𝐶𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑅𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛 𝑆𝑘𝑖𝑛

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐈: "𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬!"

Many stories are told, many forgotten, and even the most famous of pirates were forgotten. So this is a story that rivaled Black Beard in terms of fear. A man so fearsome his own crew called him a beast, though this rumor only came to be through the captain of this galleon, the captain never once came out of his quarters. Only gave orders through a note and gave it to his second in hand, "Arthur", a man that was favored by the crew. Arthur was rather short and always had a waddle when he walked, he had a thick Irish accent and was probably shorter then most of the crew.

The galleon herself was named, "The Seas Ghost" for how fast it would seem to dissappear and reappear. It's sunk many British, Spanish, and Merchant ships alike. Though this story isn't about the crew or even the ship. This is about the captain, The Fearsome Beast. Now let us start with a sunny day, a merchant ship that was sailing across the Atlantic and a boy watching those very waters that carried a heavy sin. The boy smiled as he watched as the many crew members go along with their jobs... though a hand was gently placed on the boys shoulder.

The boy was startled as he jumped back and quickly looked back, it was the cook, Thomas, he smiled as he let out a chuckle of enjoyment. "Did I scar yuh, youngin Henry?", Thomas said as the boy who was now known as Arthur had a startled expression but it was only for a second and the boy laughed a bit. Thomas said; "You did, Thomas, I was just enjoying the view for quite sometime." And then the cook looked at the sea, he responded back with a light smile and said, "Ay, I can see how one as yourself be entranced with the beauty of sea. Though these potaters ain't gonna peal themselves!".

Henry said as he looked up at the cook with a disappointed look and the cook grabbed the boy by his shoulder and continued to laugh, it echoed throughout the ship and even some of the crew laughed... it was then interrupted by the sound of a bell. It was the perch, it was something and soon a shout came up above, "PIRATES LADS, PIRATES!!!", the watcher yelled as loud as he could. Thomas hurried the boy off to go under the deck and as fast as he could he grabbed a gun and the merchant ship prepared to shoot. The perch watcher yelled again, "ON OUR RIGHTS LADS!!!", and so every single man had readied themselves and turned their faces to the right. There was nothing.

Nothing?! Indeed nothing, though soon gunfire was heard from the left. Everyone knew on the merchant ship knew of a ship, a ship that could disappear and reappear as if it were a ghost and soon someone yelled; "ON OUR LEFT, IT'S THE SEAS GHOST!!!" and even if most of the crew was fast, most died. Thomas knew it was the end, all he could hope for his nephew, Henry. The crew fired and soon many of the ruffians boarded the merchant ship. The merchants crew was cut down to half and Thomas had died with a bullet to the head, the crew was easily overpowered and finally killed.

Laughing filled the ship, the pirates once came quiet as a short man, Arthur, spoke out loud and commanded each one to, "Search this boat ya damned bastards! Make sure there ain't no rats scurrying around!", the short man spoke. The boy, Henry, stayed quiet. He first heard the laughing after the gunfire, his heart sank. Even if he did his best to hide which was in the bunks of the crew, he was dragged out and brought on deck. The boy looked up and saw a short man, short compared to the other pirates but that was not important. "The names Arthur, lad. What be yours? We ain't so kind to rats but since ye' be a boy we'll let you live.", the second-hand spoke and Henry replied with, "I am... Henry, Henry Bullard. Why let me live?! You killed most of the crew!". The short man grinned, all his supposed pearly whites were replaced with golden nuggets.

"That be our captain, he decides that we don't kill no youngs. He'd rather kill men who had their lives to the possible fullest! Ay that be the truth, only truth there is!" Arthur said, but the boy was shook. Even if he was shaking with anger he knew better. Knew better to not argue and let these ruffians give him a rowing boat to sail to the nearest town. He saw his uncle, his uncle was dead, only man that was ever fatherly to him. The pirates watched as the young blood rowed away with a day's worth of food but soon snapped out of it by the short tempered, Arthur, and got to looting.

The pirates looted many valuables, it seemed to be a jackpot for them! Gold, pearl, gems, and finally meat! It was as rare as gold to come across meat. The merchant ship was left to drift as the pirates carried the valuables to the hold, mountains of treasures sat there for both the crew and the captain. That nigh they had a feast! Boozes and meat were all inhaled that night. Laughter was heard as singing started, "Yo-ho, we as pirates ain't no sorry sons, bastard sons we are...", the singing faded as the moon listened, soon Arthur could be seen knocking on a door, the captains quarters door.

Arthurs more usual uplifting tone disappeared, the man entered slowly as soon as he entered he heard a deep growl of a voice. It spoke; "What is it that you report, Arthur?", and he replied with, "Captain, we've found more treasures and some meat that the crew has been enjoying.". The voice had been coming from a seemingly large chair in the middle and the very back of the room, there sat a desk. Papers were on top of the desk and a blue feather that was now quilt sat next to a paper, its ink was dried. Arthur was looking at a chair, a chair that faced opposite of him. "Bring me some of whatever you fancy, Arthur.". The short man waddled on his way as the door closed. The chair turned around and a large figure sat. Red eyes was all that could be seen from the moonlight, the rest had a beast shadow.

The captain grabbed his feather with his large and claws hand and put it back in the ink where it once was. Then soon only just a few moments later came Arthur, with a plate of steak and from under desk, some wine. Arthur excused himself and left. As the figure grabbed the meat with one hand, the chewing of meat could be heard. Half the steak was eaten and soon in two bites it was gone and even then with one sip, the wine was gone.

The captain wiped his hands, then grabbed the pen and continued to write. Each time the feather put too much ink and it ruined but he nonetheless wrote and wrote. A low growl was heard as each time the feather messed up. Soon the night faded and the Sun greeted the crew, what will be rewarded today? A greater calling perhaps?

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"𝙸𝚗 𝚊𝚗 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚟𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚜, 𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚕𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚛; 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜, 𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚝𝚢, 𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎, 𝚕𝚒𝚋𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛." - 𝙱𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚠 '𝙱𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝙱𝚊𝚛𝚝' 𝚁𝚘𝚋𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚜.

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I hope y'all enjoy my second ever story i think I'll be continuing to write so please stay with me on this grand adventure!