I heard an explosion outside the walls. I began to look frantically for where the sound originated but I couldn’t see well through the walls of the crib. I tried getting up but my legs felt weak and new. I cried for help, hoping for someone to tell me what’s going on or to rescue me. I cried even louder as I heard the walls shatter from something crashing through the walls. A sense of dread and anxiety filled my head with these loud noises surrounding me with only my cries to drown them out. As if my cries were answered, someone scooped me onto their arms and ran through the doors, out into the hallway, or what’s left of it.
“Hush now Spike.” the woman said to me. “Everything will be alright. Look straight, don’t look back and be brave.”
I lessened the crying as she said those words. Her voice was soothing and stern as if asking me and telling me to do what she says. I looked forward to see ruined hallways. Large, gaping holes in the concrete and glass. She paid no attention as she stepped over the rubble. She did however watched through the glass, watching explosions happen and pieces of structure fell from the top to the ground. I was afraid of what was going on. Was another country attacking us?, were pirates invading the shores? or was Poseidon displeased with my homeland? These question were swimming around my head to keep myself from crying from the loud noises.
“Princess, come with me.” someone yelled at the end of an intersecting hallway. He was wearing a gold coat over a blue vest and a white undershirt, white pants, black boots, sky blue hat and a rifle with a blade at the tip of the barrel in his hand. The princess, with me in her arms, hurried to follow the man. Whoever this man is must be someone she trusts, could be a royal guard or captain. We ran through twin doors entering a courtyard and from where I could see, we were heading towards a large ship.
“Well be it my luck. Captain Scorpan and Princess Celestia.” someone said behind us.
We turned to see a woman who looks like princess Celestia but with skin the color of the midnight sky and hair the color of a moonlit sea, waving with the blasts of explosions. Her clothes were pristine and well-kept, even though she’s been through a battlefield to come here. Her clothes showed an adventurous spirit. She had two unusually shaped flintlock pistols and and two cutlasses.
“Luna?” Princess Celestia said in fear and shock.
“Nightmare!” Captain Scorpan said as he pointed his rifle at her, which she responded by pointing her two flintlocks at Celestia and Scorpan.
“Be at ease boy. There won’t be any bloodshed between the both of us, unless you hand me your son “dear sister”.” Nightmare said with clear hatred for the words.
“You killed civilians, why would I hand over my godchild?” Scorpan asked.
“He’s worth the trouble.” Nightmare replied as the flintlocks cocked themselves.
“Why are you after him? He did nothing to you.” Celestia said.
“He will do things for me. And consider this revenge for what you did to me all those years ago” Nightmare responded.
“I had to. Our people were suffering.”
“I WAS PROTECTING THEM !” Nightmare yelled.
“You were attracting unwanted attention. You reduced our structures to rubble and people to ash. You have lost the honor the people bestowed upon you.”
“At least you’ll die with honor.” Nightmare said as she pulled the triggers.
I sat upright from my bed, hyperventilating. I have been having the same dream in very vivid manners. Cried, carried, cornered and killed, always in that manner. I don’t know why I keep remembering that event in time and not some other events of my past. Maybe it was an important moment for me that I had to remember that event or it was very scarring to see my adoptive mother be killed by her sibling. Their backstory is unknown to me but my Godfather seems to know something, although he doesn’t want to share it with me.
“Already up?” I turned to see Scorpan at the doorway wearing a long brown coat over a beige vest and white undershirt, black pants fastened by a belt and boots. He says it helps hide him from eyes. He also has a golden triangle hung by a string around his neck, its origin is a mystery to me. Over the years he’s grown a beard, either due to depression that royalty has become piracy or royalty has entered Olympus, or both. He’s said he’s underwent depression before but never said what caused it, but the princesses got him out of it and memories of the glorious times.
