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Post by Jewel on Jan 3, 2007 1:53:17 GMT -5
Trembling legs carried the pegasus quickly through the cabins and hallways of the ship, precious seconds ticking away like a waterfall. She called above the rolling thunder and creaking of the ship, yelling for all to evacuate, and kicking the closed doors to get attention. It was not long after she began to spread the warning that he hallway was jammed with panicking crewmates, all trying to shove each other out of the way to get above deck.
And then, the crash.
When Jewel opened her eyes, she was laying on her side, and felt a tremendous pressure on her chest. Her vision was obscured, and something cold was rushing against her back. There was no light left in the bowels of the ship. Kicking and scrambling, she managed to push a large stallion off of her body. He rolled away limply, splashing into the rising inches of water, and did not move again.
Skittering and splashing, the pegasus bounded upward out of the ship's depths, panting as her muscles began to burn. As she neared the top of the steep stairs, the wind nearly took her breath away. Patches of color flew by her vision, mostly the bodies of crew members as they slid along the deck and ran for safety.. or at best, survival.
A familiar color slightly darker than her own caught her attention, and Jewel called out to him desperately as he was pitched toward the railing, "Hollow!!" She had begun to step toward him when one of the wayward pirates collided with her, causing the mare to spread her wings for balance. However, the wind was quick to catch beneath her golden feathers, and before Jewel could utter another word, she was swept toward the clouds with a fading cry.
"That's all she c'n take, Captain!" The crimson stallion yelled above the fray, "We have t'get off the ship!" He let go of the wheel himself, bracing his legs so that he might intercept Tiger if he was thrown. "Ye'd be mad to stay here!"
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Post by Crescent on Jan 3, 2007 3:29:11 GMT -5
It had all happened so suddenly Rain had hardly had the time to realise what was going on. Her instincts had served her well, however. Now she was hovering close to the roof, her wings only barely dried after getting wet outside, but dry enough for her to stay in the air while the various objects in the room were tossed about. Her fragile body could not have taken the impact of being squeezed between the wall and some barrels.
"Rain?!"
She didn't have the time to answer Coon before she literally fell on her. Her wings could carry her no longer. She let out a little whimper as she proceeded to wrap her hooves around the thief's neck, seeking comfort.
"I think we're sinking," she whispered hoarsely, terrified, her eyes wide. She liked to think of herself as brave, but the truth was that she had not faced enough real danger to fully appreciate all the possibilities. The fact that she was trapped inside a sinking ship made her tremble with fear. She clutched onto Coon and hoped that "he" would know what to do. Her voice was trembling. "Save me?"
Hollow was pulled underneath the waves. Suddenly everything became dark and mute. The sounds became twisted, oddly stilted, and all he could see was the dark blur of the water. It was cold, and the salty water burned his lungs as it entered into him.
The face of death seemed to stare at him in the darkness as he was pulled into the Deep. Hollow Heart's golden eyes were very wide and very open. Murky water all round him pressed on his every muscle, squeezed the breath out of him... squeezed the life out of him. The question he had pondered upon ever since setting out on this journey flashed clear in his mind.
He could not die a mortal death - but could he be killed?
It was a question he had never demanded an answer for before he had, in his haughtiness, left the unicorn that had granted him this wish. He had been too distracted by the change in the world around him - though the change was, ultimately, merely in his own eyes.
For a good while the stallion was paralyzed in what could only be fear. His golden eyes stared upward, toward the faint light that seeped through the waves deeper into the water. Soon it would be gone. He fell deeper.
Could he be killed?
How powerful was the spell put on him?
Could he be...
Darkness was becoming darker around him. Seconds became the length of eternity. His consciousness was dimming.
And then... from somewhere, a pair of deep purple eyes appeared before him. His half-closed eyes stared at the vision of gold and purple that slowly took shape in the swelling water.
"Please be safe."
Those soft words lingered in his ears until he was convinced he could still hear them. They were all he could hear through the blinding pain in his lungs and the gushing of the water in his ears. Golden eyes became focused. His muscles were filled with strength he had not known he possessed as his mind cleared. It didn't matter. It didn't matter if he could be killed. The time to find out was not today.
Today was the time to live - for the Rainbow, and for those purple eyes.
Desperately, the Yellow Champion started to kick the water, up, higher.... toward the light.
"That's all she c'n take, Captain!" The crimson stallion yelled above the fray, "We have t'get off the ship!" He let go of the wheel himself, bracing his legs so that he might intercept Tiger if he was thrown. "Ye'd be mad to stay here!"
