Chapter 11 Freya comes aboard.

Silverstream awoke the next morning with a yawn. After she got out of bed, she found herself looking at everypony else in the room. First she looked over Giselle as she loudly snored away, second towards Autumn blaze hugging her pillow as she slept, and finally to Smolder with her back facing away from her. She blushed as the realization dawned on her that she'd had sex with everypony in the room. Clearly the true love amulet was working. It had delivered to her three potential lovers but who was the one for her? Silverstream turned to leave for some breakfast but stepped on a scroll. She picked it up and unfurled it. It was a letter from Misty feather. Almost immediately something seemed wrong. Misty always had somewhat sloppy handwriting but she'd never seen it this sloppy before. She started reading the letter and quickly found herself shivering.

There is little time for formalities Silverstream. I've just been informed that Freya has located Daring do and will attack the airship you're on in short order. You're in danger Silverstream. Freya will stop at nothing to obtain the prize Daring do recovered. Get off the ship as soon as possible.

Silverstream wasted no time and shook Smolder awake who groaned. “Silver... five more minutes please. It's too early.”

“No Smolder, we gotta get off the ship.”

Smolder groggily turned to face Silverstream only to have her shove Misty's letter into her face. Smolder's eyes started going wide the more she looked over the letter. “Oh shit. You wake Giselle I'll get Autumn.”

Silverstream nodded and swiftly flew over to Giselle. She groaned and gradually opened her eyes after Silverstream had awoken her from her slumber. “Mornin... Is there something fun going on?” Giselle paused. “What's the deal? You look like you've seen a ghost.”

“Giselle, we gotta get off the ship. Fast!”

Giselle tilted her head. “Why? We're practically at Mt Aris.”

“You see Giselle...” Everypony in the room gasped at the sound of a loud crang that echoed throughout the ship's hull. A loud mechanical whirring ensued followed by another loud crang.

“What the buck was that?” Giselle got out of bed followed by Autumn.

“I'm guessing that's this Freya character right Silver?” Smolder crossed her arms.

“Probably.” Silverstream nodded. 

“Freya?” Autumn cocked an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”

“My penpal warned me about an evil pony called Freya hunting for Daring do and that loud noise was likely caused by her.”

Giselle broke out laughing. “Are you kidding, Daring do's not real.”

“Actually she is Giselle.” Autumn piped up. “She said so in her most recent book with Doctor Cabellaron.”

“For real?” Autumn nodded and Giselle chuckled. “Well, that's new I only read the griffon's gobbet.” 

“Either way Gissy we all better jump ship before she kills us.”

Giselle grinned. “Better idea, I'm gonna go help her out. I've always wanted to be in an adventure book.”

“Are you nuts Giselle. Silverstream's penpal said Freya is ruthless. She'll have you for breakfast. We gotta get the hell off this ship.”

Silverstream shook her head. “No Smolder. I'm with Giselle on this one.”

“But Silver.” Smolder frowned. “You might die.”

“Isn't that always a risk with an adventure? We could have died when Cozy glow took over the school. Daring do is my penpal's friend and I want to aid her however I can.”

Smolder sighed. “I don't like it Silver but if you're game than so am I.”

“Count me in too. It could be fun.” Autumn grinned.

“Well what are we waiting for? Let's go find Daring do!” Giselle soared up into the air.

The girls quietly opened the door to their room and slipped out into the hallway. A few minutes later a voice they didn't recognize came on over the intercom.

“Attention everypony... we're experiencing some problems with the ship. For your own safety stay in your rooms until further notice.”

The four of them took no heed of this warning however and continued wandering through the ship. “Umm where exactly are we going? Giselle looked over to Smolder.

“I really don't have any idea... just kinda hoping.” Smolder started before being interrupted.

“Hey.” Silverstream's spine shivered at the sound of a masculine voice. She turned around to see the voice coming from what looked like a parrot pirate. “Didn't you hear the announcement? The ship is on lock down. Get back to your rooms, or I'll make you go back.” The bird smacked his fists together.

“Ummm.” Giselle shuffled her claws.

“Maybe you should just leave them alone.” Daring do's voice called out as she turned a corner from the hall behind them.

The parrot growled. “Curses. I'll teach you to interfere in our affairs.” He stopped instantly and cried out in pain. The bird fell to the ground with a thud as Doctor Cabellaron brushed his shirt off.

“These henchmen types are always so thick. You'd think Freya would hire competent goons but nope.”

“You girls ok?” Daring do grinned.

Giselle just stood there with immense eyes. “But how can you be real? You're a story character.”

Daring do chuckled. “I get that a lot.”

Autumn blaze ran up and grinned. “Ohmygosh I'm so excited to meet you. I'm Autumn blaze and these are my friends.” She motioned over to everypony else. "Smolder, 

"Sup." Smolder crossed her arms.

"Silverstream." Autumn continued prompting Silverstream to wave. "And Giselle." Who just sat there with puppy dog eyes and a shit eating grin on her face.

“Well I'm glad you girls seem ok.” Dr Cabellaron interjected. “You should probably get back to your rooms. The ship has been hijacked by a crazy yak named Freya.”

“Wait! We wanna help you.” Silverstream walked up to Daring do.

Daring do cocked her eyebrow. “Are you sure? Freya's a pretty vicious character.”