“I’m up.” I responded as I looked down at my clothes. A green vest over a white long sleeve undershirt and brown pants. I must have slept in my clothes again. Working two jobs, defence practice and being picked on can take a toll on the body, but in this time of age we have to survive. I got off my bed, placed my boots on and took my wooden sword and dagger leaning on the wall, this is the defence practice, learning to fight with a sword in case pirates attack, which would seem ironic considering pirates stop by this place for supplies and cider. And they are my customers as well.
We walked out of the apartment and entered the busy streets of the town. Many people, few children and pirates all roaming around the city. The architecture and structures are old and cracking due to this place being the old area, the new buildings are farther from the sea, even the rich are in the new area to be safer from pirates. Most shops and ports are closer to the sea for foreigners, travelers, merchants and pirates to come and visit quickly and go back to sea. The town is noisy and mostly friendly, everyone seemed to excuse people if they went into accidents, but some pirates don’t let go easily
We left the town and hiked along a trail that would lead to a clearing in the woods. It would be best to train without people seeing and to not get unwanted attention from others. I already get unwanted attention from not training, possibly because Scorpan says I’m passive and kind. I don’t even look intimidating to scare people off. He even notices the three types of people that interact with me, bullies who are pirates and yet customers, prostitutes who offer me large discounts every time we walk by them and rich wives who come for counseling about their married life. That’s a lot of unwanted attention.
“Are you ready Spike?” Scorpan asked me as we entered the clearing.
“Yes Dad.” I responded as we separated from the path and took positions at opposite corners of the clearing facing each other. I readied my wooden sword and dagger and fixed my stance. One foot forward, weight on the balls of my feet and bent knees, balanced weight on both my feet to reduces stress. Also having my thumb on the back side of the blade. The sword is in front of me for easier reach to defend my sides with the dagger close to me incase the sword fails in first defence.
Without warning Scorpan runs towards me with his wooden sword ready to cut with the wooden dagger by his side. He goes for a slash, I blocked with the dagger while I move my sword with a slash. It met with his dagger. He moved his sword back and went directly for my throat. I moved back and parried with my dagger, moving the sword away as I went for a slash to the head. He blocked with his dagger, using the guard he twisted his wrist and went for my wrist. I moved back while moving my arm down to prevent the dagger from wounding me.
Scorpan went forward and went for a slash. I moved to his side, where his dagger couldn’t reach, and went for a slash to his neck. He spun around and my sword clashed with his dagger while he thrusted his sword to my stomach. I moved it away using my dagger. Going around the dagger I went for a strike to his head while moving my dagger to wound his wrist. He moved his head away from the slash but his wrist didn’t move on time. Acknowledging his mistake he moved back, dropped the dagger and placed his hand behind him.
“Making his opponent lose his defensive weapon doesn’t mean he isn’t capable of other means of beating you” Scorpan said as he lunges forward with a slash. I quickly blocked with my dagger and thrust my blade to his neck. He moved to my side and went for another strike. I blocked with my dagger, but didn’t foresee that he’d drop his sword, lunge forward and hit my throat with his fist. I was unable to hit him before that punch because he moved to my side before I could turn my body. Knowing him he took the chance and used a trick.
I moved back from the punch, gasping for air. He struck my leg, he must have seen an opening when my stance was broken, before my dagger could make contact. In the same motion he went for my head. I parried with my sword which worked but left me open for a kick at the knee. Falling on back, I turned around to see Scorpan pointing his sword at my neck.
“You could have a quicker recovery time.” Scorpan said as he held a hand for me. Which I took.
“Sorry for losing this time.” I said to him in shame.
“Don’t be. For as old as I am, I have plenty tricks. You did get better at your techniques though.” He said with a smile.
“Thank you.” I said giving my own smile.
“We have to go we’ve got work and you need time to heal.”
“Thank you.” I said as I followed him out of the clearing and onto the trail.
