The ones who won't fight this war

[Lilly Cheese]

It was a normal day, and the Wandering Wind was soaring high through the clear skies of the dessert, and even if the calm of those skies seemed infinite, it was a very different thing if you looked down to the little flying ship. Inside of it, the pirate crew that lived inside it were supposed to be on their common activities, but there was a special theme going on in their discussions, the upcoming war between Equestria and the Diamond Dog Horde.
- There's nothing we should do with it anyway, we'd make no difference - Lunar Jumper, the sailing master, said as she stared blankly at the compass.
- Jeez, you and your negativism really ruin everything - Shadowstrike replied - I wouldn't really mind going to see how everybody kills each other and all the explosions and that cool stuff.
- Stupid sadist - Ondinea said as she entered the little room that made the times of library and navigation room - I don't like to accept it, but LJ is right, there's no point in us going there, we aren't strong enough.
- Not yet! But I promise you that someday we will be the strongest crew that sails the seas and winds of this world!- said Captain Lilly with her usual childish enthusiasm, that wasn't really high that day due to the intense heat of the dessert, that wasn't her style at all - Why did you came Ondinea? weren't you checking on the supplies with Auburn?
- Yeah, that's the reason, we need to get to a town as soon as possible, our water supplies are starting to run short
- Ugh, I hate the desert - the captain said as she kept on drinking water.
- So what's the order Captain? - Lunar asked, ready to calculate the new route.
- Well the closest population are the camel tribes, so I guess were going to go find them - she said as her efficient sailing master started to look in her enormous Atlas.
-Just hope there wont be any inconvenient in the way - the captain said as she adjusted her hat.

[Stygg Whitefeather]

“Tally-ho!”

From below, a small airship emerged from the smoldering desert sands and maintained position beside the Wandering Wind. The ship was a three person sloop class ship, with a small boiler engine, but which operated mostly from using thermal air over deserts to propel itself and maintain lift. Not terrible fast or exotic, but small enough to move about unnoticed as it cruised close to the broiling ground. This sloop, however, was smoldering and appeared to have had repaired with twine, spit, and whatever happened to have been on board, including most of the ship’s hull.

“Good ponies, my fair vessel here has seemed to run a snag after a rather nasty haboob rolled through here this morning.” Said the crowned-eagle-lion griffon, with a pith-helmet, a tattered tan coat adorned with medals, and a set of small spectacles; standing on deck as he steadied himself with a line as he called to the pirate ship. “Would it trouble you to offer assistance to a vessel in need?”

As he asked his humble request, the boiler sudden erupted in flames and smoke. The griffons sloop shudder, pitched and rattled. “On second thought…”

The griffon lept from the vessel and took to the air as his vessel was consumed in flames, till finally it exploded and begun to drift to the desert below. He swept over to the Wandering Wind, landing upon its deck and with a brush of a talon against his feathers, then stood tall on all four, as a proud griffon should while his eyes watched the crew. “Name is Sir Giles Feathermain, explorer extraordinaire, master of the wild-hunt, and hunter of all the endangered and exotic!” He pressed a talon to his chest as he posed proudly, head darting back and forth, while he sized up the crew. “And… this vessel seems to be a pirate ship. Bollocks. Very well, I call parley, take me to your captain – or whomever you consider a leader around here.”

[Lilly Cheese]

The ones who first realized the griffon were Pochze, Penumbra and Indigo, the only ones out in the deck who could didn’t seemed to mind being exposed to the intense sunlight. All of them suddenly stopped what they were doing and stared at the guy as he landed on their deck and analyzed everything that had just happened, not sure if they should laugh or attack whim or what. Suddenly, a young mare in a white shirt and pirate hat flew out of their previously mentioned “navitaion room” and with out even noticing the newcomer yet, held herself to the border of the ship, while staring down at the rests of the little ship.
“Woooooaaaah that was such a cool explosion!” she said in excitement “did you all saw it? Oi we should totally make us of those flames and roast marshmallows with them…”
Before she kept on her nonsense, Pochze coughed really a loud and fake cough, to get his captain’s attention, which thanks to Luna he got. Then he pointed to the griffon.
“Oh hi there!” but then she realized she had no idea who she was greeting… “Oi wait a second! Who the fudge are you? Why is this dude on board guys? And do any of you know if he have any marshmallows left?”
Pochze, being the only talking creature who had witnessed the griffon’s arrival, decided to talk.
“This guy was on the exploding ship. He said his name was Gil and something about hunting and exploring and parley so, your turn. And you finished the marshmallow supplies a while ago.”
“Oh ok.” The mare turned to the griffon and walked some steps to be closer to him “Well, Gi-something, my name is Lilly and I’m the captain of this flying bunch of wood, and if you asked for parley I guess you already realized we’re pirates and not precisely the nicest guys around, right?” a little parrot came flying and landed on her hat, as she started walking around the griffon, trying to see if he had any kind of weapon and what conditions he had been through, notable on his clothing “Well I don’t particularly see any reason to start a fight with somebody who isn’t looking for one and can’t fight back. So tell me Gol, what do you plan to do now? Don’t you know any close camel tribe were you can find help alone like a big boy and leave us to be?”

