Flicker

So I decided to try out a new style of art today, and I'm not sure what I think of it. It's kind of rough and sketchy, which I like better than my clean-cut style I used to use, but it's also a bit messy. The "Pinkie" in the picture is the Pinkie's Boutique line which always struck me as hilarious, so that's why her mane is colored differently. Also, I can't decide on a villain name for her. She's the antagonist in my Iron Dash tumblr, and I can't think up a name to save my life! But enough of that, here's the picture.

Wind Whistle felt a new respect for Ocean. He had listened to Night Blade's advice and sat this one one out. Instead, he watched from a distance, his mop resting on his shoulder. His eyes widened when he saw Ocean's skills up close. He wished he could have done that. He watched in awe as the Jersey Devil was subdued with mere words. He remembered his promise to Night Blade and decided to try his luck. He walked bashfully up to Ocean, his heart racing for some reason. "Hey," he said. "So, I was wondering... Don't suppose I could take you up on those knife lessons?"

@, Wind Whistle was brought back from his fuming and ranting when he heard Night Blade telling him that he needed to talk. "I'll get back to you later," he promised Black Heart. He set the mop aside and walked to Night Blade. "What is it?" he asked rather testily.

@, Wind Whistle did not notice the Captain's reluctance to deal with the creature. He was having a bad day. He had been thrown against a wall and left for dead not yet an hour ago, and now some sort of dragon freak was trying to bully him. He wasn't going to stand for this. "Oh really? How do we know that you're not one of them?"

"Who invited you on, anyway?" Wind Whistle demanded as he began using his makeshift weapon for its intended purpose. "I don't remember seeing you in the bar. What even are you?" He normally wasn't this snarly, but everything about this... creature put him off, not the least of which being the way he treated his friend.

Wind Whistle trotted on board just in time to see a villainous-looking creature spit vomit onto the deck from the crow's nest. The stuff absolutely stank and he crinkled his nose. "Oh, gross!" he complained. "It's people like you that make my job a lot harder." He didn't like the looks of this newcomer one bit. Or the smells. Or the sound of his voice. Okay, he'd admit it. He hated him on first sight. But he was quickly swept up in the action, grabbing a mop and wielding it like a sword.

@, Wind Whistle smiled. He could never be sad for long. "Well thanks," he said. "I can't wait to work with you. And thank you, by the way, for bandaging my head. I guess the others forgot about me or something." He laughed a little. His head still hurt, but he wasn't about to let on. "I wonder when the ship sets sail." His eyes began to droop. The excitement was wearing off and the time of night was beginning to catch up with him. He forced himself not to yawn. He was a tough pirate, not some sleepy foal.

@, Wind Whistle hissed in pain as the alcohol sterilized the wound. It felt kind of like when he had tried ale, but on his head instead of in his gut. Ocean wrapped a bandage around his head and talked to him while she helped. His ears perked up when she offered to teach him to fight. "Really? You'd do that?" he exclaimed. "I'd really appreciate that."

@, "I tried to help," Wind Whistle said. "Only I was clumsy. I tripped over somepony and then one of the bounty hunters picked me up like I was nothing and threw me against the wall. I was knocked out in an instant." He sighed. "I guess I'm not much good in a fight if I can't stay awake long enough to land a punch. So, we're leaving early?"

@, Wind Whistle woke up alone. The wind whistled through the trees, making him shiver both with chill and from the eeriness. Gradually, he became aware of his situation. He was crumpled against the wall, his head ached and throbbed, and he could barely feel his hooves. His wings were a crumbled mess. Preening was going to be a pain. When he touched his head, his curly mane was matted with something thick and rather sticky. He pulled it away in disgust. Slowly, he forced himself to his feet and groaned. Everything hurt and some bruises were beginning to show. Oh well, not much he could do about it. He decided to walk back to the pub for lack of anything better, until he remembered that he had no money to pay to spend the night. Maybe they wouldn't mind if he slept outside. Running away was a lot less fun than it had sounded. Still, he felt no particular feeling of homesickness. On the way he saw one of the crew members. She was a rather attractive mare, but Whistle was in no mood to flirt any more. He wanted to know what had happened while he had blacked out. "Hi," he walked up to her. "You probably don't remember me, but I'm going on the Dark Fortune." He winced as the wind blew his mane, disturbing the small scab on his scalp. "What happened back there?"

OOC: Heh, looks like I'm joining the Pointless Posts club. Wind Whistle was vaguely aware that he was crumpled on the ground next to a wall. Everything was fuzzy, and he could feel something warm on his forehead. He could hear voices, but was unable to pinpoint who they belonged to. He cracked an eye open, but upon seeing Cascade's wings he shut it again, sure that he was hallucinating.