We moved back to the city where me and Scorpan parted ways for the day. I headed toward the smithy, a blacksmith shop, for the work of the day. Scorpan works at a trading market. He sais it’s dangerous because you have to be assertive and intimidating to work in a place where pirates complain about prices and threaten for a discount. It’s also closer to the ocean so in case pirates attack, he would fight them before they reach the people. It’s mostly the same at a smithy, except the pirates actually understand why repairs would be the price they are. The shop is also close to a tavern so in case trouble is in my shop, other pirates would come to either join the fight or stop it.
I unlocked the door and was greeted by the smell of burning sulfur and rotting fish, the components of a stinkpot or tear gas. This is a usual for me because there were instances where I would suffer from this kind of treatment. The stinkpot is not frequent but it is not the first time. I said before that bullies come to the shop and this is what they do, often times with different tools or manners such as breaking things every time they come into the shop. I would ban them from entering but they are customers and they overpay and don’t mind. They must think I become a punching bag with the extra cash. I just need the money.
I opened the windows and door to let the stink out and lighted candles to take in the smell for it to not repel customers. I fired up my forge and checked up on the equipment, as well as orders to be picked up today. Nothing seems to be damaged and everything is in working order. I also looked inside my satchel, containing my emergency objects. Things that would help me survive, such as food, paper, pencil, hunting, medical and navigational tools. Knowing that I moved on to waiting for customers.
“It’s sluggard Spike, how you be doin?” someone said behind me.
I turned to see Garble at the door. He was wearing his blood red coat with gold accents to shows his bloodlust for gold. A white undershirt exposed his muscular chest, brandishing it like the stolen rapier holstered on his belt with a blunderbuss holstered behind him. He had short spiky hair and freckles on his face. His clothes had holes and faded through the years.
“Garble, you threw another stinkpot again.” I said to him.
“You have no proof.” Garble responded.
“The pot says “breathe in by Garble””
“Oh please, there’s other people named Garble.”
“You killed others named Garble so you could be the original.” I retorted
“Well… I don’t care.”
“Do you need something?” I asked getting tired of his dodges
“Yeah. Need more ammunition for my blunderbuss.”
“How may bags?”
“10 please.”
“10 reales please.” I asked
“Here.” he said as he drops reales on the counter. I started to count the coins but instead my head met the counter. He pushed my head down while I was distracted.
“Ha ha ha ha, oh my shaky bones that was joy. Well see you around sluggard.” Garble said as he walks away with a bigger smile on his face. At least he doesn’t steal anything else like before. I applied cold water to my head to stop any bruising. This is my life as can be seen.
I closed up shop for the night and went to my second and last job of the day. Tending to the patrons at the tavern close to where I work at the smithy. It’s convenient for travel and helps keep trouble away, since no one would start a fight with pirates unless they’re drunk. Worse is they would fight with them and I would have to stop them fast or they could break things. Shooting my pistol usually does the trick, to a certain extent.
“Evening Spike.” someone said. I turned to see Snips and Snails sitting at the bar.
“Good evening Snips, good evening Snails.”
“By the look on your forehead I can tell Garble came in.” Snips said.
“You got it right. So how are you guys?” I asked them
“Great.” Snails said.
“Actually, we didn’t get many customers today.” Snips corrected.
“Oh, sorry guys. Better luck tomorrow.” I said.
“What do you mean? We probably have luck tonight.” Snails said.
“What luck?” I asked.
“Look.” Snails said to me and Snips. Pointing at a table at a far end corner. I spotted Garble and his two lackeys with some other pirates laughing, they are usual customers”
“What should I be looking at?” I asked
“The pirate with the purple coat.” Snips replied.
I looked again and saw the pirate he was pointing at. It was a female pirate. She was wearing a purple coat that matched her hair. A sea blue vest with a high collar and a crooked bow tie around it, a maroon belt fastening dark purple pants, with a mark of a six pointed star over a four pointed star and black boots. She also has a pink streak on one side of her purple hair. Her clothes were clean and new. She also had good posture and seems to be fake smiling with the other pirates around her table.