“How can we trust them Daring?” Cabellaron raised his hoof. “For all we know they could be working for Freya.”

Daring do grinned. “I think we can trust them doctor." She turned to face Smolder. "Rainbow dash speaks highly of you.”

“You know professor Dash?” Smolder cocked an eyebrow.

Daring do nodded. “Yeah. She writes me letters sometimes.” She paused. “Just remember if you girls wanna help. We won't be able to defend you all the time, and Freya's men will try and kill you. Do you understand?” Everypony nodded. “Good. We should get to the cargo hold before Freya's men get there. Just follow us.” Daring do and Cabellaron bolted out ahead of them and the girls followed.

“So.” Giselle started. “I'm kinda out of the loop on this one. What exactly is going on and who the buck is Freya.”

“Well. Freya is a crazy yak that's been giving Cabellaron and me trouble for months now. We recently uncovered a rather powerful weapon buried under ram's head rock. Freya went crazy trying to swipe it from us when we found it. So we stowed away on this airship to hide from her. Unfortunately, it seems that somehow Freya was able to figure out we were on the ship.”

“So what's the plan?” Smolder interjected. 

“Easy, we snatch up the box containing the weapon and slip off the ship while Freya isn't looking.” Cabellaron answered. The six of them made their way through the ship. However, Daring do stopped the whole group and shepherded them behind a corner.

“What's going.” Silverstream started before being shushed by Daring do. Eventually two parrots walked by where they were hiding. A few minutes later they came out from behind the corner.

“Who are those guys?” Autumn blaze raised a hoof. 

“Freya's men, she's hired a group of parrot pirate mercenaries to do her dirty work.” Daring do answered.

“Freya definitely knows somepony with pretty deep ties to ponies involved in the black market. Parrot pirates don't just work for anypony.” Cabellaron added.

“Really? Why didn't you say so sooner?” Daring do frowned.

“I never got a chance to say sooner. Sorry?” Cabellaron sheepishly grinned.

Daring do sighed. “It's ok. We better keep moving.” Without much more fanfare they went on. After several more minutes of running, they came upon a door. Daring do quietly nudged the door open and looked around the darkened room on the other side. “The coast seems clear but keep it quiet.” She motioned for everypony to follow her and they entered the room. By far the that was the largest on the entire ship. There were boxes everywhere including a horse drawn taxi carriage.

“Where is it? It's gotta be in here somewhere.” An enormous bang accompanied the sound of this fairly eloquent sounding female voice.

“Buck.” Silverstream heard Daring do mutter.

“Freya?” She whispered to Daring do who nodded in response. Everypony hid behind the carriage as they watched several parrot pirates crack open each box one by one. Silverstream eventually spotted what looked like a female yak with light brown fur and two glistening earnings with two upside down blue triangular gems framed in gold. She headbutted one of the boxes only to have food fall out. After a quick snort the yak walked towards another box with a slight thud in her steps. Silverstream looked around the cargo hold and eventually spotted the box that she remembered Daring do bring on board sitting on top of a larger crate. Her eyes went wide as she saw one of the parrots get closer to the box. Silverstream swiftly slid behind the boxes as quietly as possible. When she made her way over to the box, she quickly reached up and grabbed it. With the box in hand she made her way back to the carriage but accidentally knocked over a towering stack of cardboard boxes halfway there. The sound of the stack falling over quickly got everypony's attention. Silverstream froze as the yak's horns shimmered with pure white light and a ball of white magic formed between them.

“Well, well, what do we have here? If you'd be begging your pardon young hippogryph, my name is Freya and that box belongs to me. If you'd be so kind as to hand it over that would be most generous of you.”

“And if I don't?” Silverstream sweated.

“Then I'll simply turn you into a Popsicle and pry it from frozen talons.” Silverstream shivered and felt all her joints lock up at once. She closed her eyes and prepared for the worst only to hear the sound of a flame being expelled. Silverstream opened her eyes to see Smolder standing out in the open with a line of fire on the ground in front of her.

“Hey bitch! If you're gonna pick on somepony. Pick on me!” Smolder snorted.

Freya just grinned. “If you insist!” she turned her head and fired off a white beam of energy from the ball hovering between her horns. Thankfully Smolder jumped out of the way only to have the beam hit the carriage behind her and freeze the front solid.

“Silver run!” Smolder shouted as she got into a fight with some of Freya's goons. Silverstream wasted no time and flew as high as she could. She spotted an air vent and made her way towards it. 

As she was opening it, she heard Freya shouting. “Idiots! She's getting away!”

It didn't take long for Silverstream to enter the air vent. She almost screamed as the entrance to vent got sealed off by a huge coating of ice. Silverstream started making her way through the vents. The air vents were noisy and cramped but Silverstream knew she had to get off the ship and fast. She made her way through the air vents trying to go as far up as she could. Eventually, she found her way to a vent with a light shining through it. She looked out it and saw the brown of the deck directly outside. With a kick, she opened it and jumped out onto the fairly deserted deck of the ship.

“About time you got out.” Silverstream whipped around to the sight of Freya already on the deck holding Smolder in a white aura with her glowing horns.

“Now then... let's try this again. Hand over the box or else your dragon friend here gets it.”

Smolder screamed out in pain. “Don't listen to her Silver. Just run for it,” Smolder screamed again. “I'll be fine.”

“Your choice hippogryph, the box or your friend.”