi, you can!' Ashima encouraged. 'You can do it.' She watched as the kitten tried to cut through the rope with the blunt knife, the water lapping at her heels. 'Hurry!'

The kitten sawed at the rope frantically, using every little bit of strength she had. Finally, the rope snapped. 'Yes!'

'Good girl.' The mare kicked, getting one of the ropes loose. 'Now the other. Quickly Remi.' The kitten sawed at the rope again, the filly trying to get free. The water was half-way to her knees now, the ship was going down and fast. The rope finally snapped and the mare kicked out, freeing herself at last. 'Thank you Remi-' She looked around for anything they could float on but there was nothing. They'd have to swim for it. 'Hop on my back Remi.'

'But your hurt-'

'No time!' She shouted, the kitten shrinking back in fear. 'Sorry Remi, we have to go. Come on.' The kitten finally leapt onto her back, the filly trying not to gasp as the kitten sunk her claws into her. The filly looked around again, trying to find something for them to float on. Nothing.

The water was up to her knees now, the kitten quivering on her back and the filly knew it was time to go. They'd have to swim for it but where was land? She sniffed the air, trying to find something that smelt like land. There, faintly, she could smell coconuts.

She gasped as the water hit her, the freezing ocean merciless as she bravely started swimming towards land. The kitten meowed on her back, the poor thing quivering and shaking in cold. It was freezing. The water was going over her head, the filly frantically trying to keep her head above the water in the rough ocean. The thunder and lighting overhead mixed with the rough surf only added to the miserable situation. Get out of the water. Quickly.

Her strength was failing, she was tired and exhausted. She was running on the last of her adrenaline and fear, trying frantically to reach land. Remi was crying, the kittens claws dug into her back. She pushed it to the back of her mind. She needed every bit of focus on the job at hand. Getting them both out of the ocean alive.

She swam on, the waves higher, crashing over her. Again and again she went under, again and again she struggled back to above the water. Her strength was almost gone, she was so so exhausted. How easy it would be to close her eyes and sink to the bottom of the ocean-

'I'm scared Ashima.'

The poor kittens whimpering dragged the filly back to reality. 'I. Know.' She replied in between keeping her head above water and swimming. 'We'll. Be. Safe. Soon.' Surely land must be getting close- She tried to sniff the air but all she got was a breath of water as another wave crashed over her. Sputtering and gasping as she came back up she caught her breath, trying to keep going.

Keep. Swimming. She told herself over and over again, forcing every little fiber of her being into her tired and numb legs. Keep. Swimming. She could hear the sound of waves crashing on the shore, they were getting close. Suddenly they were under the water again, the filly struggling to the surface then felt land under her hooves. Surging forward she burst above the water again. Land was ahead. They were going to make it.

Finally she felt land under her hooves, walking, half being pushed by the waves she dragged herself out of the ocean and onto the beach. They'd found land. Her legs quivered, her body shaking. She caught her breath, the storm above finally letting it's downpour of rain upon them. 'You okay Remi?'

'Yes.' The kitten whimpered. 'I'm cold and wet.'

'I know, I am too.' Her legs protested as she forced herself to walk forward, then her back legs gave out on her from the cold and numbness. Remi fell off with a sad meow, the kitten shaking the sand off herself as the rain poured down. 'You okay?'

'Yeah, didn't expect it, that's all.'

'Climb back on then.'

'But your exhausted Ashima.'

'We have to find shelter. Come on.' The kitten climbed back on and the filly started forward again, dragging herself with her front legs. Up ahead was some trees, this place looked nothing like Wales but she hoped they could find somewhere to wait out the storm. Come on Ashima, you can do this.

They were both coughing, coughing up the water they'd inhaled as they slowly went further onto the island. The use of her back legs was starting to come back and finally she was able to stand again. Something was wrong though, her legs weren't working like they should. Looking up ahead at the trees she limped on, one weary hoof in front of the other.

They reached the trees finally, the filly looking for anything they could use as shelter. There were some huge holders up ahead, a mountain cliff too. I hope there is a cave.

An uncomfortably close flash of lightning that hit the water behind them spooked the filly forward. They had to get out of this storm, they had to find shelter-

'There!' Remi shouted excitedly, pointing to something in the distance. 'A cave!'

The filly surged into a trot, every muscle and wound screaming in pain but she stumbled forward. Remi was right, there was a cave. They finally reached it, it was all the filly could do to stop herself from collapsing on the sandy floor. The kitten climbed off her back, shaking herself dry and the filly did the same. Oh, the pain- She forced herself to finish shaking, blood from her wounds flying off with the ocean water. The storm was roaring outside, she could hear it coming down faster. They were finally safe though, out of the ocean and out of the rain.

'I'm cold Ashima.'

'I know you are Remi.' She turned away from watching the storm and nuzzled the kitten gently. 'Come on, let's go in a little further out of the wind and we'll lie down.'

'Okay.'

They stumbled further into the cave then the fillies legs gave out underneath her. Her body jerked in spasms, oh the pain-

'Ashima! Are you okay?'

'I'm alright.' She finally managed to say after the spasm passed, looking up at the kitten. 'I'll be alright. Come on, cuddle up to me. I'll warm you up.'

'Thanks Shimi.'

The filly lifted her head, nuzzling the kitten for a moment. 'We'll be okay. You'll be alright. Sleep now. I'm right here.'

Ashima laid her head down on the sand again, the sound of the kittens breathing evening out and becoming deeper as she fell asleep. Another wave of pain coursed through her body, the filly lying there powerless. There was nothing she could do. She was hurt, hurt bad too, she knew that. She did manage to turn her head a little to look at Remi as the kitten slept. She mightn't have been able to look after the others but there was no way she was going to let any thing happen to the kitten.

She laid there in pain, trying to fight off the darkness that was closing in but finally it overpowered her and she gave in. In the darkness of the cave the two orphans slept, safe from the raging storm and the ocean. One in a sleep of exhaustion and one clasped in the cold clutches of unconsciousness.