[Stygg Whitefeather]

Feathermain removed his pith-helmet, and politely bowed to the young Captain Lilly. “A pleasure, Captain. And please, call me Feathermain, it feels more proper.” He suggested as he donned his helmet once more. “Nicest? Well since you haven’t tried to stab me yet, you’re the nicest bunch of cut-throats currently in the vicinity – though this could all be a clever ruse and before nightfall you’ll have me keelhauled.” He curiously watched as Lilly inspected him up and down. “Admiring my hat? If not, you should be. Anywho, since you’ve been cordial with me thus far and in good-faith, you should know that I have one of those new griffon fire-mah-jigs, pistols their called.” He motioned with a nudge of his left wing and revealed a small holster and the handle of a weapon visible under the wing.

After the mention of the Camel tribes, Feathermain raised a brow. “Fancy you should mention them.” He said, “I was just leaving a group of them before a series of unfortunate circumstances befell me and led me to you fine ponies.” His beak grimaced, “Uh… afraid that might not be the best course of action to return. You see, I was in the process of liberating a priceless relic from their elder’s possession. They consider it an image of one of their ancient deities – personally, I couldn’t care less about all that nonsense. Planned to sell it for a fortune… planned being the optimal word for it.” He said as he took a peek over the side of the ship to the wreckage of his sloop now burning a fair distance on the desert floor. “Suppose they can have it back if it hasn’t melted to a blackened blob. Hmm, which reminds me, curious if my zebra-colt assistant made it out alright.” He shrugged, then turned back to the Captain, “He’s a tough chap, positive he’ll be fine.”

He slipped his talon down his chest feather as he smoothed them out. “So you see, it would not be in either of our best interest to just drop me off with them. If you’re able, I have an associate in The Hollow who would gladly pay you for my return. On my honor as a gentlebird, you shall be compensated for this heroic action in saving me from the fiery maw of death that has surely consumed my dearest and closest whipping-colt.” He stated proudly.

[Lilly Cheese]

The rest of the crew had been slowly gathering on the deck to witness what was causing so much commotion. The captain listened carefully (almost) to what he was saying about the tribes, and about the money. The eyes of most of them shined and grins appeared when he started talking about the money.
"Hm, and how can be sure of everything you just told us, sir?" Ondinea said as she stepped out of the soft shadow of the sails "We can't give ourselves the luxury of doing things for free"
"Yeah that!" Lilly said as she turned to see the rests of the ship "and I don't think somebody would come out in less that two pieces out of that thing... hopes he made it though!" she turned to him again "but my friend is right, there's nothing that sure's us you won't be using us for free. It's not like our specialization is having nice and calm trips like taxis either, but we could actually work this... do you know of any closer cammel tribes? we need to find water or everybody here, including you, is dying of thirst" she said as the parrot on her head went flying to the rests of the little ship to see if the zebra got out of it.

[Stygg Whitefeather]

Feathermain scratched the feathers just under his beak as he contemplated the crew’s wary inquiry as to the validity of his claim. Most ponies fell straight for his charm and air of bravado, these ones however seemed more driven by price than most others that foalishly steeped hoof into his shop. “Quite right, you are. Have no one ever say you aren’t a shrewd bunch; that said, I should have you know that I am the sitting Grand Master of the King’s Hunting Lodge of Exotic Beasts!” He boasted proudly as he posed in a manner befitting a bird of action and pride. “I am duty bound to see all who aid me or my brethren are paid dully in full for their services… Also, I’m worth a decent ransom if you wished to go that unsavory route, though know that which I can pay you once we arrive in The Hollow outweighs any measly ransom. Also, as a bonus, you and your crew can have a ten-percent discount from my shop in Royal Rocks, Expedition Enterprises.” He brushed a talon’s knuckle over his stained and tattered medals. “Quite a good deal, if I say so.”