“
, I thought.
“Well, I’m going to talk to her.” Snips and Snails said.
“You sure, she doesn’t seem to be enjoying herself with the company on the table.”
“Which is why we’re going to cheer her up.” Snips said
“I mean she doesn’t seem to be comfortable around guys.” I said but it was too late as they strode across the floor to meet her.
POV of Captain Sparkle
This is a terrible idea. We were only stopping to deliver cargo and get supplies for our next voyage but someone threw a stinkpot at our ship and now we have to wait for the gas to clear up, while waiting they decided to keep watch and Pinkie wanted to explore the town. I said yes and we went on our way. However the looks everyone gave me were annoying. Everyone looked directly at something else, not quite at my face but below it. Males are complete animals according to Rarity, it’s always in their eyes that I could tell they wanted nothing more than a plaything. They probably thought I was some kind of prostitute. I was once a scholar in the best school in the East but that life is behind me now.
We went to the tavern because Pinkie wanted some souvenirs and she asked if I could wait in the tavern. I sat by a table and waited for her to come back, until one by one men started coming towards me and asked if they could sit near me. I said no but they sat anyway and started telling me stories about their accomplishments as if I would listen. In fact I could even see through they’re lies. They say their clothes are worn out from their many battles but in truth they were caused by themselves to look good, they even have marks that they’re new tears. They just wanted fame and me. If they said to others that we’re together it would give them more power. I am the captain of a an effective crew and took down many ships, that’s why we’re all well known. I am praying to Poseidon for Pinkie to come back so we can leave.
“Yeah, so that’s my story, pretty great.” a pirate said.
“Great.” I replied
“My name’s Garble, if you didn’t know.” Garble said
“You said many times.”
“Just checking if you were listening.” he says with a wink.
“Ahoy beauty.” someone said. I turned to see two people wave at me. When they waved I noticed splinter wounds and their shoes have wood shavings on them.
, I thought.
“Get lost carpenters. You got nothing on us... or this.” Garble said, reaching for my butt. I pulled his arm, bringing his body closer to me, and punched him in the face.
“Don’t complain.” I said to him
“I won’t.” Garble said.
“Can I help you lads?” I asked politely. I can already tell these men were the same as all of them.
“I was wondering if we could get you a drink?”
“That would be nice but I don’t think you should spend money on me. You seem quite distraught.”
“What do you mean?” one of them asked
“I can tell you didn’t have many customers today.” I responded.
“It’s okay, we know the bartender and he can fix you a nice drink.” the other one said.
I looked at the bartender. He had a very gentle look on his face, and he didn’t look threatening. The dirt and loosened stitching around his clothes imparted a difficult life, and I almost felt bad for him. I couldn’t tell if he is like other men, but I know he’s hiding something from those eyes of his.
“That sluggard? Please he’s a complete freak and slave. Watch.” Garble said as he raised his blunderbuss and shot at the bottles on the shelves.
“Hey sluggard Spike. Play a tune will ya?” Garble yelled.
The Bartender took out a violin and started playing. The strange thing about the sound is it’s original. I’ve never heard anything like this kind of beat. Bartender and composer maybe? But what could make him a freak? I looked at him closely and there were black markings on his hands, showing he’s a blacksmith as well.
“He’s not a freak.” One carpenter said
“Really? Can you explain the stupid inventions and ideas then? They’re weird. Does he think he’s above smithing and the rest of us?”
“
, I thought. I wanted to go to him and talk to him because he seems very interesting. People who say inventions and ideas are weird is because they’re not open or they don’t have the knowledge to understand them. I was about to walk to him until someone bursted through the tavern doors
“The town is under attack.” he said as he waved his pistol.
“By what?” someone asked.
“My crew.” he said as he moved his pistol to my direction.