Tiger wanted to just yell, "Then I will be mad!" but as he glanced at his old friend at his side the words died on his lips. He knew Cutter would never allow it. He'd pull him off the wheel and force him into safety. And he might die in the attempt.
Sea Tiger's eyes turned to graze over the ship. Over the wreck it was quickly becoming. Disintegrating into nothing, splintering away...
His dreams would go down with her.
"You're right," he growled low from his throat. More slowly than he could have afforded, he relinguished the wheel and stepped back. He would not allow the tears. He forced his mind to focus. He needed to make sure his crew got out... what about Bridie Lee? Where was she? He looked around frantically for her, but before he could even consider going down to search for her, he was thrown off his hooves, right at Cutter. By the time he regained his balance he could see it was too late. If she hadn't made it out in time... she was gone.
Breath caught in his throat, Tiger looked at Cutter.
"Come!" he said, and then he galloped to the railing and jumped off. Like a flash of blue lightning, the former Captain of the Tigerlily soared through the air toward the deep dark ocean.
[[I don't remember if I ever named his ship before - but now it will be called Tigerlily. XD
Oh, and... cont. at the Course shore for all but Rain; Coon'll have to figure out a way to ge them out to safety. XD]]
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Post by roserebellion on Jan 3, 2007 22:38:42 GMT -5
(Awww, *snugs Rain* Coony to the rescue~)
The masculine mare was near frantic now, beginning to throw boxes with violent force in an attempt to unearth the crushed flutter. If one had not known Coon, or had witnessed the event from afar, she may have been mistaken for a mother fervently searching for her lost child.
In no way was Rain like a child to her, but instinctively; morally Coon could not simply abandon the flutter. Her family had gone over time and again that in their profession they strived to avoid putting anyone in harms way. It just took the fun out of the job. Life was precious, and although Coon could be a little crude at times, believed this.
To this day she was still haunted by the killings she made in the last two great battles to undergo Ponyville.
And there was no way Coon would allow the guilt of a third pony weigh her down.
"RAI--OOUGH," She coughed out as the flutter made her appearance, landing upon her with almost as much suddenness as the boat's crash.
She was about to scold her for not answering her sooner before Rain's whimpers emerged. Coon bit her tongue, fighting back the urge to open her big mouth.
"I think we're sinking."
"I don't think, I know." Coon answered, ever observant eyes darting across their desheaveled environment. All ready she could feel the coldness of water creep up lightly past her hooves. Rain's frightened appearance wasn't seen by her, but Coon knew it was there all the same. The flutter's heart was thundering against her back, each pound stating a silently plea for help.
"Save me?"
A bit of a determined, and almost mischievous grin spread on her face. The odds were against them for survival, but that's just how Coon liked it.
"I'd be stupid not to." She said with a matter-of-fact tone. She turned her head to give Rain an collected and playful look. "It won't be easy, but we're gonna be fine." She winked at her. "Don't ever forget that."
Coon mixed speed and delicateness in moving about the damaged cargo, making way to the stairwell up deck. Now, more than ever, Coon was blessing the rainbow that she had not run after Hollow--further down into the ship's belly. No, they had both kept near the area Coon had originally thrown Rain down in.
Reaching the top of the steps, Coon gave one finally warning before pushing the cover up. "Whatever happens: Don't. Let. Go."
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Post by Crescent on Jan 4, 2007 7:09:48 GMT -5
Reaching the top of the steps, Coon gave one finally warning before pushing the cover up. "Whatever happens: Don't. Let. Go."
Rain's hooves remained clutched around Coon's neck tightly, convulsively.
"Never," she whispered, then she reached over her neck and planted a gentle kiss on the thief's cheek. "For luck," she said softly, and then pressed her cheek snugly against the base of Coon's neck. She was ready.
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Post by roserebellion on Jan 4, 2007 21:51:10 GMT -5
(You really need to draw a piccie of Rain :3 I'd love to see her)
Coon Skin nodded, a silent thanks for the token, for she refused to think nothing further into it. The flutter was, after all, half her age.
The gray mare took a deep breath, puffing out her chest as if that very fact would somehow keep her body down from any natural force. Than she charged upward, flinging the wooden door up and almost flying out from the hole. The boards flung back by force of the wind, Coon managing to avoid the most of blow, but unable to stop it from clamping down on her leg.