Feathermain eye’s caught the parrot fly off. “Uh, you may want to call your bird back. I cannot attest to the safety of that smoldering wreckage. Had a few barrels of black-powder laying around the hold beside oily rags and the boiler. Unsafe working conditions-ho!”

He moved on from that warning as he walked through the crowd, snatching a spyglass from his coat and extended it with a quick flick of his talon. “Closer by, can’t say I do – well aside from that band I saw a few nights back which I dutifully took at potshots at – showed those savages the superiority of Griffon culture, I did!” He bragged as he peered through the spyglass to the horizon, “Besides, they’re nomadic for a reason. Rarely stay in one place for long… however, if the terrain is any indication, there should be an oasis near to us-“ He swept the spyglass over the horizon. “Oasis-ho!” He exclaimed, pointing five degrees from the port-bow. There in the distance was something sparkling against the oppressive sunlight amongst the dunes. “There’s your water, my wind-whipped fellow. Or, it could be a mirage and we’ll find nothing, or even better, a salt-lake. Equines like salt, correct? Whichever we find, let us make haste.”

[Lilly Cheese]

Lilly kept wanting something more from that proud griffon that wasn't exactly in her favorite people yet, but something about all the adventures he had said he'd had... even if they could be lies, it was well known that nothing called her attention and curiosity more than a good story. Analyzing his words, she decided to make another move in the deal.
"You may seem to be saying the truth, Fothermen, but as I have said, nothing can sure us what you are saying is true. What kind of proof do you have? and don't worry about that parrot, he can handle anything, he's already dead. Auburn, Lunar! change our course to the shiny thing in the horizon!" she ordered, talking about everything at the same time as it was usual from her.
"Roger!" both mates ran to the inner part of the ship were the magnets were, and changed the direction to the one they were told.

[Ciniki]

    Ciniki had been by herself for awhile now. Her last partner ran away while she was making a deal among some of the zebra tribes. That was when she had decided she was tired of only trading within the Zebra territories and could ask a much higher price for her wares in the Griffon desert. Hauling her cart through the Griffon territory proved to be just as lonely as the Zebras deserts though. Plus the only business she got was from the wandering tribes of camels and they never really wanted what she had. Herbs and teas, some rare meats from the Zebra Savannah and so on. So she continued on in the heat with only her cart and her bow still lovingly lain across her back and her arrows beautifully decorated with colorful feathers beside it. 

    While walking through the desert one day on her way to the next nomadic camel tribe, if she stumbled across them, she saw a ship floating through the sky off in the distance. She had heard stories of pirates in the area but never really paid them much mind. They weren't that big of a threat to her. She was just a lonely Zebra wandering around the desert. She continued walking not really paying much attention to the ship and lost in her thoughts before she heard the explosion. Another ship had exploded and crashed to the ground in a fiery ball. Now that was more exciting. Looking back at her cart and the few things in it she cut it loose and ran towards the ship. If there were any survivors she had to help them escape. Those pirates, if they were pirates, wouldn't be much a help until the flames died. Then the only thoughts on their mind would be a loot, she assumed. She has never really met a group of pirates before. 
    

[Stygg Whitefeather]