I don’t think I have the time to reach for my pistol to shoot him first or time to dodge since his pistol was already in my direction when he entered. I looked around the tavern to see if anyone had their pistol out to shoot him first but some of them were drunk and some were still reaching for their pistol. I also saw the carpenter coming to shield me but they’re too far to take the bullet for me. I couldn’t end like this. I’ve been through a lot already. I can’t say it’s been a good life. The life expectancy of a pirate is two years. I’ve been defying those odds for a long time now. I guess death is coming for me.
BANG
I watched as the man with the pistol fell to the ground, with a hole in his head. I checked again to see if I missed someone holding a gun. Everyone was holding one except no smoke came out of any them. Until I noticed the bartender’s violin. It was smoking. When I looked closer, there was a hole. A gun in a violin? This man was no freak he’s a genius. Concealing a gun in a violin can be hard to do when working on the mechanisms yet he managed to do so. What’s more I saw in his eyes what he’s been hiding. Ferocity and fearlessness. I’ve never seen anyone with as much strength in him. His eyes were burning.
“Gentlemen, arm yourselves.” the bartender said.
“We don’t listen to you Sluggard, you’re just a blacksmith.” Garble yelled.
“You’re blunderbuss is on the floor Garble and you’re shaking. Are you afraid?” he asked as he reached behind the cabinets for, what seems to be, a sword and a dagger with very thick hilts and guards. He also strapped his violin to the inside of a satchel
“Arg, men it’s time to-” Garble couldn’t finish as he was pounced on by a man with a knife. I moved to shoot him but I was beaten again by the bartender. The sword’s hilt was smoking.
“
, I thought.
“Two people saved, Garble. Do you want to argue or fight?” the bartender asked Garble which he didn’t respond.
“Then we fight, bring your cutlass and fight!” the bartender yelled which in response every pirate yelled and ran out the door.
I looked through the crowds if I could spot the bartender but he was no longer in sight. Thinking I may have another run in with him I joined the crowd as they ran out of the tavern and chased after the attacking pirates. I looked around to see buildings and structures on fire and corpses scattered around and they don’t seem to be pirate corpses. Animals. Should I stay and fight or should I go back to my ship? I don’t like men but these are other people that are dying. Unfortunately and luckily my question has a forced answer.
“Men, I spy the Captain of the Jewels.” one yelled and in response seven men came running towards me.
I thought but was I was blocked off by 3 other men. Taking the chance I engaged in combat.
I ran towards the three men. The first was going to strike at my neck which I parry by sliding under it with my blade at an angle which allows his blade to raise, then striking at his back once I stood up. The second was coming to thrust his blade into my neck. I held my blade straight and directed his blade away from me, then moving forward once I was close to thrust into his neck. The last one was standing guard. I went for a slash to his chest but he blocked and went for an attack. I retracted my blade and blocked his strike but he let go of his blade and formed a fist. I dodged to the left making him miss, with his back to me I stabbed him. Large arms suddenly wrapped around me. I used my elbow to his his ribs and heel to smash his toe. He let go long enough for a kick to the groin. I moved to escape but a cutlass was held to my throat, I moved back then someone grabbed me and then men surrounded me. Holding their blade at me.
“You got a lucky catch here boys, what should we do with her?” one man asked
“Sell her?” one suggested
“How about he keep her, tied up and naked. This beauty is for us” he said as he was reaching for my chest until a hole appeared on the side of the head. He dropped down and everyone looked for the shooter until three other men’s heads were cut off, one of them being my captors. I broke free from his hold and stabbed one pirate in the throat. Two men left and their attention was to me. I readied myself until their heads were sliced off. I looked behind them to see the bartender look at me with those eyes. I almost felt a chill in my bones.
“There’s a faster way to the ports, follow me.” he said
“Okay.” I said.
