The pirate campsite was alive with activity. Ponies ran to and fro to help pack up and take down the tents and other constructs. They had been doing so for most of the night and were just about done. Crashing Wave was packing up his own tent when suddenly he felt a chill run down his spine. He looked to the east just in time to see a green shockwave burst through the sky followed by a echoing explosion of energy. He knew that sonic boom all too well. [i]’Thea what’s wrong lass?’[/i] “Sir what was that?” Crashing looked to Softstep and furrowed his brow,” I don’t know first mate but I intend to find out.” With that he grabbed his leather saddle bag and took to loading it up. He placed several bottles of his finest rum and whiskey into it. He also placed extra shot and powder for his flint lock guns. With but a thought he started to load both his acabres with a shot and holstered them at his sides then sheathed his scimitars. He then opened his ornate chest that had yet to be packed, inside lay a few old maps, a moonstone pendent and a dark green, ancient bottle. Crashing smiled gently as his hoof ran over the ornate pendant then pulled the flask out of the chest. He stared at the bottle for a moment. A silver liquid sloshed inside and glowed briefly. Pure, moonshine distilled form the finest moonbeams and nightshade petals. It was the strongest alcohol in the world and made by the Lunar goddess herself. [i]’Who would have thought me Love was such a good brewer,’[/i] Crashing chuckled before placing the bottle inside his bag. He grabbed his dark brown coat and donned it. He looked to Softstep,” Keep headin’ ta Manehatten lass. I’ll meet ye there in a few days.” He opened his massive wings and jumped into the air. Ponies were pushed away from the sheer amount of force he used to launch himself off the ground. He even left a small crater in the ground as he left. With several flaps of his mighty wings he was high above the campsite. He angled himself east and started moving through the air at top speeds. He may have lacked the speed of his siblings in the air but he more than made up for it with pure strength. But now he needed something more than just strength. His horn glowed and he formed an aerodynamic barrier around him, causing the friction with the wind to cease. He had crafted this spell with he and a certai8n brother of his last clashed. Hurricane force winds were not to be taken lightly. Before long a Mach cone formed around the alicorn and then the world exploded in a flash of dark blue. Going the speeds he was now going strained on Crashing simply because he wasn’t built for it but he willed himself to keep going. [i]Hang on lass I’m comin’.[/i] ------------------------------------------------------------- Girmwing flinched at the earsplitting screech that echoed through the mists. The boats moved almost lazily through the eerily calm waters only adding to the feeling of dread everyone was feeling. Deckhoof had long since made for the crew quarters to cower under his hammock. Grimwing knew they were in no real danger. The Leviathan that patrolled these waters wouldn’t attack them but it as still eerie, the feeling of being hunted. [i]Just a bit further.[/i] Suddenly a single a massive head broke the water’s surface. It was akin to the head of a prehistoric predator you would see in museums but those were all bones, no real danger. Here all that could be felt was dread. The creature was titanic in every way; raising a good twenty feet above the ships and Grim knew that there was a more underwater. It loaded its snout to the ship where Grimwing stood. A foul reek assaulted the pegasus’s nose as it took a sniff of him. Slowly his mark from Crashing started to glow with a blue light. Soon everyone who bore the blessing of the Sea had their mark glowing. Finally it raised its head up. [i]GRAAAAAAAHH!!!!![/i] The boats rocked and bobbed madly as the sea churned from the creature’s roar alone. It then disappeared under the water, leaving no indication, save for the fear the sailors felt, that it had been there. The mists started to clear after a moment. Grimwing sighed in relief,” Well then that’s over.” In the distance a large rocky cliff said came into view. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ “What are you rambling about Whirlpool?” A grey furred sea pony glared at the coral pink stallion before him, his silver fore fins and dorsal spine twitching in irritation. Six sea ponies sat around a glowing spring, surrounding Whirlpool. Ornate decorations graced the walls of the throne room. “What I’m saying is Master Razor Reef,” Whirlpool said calmly,” Is that dark times are ahead, unlike any we’ve seen.” “We’ve heard this before,” a melodious voice mocked. Whirlpool’s eyes flicked to a bright yellow sea mare, her frilled fins moving as though water moved them along. Her smirk widened as Whirlpool’s eyes flashed with annoyance,” When you started rambling about how they land ponies’ war would affect us and now here we are twenty years later and we’re in a time of peace and prosperity. The great tribes have never been in such a state of peace and harmony before. We are in a Golden Age young seer.” “We were in a golden age when the Nightmare descended as well or have you forgotten that?” All eyes in the Sea mare at the forefront of the room, on a beautifully carved throne of the finest corals sat a gorgeous sea mare with ruby red fur and a stark white braided mane. Jewelry of silver and fine gems hung, twinkling from her graceful fins. She took a step form her perched and walked up to Whirlpool. “What is it you have seen my subject?” Whirlpool looked at the Queen Sunpearl, Mistress of the Moonlit Seas, in awe before swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat,” My Queen I have seen the land and Sea clash in the mirror pools. A day darker than the day Sun and Sea warred, a day that will bring the end of peace for every living thing that walk this realm. The astral plane is alive with foul magic and I fear that the revealing of the Pantheon only marks the beginning of the end. Already the ancient Leviathans are becoming restless. I fear we only have week’s ma’am. Harmony on the mainland must be restored. “Whirlpool took a deep breath,” I believe we should march on the mainland.” “Are you insane?!” “Fool! That is madness!” “We haven’t set hoof on land in over a thousand years!” The Queen raised a single hoof silencing the furious protests of her council. Her silver eyes focused solely on the stallion before her. After what felt like an eternity for Whirlpool she finally spoke,” These past few weeks I have been plagued by nightmares, visions of blood, wear and carnage. Then last night I saw an unspeakable horror that destroying our home. It looked like our God but in a way it wasn’t. It was dark, feral,” the mare shivered,” Razor Reef.” “My queen,” the grey stallion bowed deeply. “Gather your soldiers. We make for Equestria in the morning.” Razor flashed a dark look at Whirlpool before bowing again,” Yes my Queen.” He took his leave through the massive doors of the throne room. A soldier clad in shell armor rushed past him and bowed before Queen. “Your highness the Kraken Fleet is in the rock bay and going inside the City.” [i]Coincidence or Fate.[/i] Sunpearl walked past the guard,” Then let us greet them.”