“Dead parrot? Sounds like there is a joke skit somewhere in that.” Feathermain said matter-of-factly, “And please, it’s Feathermain!” He reiterated once more at Lilly’s lack of correct pronunciation of his most simple name. Even for a griffon, it was rather banal for a name, perhaps even a tad cliché. “And you want proof… well… Look at the badges!” He said, swiping his a talon under the medals adorning his chest. “And the hat! Have I mentioned the hat? This is a hat of a trust-worthy griffon! Can you deny that? I think not!” His words were smug and stung with pride, “Also, what have you to loose but time? Time well spent in the company of the most daring and adventitious griffon to ever take wing under the sun! That, my new found Buckaneering airdogs, is worth more than all the bits in a lifetime! I’ll regale you of stories the likes of which will send shivers down your spine – like how I fought off the cannibal pigmy goats of Zebzibar with nothing but a spoon and one of their own wielded like a club; or my hunt of the great Serpent god, Nehushtan! Well, wasn’t really a god, but the locals worshiped him so – really just a very large and nasty snake. Or, how I saved a Ghost Tribe village from an infamous zebra-eater lion by wrestling the great beast into submission with nothing but my talons and indomitable personality! These are just some of my many accounts you can be regaled with in exchange for taking me to The Hollow.” He took a breath, “And of course, the bits you’re due when we get there.”

Feathermain took another glance through his spy-glass, surveying the desert below when something else caught his attention. As he gazed back towards the wreckage of his ship, he spotted something black and white and most certainly horse in nature. “Curious…” He muttered, “Say, any of you scoundrels know what creature could possibly be white with black stripes… or, alternatively, black with white stripes in the middle of an inhospitable desert?” Then he gasped and paused awkwardly for longer than a standard moment, “It’s probably rare!” He quickly drew the pistol from under his wing, “Turn this boat around, I have to shoot it with my fire stick!”

[Lilly Cheese]

Lilly giggled "No, no, he's dead, he's actually a ghost. He died some time ago" She looked curious at the badges, but the crew completely lost her when the griffon started telling the themes of his numerous adventures. When Lilly was about to tackle him and beg him to tell her more and Shadowstrike was about to say he was sure everything were lies, the mention of the new character diverted their attention.
Ondinea stared back to the creature, unamused.
"It looks like a zebra just like me, just less saturated"
Then some chirping could be heard from the destroyed ship.
"Blau says it's a zebra" Lilly flew some meters away from the ship and yelled "CHECK WHAT THE ZEBRA IS UP TO, BLAU!!" then she got a bit closer to the ship again "And you won't be shooting anyone with out my permission, Feathor sir. I want that fun for myself" she said with a grin, obviously not with the intention of shooting anybody useful yet.

The parrot flew closer to the zebra under the order of his friend. He stared at the cart, examining the smells that came from it and the clothes and expression the zebra had.

[Stygg Whitefeather]

"Blast." Spit Feathermain, clearly distraught and agitated he was being denied one of the few pleasures in his life, that being to kill rare and endangered creatures. He slammed his pistol into its holster and slapped his wing over it, practically pouting. "Though, let it be said - I like your style, Captain. A mare after my very own heart." He nodded, seemingly bristling with pride, as he placed a talon over his chest. He couldn't remember the last time he met an equine he considered like himself - full of adventure, wonderment, and the urge to kill anything for a trophy and glory.

Feathermain went back to the railing and peered over, shading his eyes from the sun with his talon over his brow. "A zebra, in these parts. Might unusual, don't you agree? Ah, wonder if it's my faithful assistant!" He peered hard, his eagle eyes trying to focus against the mirage of heat wafting up from the desert sands. "Why that doesn't look like any zebra I've seen!" He retorted, in direct protest to what Ondinea had said and despite the zebra not more than a pace from him, refused to believe what his eyes saw. "I know zebras and that is not a zebra, zebras are brown and cranky, smell a little like misery too!" He described, going into great detail about donkeys. "And droopy faces!" He leaned over to Lilly, "I do believe you may have a spy in your mist." he whispered as he shifted his eyes to and from Ondinea.

[Ciniki]

    Running closer to the fiery inferno Ciniki felt not only the heat of the desert and the heat of the flames burning from the wooden remains of the vessel. If anypony was in there they we're most defiantly dead. Turning her attention now to the pirate ship and the ponies on deck she wanted to see more. She saw the creature which appeared half bird half something else. This must be a griffon, Ciniki had never seen one before. Whatever was in it's talons didn't look friendly. Arming herself with her bow now she slowed down to a quick walk. Grabbing an arrow from her quiver she knocked it and held her bow at the ready. 

    The little bird flying overhead distracted her for a moment from the creatures on the ship watching it fly overhead it seemed to inspect her much like she was inspecting them. If these creatures wanted to meet her they'd have to come down here, she wasn't going to be able to get up there. The ship seemed in fine condition obviously airworthy. What on earth was it doing out here?
    