I followed him through the streets and back alleys of the town. While we were running he would spot someone being harmed, he would raise his sword and kill them in one strike. He did this by calling out the name of that person and telling him or her to duck and he would slice the heads of the invading pirates. What I also noticed was the time and distance away he calls out the victim was always consistent, as if measuring people’s reaction time based on what they hear, but I don’t hear his footsteps, even in puddles I couldn’t hear much. When the pirates notice him before he could call out, which was in very less scenarios, he would shoot with the gun fixed on the hilt. His body didn’t seem muscular or thin, it could be that it’s night and his clothes don’t say much. The way he runs is strange. He tilts his body at an angle, in theory that would lessen resistance and he’s proving it. He always gains distance between us both yet doesn’t lose speed or momentum when slicing off heads. I think he slows down to wait for me.
He suddenly turned around and went for a slash to my shoulder. I moved my sword to block the attack but his strength was considerable. He pushed down my blade but didn’t cut me, until I heard something impact the blade next to my face. I turned to see a man with a rifle with smoke coming out. He pointed his sword at the man and a bullet went right to him. I must be distracted in observing I forgot about my surroundings. That’s two men he shot to save me. I probably don’t look like much compared to him.
“Take my hand.” he said as he sheathed his dagger
“Why!?” I asked
“Because we have to take the rooftops.” he answered.
I thought for a moment and reluctantly gave him my free hand and instead took my wrist. Using the hand holding the sword, he sliced a rope and took hold of it. It was connected to cargo with a pulley. Slicking the knot on the ground allowed the cargo to drop while bringing us up. We landed next to each other.
“Move back” he said
I moved back and he shot at a man through a window, he seemed to be kidnapping a woman. How did he see that? We were two houses and a street away from the building. I didn’t have to question since we had to resume running. Rooftops aren’t hard to run across, you just need to find balance, even when they’re sloped just balance yourself on the middle. I watched him move across this terrain and he hasn’t wobbled, he must have been doing this for some time. We stopped at a house to see the port. I saw my ship in the distance, then why did we stop? I noticed he was looking at a small store near the port, family?
“Good luck.” he said as he was walking away.
“Where are you going?”
“To find my father.”
“Every building is burning, he could be dead”
“If he’s not?”
“He’ll understand why you left, or he could be captured.”
“I have to go back for him.”
“You could die.”
“He’d do the same thing for me.”
I watched him run away through the smoke and I was left on the rooftop of some small house. I am facing another dilemma of two options, run after him and keep him safe or run to my crew and sail away. What are the benefits and risks in both choices? Option one I get to study a male that isn’t a pirate, repay him for saving me and get a new, good crew member, or I could die running after him. Second option sail away and forget about him, he can take care of himself and we could run into each other some time later. If not then I’ll have the never ending guilt of not understanding the way he thinks, a wasted opportunity.
Run after him. I can’t leave something that puzzles me and not solve it.
I ran after him using the direction he left me in. At this point I’m just looking with my eyes while I run. Everywhere I turn there’s a building on fire and pirate corpses everywhere. Corpses? The corpses are his trail. I followed the corpses but they lead me all around the bay area and no sign of him. I started to turn back but lost my footing. The rooftop I was on was falling. I got back up and jumped but I couldn’t reach the ledge in time. I stabbed the wall with my dagger but it didn’t go through. Two times I almost died today and this may be it.
I felt a hand grab me. I looked up to the bartender with scorch marks on his face.
“Please sheath your dagger” he said. I did and brought me up for my free hand to reach the ledge
“Did you find your father?” I asked since that could be a question relevant to why he’s here. Close to the ports
“No” he said. “Do you know any pirate crew that loves explosions and grenades?”
“No. why?” I asked him. He pointed out pirates who were throwing grenades at the houses
“Let’s go.” he said
“Right.” I said
We both took off from the crazed pirates but they noticed us and began chucking grenades into the houses we were running on. One after another the houses behind us were exploding and collapsing. It’s one thing to run through fire but another to run from grenades. We were almost there but I can already feel the heat coming closer and my clothes ripping. I felt a hand grab my shoulder and brought me into his embrace as we jumped, feeling the heat right behind us, then water surrounding us.