I'm walking on Sunshine! And don't it feel good?

Seeing that he had made Amber Vox smile brought a warm happiness to Wind Whistle's heart. Not the sort of happiness that made him bounce around and flap his wings, but a more calm variety. Shortly after the mare left. "Oh. Okay... bye then." He waved as she left. He looked back around the room for somebody else to talk to. But it seemed that everybody else had either left, including the Captain himself, or was engrossed in a conversation of their own. He felt very small all of a sudden. His youth hit him in the face. He was only 15 years old. None of these mares would be actually interested in him. Oh well. Maybe he'd meet somepony on the seas. Sea ponies were nice. Then a gunshot ripped through the air, startling him. Wind Whistle nearly jumped out of his seat. He decided to chug the rest of his ale and ran out the door. Night Blade, the stallion who had befriended him with no qualms about his age, had been shot and was surrounded by villainous-looking ponies. The Captain was in danger as well. Here's my chance to try myself out. he told himself. He gulped, then charged. "Yeah! Leave him alone!" See, he tried to knock over one of the strangers. He really did. But instead he ran into a mare behind the captain. Before he could get a closer look one of the mobsters threw him against the wall effortlessly and his head cracked against the wall. Stars filled his vision and he slipped into unconsciousness.

Wind Whistle was baffled by the previously buoyant mare's cold, unfriendly behavior, but he decided to overlook it and be friendly to her. The others had ignored her after all, it was hardly fair to do the same. "Don't let them get to you," he said. "They'll come around sooner or later." He took a deep sip of the beer, then pulled a face. He hadn't expected it to taste like fermented... somethings. It burned his innards and he broke into a coughing fit. "Whoo!" he exclaimed loudly, drawing a few looks. A few snickers as well, his voice had cracked yet again. "That stuff's strong. How do you ponies drink this stuff?"

*Shamelessly promotes self* I'm the mod for http://ask-irondash.tumblr.com/. I've got some action-packed story arcs planned (hopefully in a comic book style. We'll have to see.). Right now, it's full of traditional art, but I am going digital! Also I'm about to start asking questions, so hit me up if you want.

@Driz Wind Whistle's grin threatened to split his face open. She was looking forward to seeing him! The thought was almost foreign. Cascade wandered off to another conversation. He decided to do the same. The mare he had tried to talk to earlier had moved over to the bar to get a drink. Well, shamelessly flirting was thirsty work. Perhaps he should try something as well. Wind Whistle slid into the seat next to her. "I'd like a... uh..." He glanced at the chalkboard. He wasn't sure what type of drink each of the names belonged to. "Ale," he said. The barkeep didn't seem to mind that he was obviously underage. He turned to the mare. "Your name is Amber Vox, right? I'm Wind Whistle. Guess we'll be on the same ship." He extended his hoof.

Wind Whistle snorted. "Well I would hope not. I didn't sign on for a picnic. Adventure is never easy." He caught her sarcasm, but elected to ignore it. "Yeah, Cabin Colt is the highest position they can grant if you're as young as me. Otherwise I'm sure I'd be first mate or something. But I'll be swabbing the decks like no other!"

Wind Whistle cheered on the inside. This was going much better than expected. She thought he was smooth! The thought made him want to giggle like a schoolfilly. "My name is Wind Whistle," he said. "I'm going to be the Cabin Colt. What's your position? Maybe we can see each other during the voyage."

@Dez "I'll get them fastest, just you wait." Wind Whistle promised. "In fact, I don't even need them! I'll fly everywhere. Who needs hooves? Not this guy." He strutted over to Cascade, managing to trip over his own hooves in the process. He picked himself up and decided to try something. "Are your legs tired, because you've been running through my mind all day."

@Driz Wind Whistle found himself staring unabashedly at Cascade. She was an absolutely beautiful mare to be sure. A thrill coursed through his body from his muzzle to his hooves as he saw his name written on the roster. He was a pirate now! The open seas awaited. A colorful crew was gathering quickly, some characters more shady than others. He raised a rather feble protest when Gloomfury expressed his doubts about his seaworthyness, but was unnoticed. He took an instant liking to Amber Vox. She seemed to have signed on for the same reason he had. Too bad she looked older than him. "I'm really excited too," he said, his wings fluttering a little, trying to lift him off the floor. "How old are you?" he blurted. His cheeks flushed red.

Might not even survive. The words rang through Wind Whistle's head. His smile would have grown if that were physically possible. He cleared his throat in hopes of preventing further voice cracks. "Danger is what I've been looking for, but this fair city is rather lacking." His voice slipped back into its regular pitch. "Please? I'll do anything."