"D*mn it!," she hissed gruffly, kicking her leg to release it from the stairwell's cover. She rushed to move from the opening, finding herself unable to place weight on the appendage. Coon dared to glance, confirming her fears. The leg was severely cut, and a dark substance was starting to ooze from it.
Where's Princess when you need her? She quickly surveyed the deck, front legs fidgeting in anxiety to her new plight, eyes searching for Kail or any others. But what met her was devastating. Masts were broken, railings seemed non-existent in some places, water was sloshing about on deck. Yet there was no sign of Karlan. There was no sign of anybody.
No, she was wrong. Far off she could see Tiger and Cutter making their way from the helm. It would appear that if the Captain was abandoning ship, that they were surely going under-- faster than Coon had hoped. If the water level inside the boat had all ready reached their room (located just under the deck), than clearly they were out of time. Were they the small few left to leave ship? Was everyone all ready in life boats?
Not that Coon could spy, at least. And if she was going to have to swim... Her injured leg shifted. No, not with this leg.
The thief growled loudly, though unheard by the wind. Think Coon! It's not just your skin on the line!
Her eyes landed upon some of the broken railing fortunate enough to be sloshed upon the ship.
I can't swim...but I sure as hell can float!
"Still with me Princess?" Coon grunted out, limping as fast as she could to the debree. Once she had reached the wooden pile, she lowered down and grabbed tightly onto it. The wood would help keep her afloat, even after the ship went completely down. Sure there would be a little pull from the ship's mass actually going under, but the wood would guide them back to the surface. It was a little safer than actually jumping off into the water, where the force could knock them breathless.
"--Hold tight," She warned the first sign of the ship's deck becoming level with the water. In seconds the deck would be submerged.
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Post by silverfall on Jan 5, 2007 11:50:39 GMT -5
(Ooo! I'm on the edge of my seat here...)
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Post by Crescent on Jan 6, 2007 1:17:39 GMT -5
[[Yes, yes I probably should draw her. ^-^]]
"Still with me Princess?"
To this, Rain simply nodded, failing to realise that the thief could probably not see it, especially since her attention was on saving her. Vaguely Rain realised that Coon was limping. The thought scared her even more. How could Coon save her when she was injured?
The Princess watched quietly as Coon lowered down and grabbed the wood. And stayed there.
"--Hold tight," She warned the first sign of the ship's deck becoming level with the water. In seconds the deck would be submerged.
Rain's eyes widened in shock.
"You.... you're not going to... just sit here, are you?" she asked with a horrified, trembling voice - failing to see Coon's plan. If she'd only known the thief was suicidal, she thought, she would never have hooked up with her.
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Post by Jewel on Jan 6, 2007 23:34:10 GMT -5
As the last staggering crew members abandoned ship, Cutter noticed that his captain had little intention of leaving. Baring his teeth, the much larger stallion used his body strength to push Tiger from the wheel with just enough force to get him going,, and down across the deck. He had no time to explain what he was doing--it was mostly an act of instinct. Tiger was more to him than a captain.. he was his friend, and at times like a brother. The crimson stallion was not going to let him go down.
Finally, they reached the railing, and Cutter muttered an apology, then pushed his captain over the side. He followed suit, large body splashing into the waves. His large size made him buoyant, and made swimming much easier than it would be for a smaller, more slender pony. Once he came up, the pirate searched for Tiger, snorting the sea water from his nostrils as wave after wave struck his face. Finally, he was able to grab the sea-blue mane, first tugging Tiger's head above the water, then grasping a greater hunk of mane, and keeping him up.
And then, with painstaking persistence, he paddled them both through the storm, and toward the shore.
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Post by roserebellion on Jan 6, 2007 23:48:41 GMT -5
"You.... you're not going to... just sit here, are you?"
Coon smiled, a determined, crazy, but lively smile. Suicide was the last thing from the thief's mind.
"Princess," Coon addressed, "In about 30 seconds the ships going down, it'll pull us under water for a moment."
And water gushed up about the railings, swiftly now, beginning to suck the ship beneath with ease.
"So, just hold your breath, and once we get to the surface, we're gonna paddle to shore."
It was all Coon could get out before gasping in a big hold of air, and they were under. The pull was a little more than she had expected. Yet, Coon clung to the board like a lifeline, and given time, they breeched surface. The gray mare gasped, sucking in air again, preparing for another wave. Once it passed, began the daunting task of keeping them on the surface, and hopefully in the direction of shore.
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