[Lilly Cheese]

The parrot then landed on the zebra's bow, and, in a voice that wasn't the voice expected from such a small and cute thing at all, asked:
"What are you up to, punk"

Back in the ship, Ondinea just did an almost invisible eye roll and walked up to the helm, where Lunar was, rolling the ship around to the shine in the horizon. Lilly patted Feathermain's head, not worried about his comment at all.
"Don't worry, she's pretty trustworthy" then she turned to Lunar "but if were accepting the taxi job we should do it right. LJ, get closer to the explo-vessel first, lets check if that zebra is the one were looking for!"
Lunar growled a bit at her captain always wanting her to change the course just after she had set it, made her horn glow and the helm turn as she mechanically checked her compass once again.
Shadowstrike, just as always, came with his bad vibe at what seemed Lilly's final decision.
"So we have a weirdo delivery service now? great, we sink lower everyday" he took a cigarette and a lighter out of one of the bags in his belt, and as he lighted it and left it on the border of his mouth, decided to get some things clear to Feathermain.
"The parrot isn't literally dead, it's just Lilly using metaphors and jokes and being her weird self"

[Stygg Whitefeather]

The crashed ship made a low groan followed by an explosion from inside the hull. It threw out a belch of smoke, fire and debris that scattered over the desert around it followed by the mast snapping in two and tumbling to the ground. Ciniki’s observation was astute, anything inside would most certainly been destroyed and anyone would be long dead – the ship was a complete loss.

Feathermain never flinched once from the din of the explosion only a short distance away, either too stoic to be affected or outright crazy, as smoldering pieces of the vessel started to land on the deck of Lilly’s ship. “I’ll take your word for it, Captain.” He replied, “And yes, bring this boat about, I am as curious as you. Though, juggling a thought for a moment, if this is my assistant and it could very well be, zebra’s tend to look alike to me… that means I’ll have to pay him. I was hoping to avoid that nastiness; indentured servitude-ho!” With that outburst, he turned back to watch as the ship began its approach towards the fiery remains of his own vessel.

While fixed on the black and white object, he listened to Shadowstrike’s clarification on Lilly’s pet bird. Feathermain knew, least he told himself that he knew it wasn’t actually dead. “I figured as much, having seen undead birds before. Why, once, back in the island jungle of Old-West-New Cavia Porcellus, I captured the reanimated skeleton of a most vicious bird, the cassowary. Terrible beast when alive, even more violent dead. An evil shaman had been raising them for an army to take control of the island from the simple, though kind natives. The daft fool failed to realize one fatal flaw with all reanimated skeletons.” He stopped there and paused for an awkwardly long moment as he stared off into the sky. “Annnd that being the creatures are only ya-high and you can just pluck their heads off – seriously, they’re just bones. Dunno what all the fuss about undead whatevers. Nothing scary about bones – except those of the Necro-dragon.”

When the ship was closer to Ciniki, Feather leaned over the side and called. “Hi-ho black and white equine creature. Are you by any chance indentured to a griffon, namely me?” Pointing to himself, “If not, would you like too? I offer adventure in lieu of payment, if that doesn’t tickle your fancy, I can also offer shiny baubles and beads!” He glanced back to the crew and smirked devilishly, “Natives eat those things up – often literally!”

[Ciniki]

When the bird landed on her bow and spoke Ciniki looked at in shock. A talking bird and a ship reduced to a fireiy inferno all in one day. It was only going to get more exciting. When the hull exploded Ciniki ducked the the floor and covered her head with her hooves to avoid flying ship parts. The last thing she needed was a nasty hunk of wood lodged in her head. Once the last bits of shrapnel fell Ciniki lifted her head to check on the little bird. 

Knowing the bird was okay she returned her attention to the ship only now it approached her. Just as she expected things were getting even more exciting. Drawing back the bowstring she kept the bow pointed down but ready to lift and fire. The bird creature spoke and referred to itself as a griffon so her suspicion was correct. When the mentioning of payment left his beak her interest was peaked. "I don't desire these " bobbles and beads" you speak of but what sort of payment do you have in mind?" She released the tension in her bow. "I'm a hunter and a trader you see so I know of riches beyond that of " shiney objects"" she added. She refused to be thought of as unintelligent or primitive.