A PIRATE'S TREASURE

Chapter 1

20 years have passed and James was right where he always thought he'd be. By his father's side rushing to battle.

    "FIRE!"

The sound of cannons blasting and the smell of gunpowder filled the air.

     ''ATTACK MEN!"

Then everything went quiet. Before the adrenaline kicked in and the sound of clashing metal, life always stops for a quick second. Everything is in slow motion with both sides armed and ready to fight to the death. No survivors and take what we want for our own selfishness.

      "It's a pirate's life, James." That is what his father always says.

The battle began when both captains met with swords clashing together. James was always skilled with a sword. His father and grandfather taught him the first time he was old enough to hold one. The bodies were dropping and the waters below were stained red. But both captains were too skilled and prideful to submit to a defeat. Both sides lost men but we had the upper hand.

James called his men to finish the job while he watched his father. He wasn't afraid to see his father fall. He was brainwashed to be ready to take over if anything were to happen. Feelings were a weakness and a distraction to a pirate and were not allowed in this life.

     "You've become sloppy in your old age William."

James' father slightly faltered hearing his name. No one calls him that.

     "I've been fighting longer than you've been alive boy! And seems that today will be your last."

James' father gained the advantage while the young captain was distracted.

It ended with the enemy's captain getting a sword to the gut and dropping to the floor.

    "Another lesson James, never celebrate early and start monologing. You lose sight for one second planning your victory that your opponent will see you drop your guard and then plant his sword in your heart."

     "Yes, captain."

James' father just nodded in response.

     "Loot up boys then sink it to Davey Jones Locker!"

Everyone shouted while setting everything on fire watching the ship slowly burn and burst into flames when it hit the gunpowder.

     "Onwards to Tortuga James!"

    "Yes sir!"

James' father was staring off into the water coming off his high from battle.

    "What's troubling you captain?" James asked.

    "He was right you know, I'm am getting sloppy."

    "He was just trying to get in your head, sir."

    "My son, you can drop the formalities for a moment."

James rarely called his dad anything other than sir or captain. It's what his father commanded anyway.

    "When we dock to Tortuga, you need to find your own crew and ship. It's time I think."

James knew the time was coming about his father to pass the reins down. The tradition was to show you can find your success from nothing and to bring in something big from the start.

     "You must acquire the greatest of all treasures in the world James and there's a rumor going around about Blackbeard."

Blackbeard was a feared name at sea. He was the most dangerous and cutthroat there was and didn't give a damn about pirate law.

     ''He found quite a haul and...I want it."

    "But tradition is to find something on my own father."

     "But this way you can kill two birds with one stone. Leadership into battle and obtaining one of the greatest finds a pirate has ever found."

    "Consider it done then sir."

    "I'll give you a year to come back with his loot; if you fail though, you better be running from me."

Pirate's life, be the hunter or die being hunted.

Arriving upon the island was chaotic. Tortuga held the criminals and lowlife in the world and with little to no law enforcement here, it was perfect to roam free with your own rules to follow. It was always the perfect spot to recruit a crew. Everyone was usually drunk out of their mind to understand what they were agreeing to and some just wanted to leave the island but had nothing to offer. So they sold their lives for freedom.

Getting word out was easy and suddenly everyone lined up to join. But James still didn't have a ship.

    "There's a man over there who you could swindle on giving his ship up.'' One of the recruits said.

The man was hammered drunk barely standing up straight.

    Excuse me, sir, I require a ship. I heard that you had a fine one just out front."

    "Yes, my shhhhip. My father gave it toooo me when he passed."

The man was slurring his words and barely kept his eyes open.

    "What would it take to borrow such a fine boat?"

     "My corpse." The drunk man said.

If he wanted to battle, it would be an easy steal. But James was on a strict schedule where he didn't have the time for a meaningless duel.

      "You have two choices, my friend, come away with me and my crew on a grand adventure of finding treasures that will leave you a lavish, comfortable life. Or I can cut you down where you stand and take what I want. The choice is yours."

The pudgy man gave an exasperated sigh and glared up at James.

    "Not much of a choice then...Captain."

James mischievously smiled.

    "Any normal pirate would have cut you down where you stand my friend. But I'm on a mission to find the greatest treasures of all the land and because I'm so giving, you will be my first mate mister.."

    "Smee, captain."

A/N: Thank you everyone taking the time to read my story, really means a lot to me. Please don't forget to vote and leave a comment if you'd like :)