Varian and the Seven Seas

Chapter One: Captain Hugo

"To your stations," the captain yelled. "On the double! We don't want to lose Ruby's trail." Looking past the helm, he could see the faint outline of a large, blood-red ship with even brighter red sails.

"Captain Varian." A young woman with dark skin and a large black afro approached him.

"Kind of busy at the moment, Nuru. What is it?"

"We've got company. Captain Hugo and his crew were just sighted from the crow's nest."

"What?" He groaned. "Why now of all times? That's the third time in the last four months he's tried looting my ship."

"It's the fourth actually." Seeing his murderous expression, she glanced away sheepishly.

"Ready the canons. We'll give him hell when he approaches."

"Aye, aye, Captain!" She went away quickly, and Varian turned to look back at the red ship in the distance.

"I'm not letting you get away this time, Ruby Scourge." 

The sun peeked from behind the clouds and shone on his face. The light illuminated a large, jagged scar that ran along his chin and up his cheek. His blue, hate-filled eyes sat under scowling, black eyebrows. His thick, unkept hair was pulled back into a long, low ponytail that ran down his back. A black, wide-brimmed hat sat atop his head, and he wore a long teel coat with golden embroidered designs. His tall boots were also decorated with golden designs made of steel. 

Captain Varian continued to bark orders at his crew, his black gloved hand resting on the helm. A large gust of wind filled their sails and they raced towards the ship ahead.

The red vessel was more visible now, the distance between them perhaps a mile or so. The sun went behind the cloud cover again.

"This is it mates," Varian said loudly. "Ruby's magic is still recharging, so she won't be able to teleport away as she usually does. Not much further now and we have her—" His speech was interrupted by a massive crash at the back of the ship. 

Turning, Varian blinked at a large metal grappling hook with three large prongs that had punctured and gripped on to the stern. Before he could react, the boat lurched then, and everyone was thrown backwards. Gripping the helm, Varian stayed upright as the ship's forward momentum halted.

Looking up, he saw a much smaller ship with green paint and white sails barreling towards them. The boat made a sharp turn and as it came to a halt beside them, it scraped the side of Varian's ship. On this enemy vessel stood a tall, blond man in a lavish green vest with white puffy sleeves. He waved a large white hat with a fluffy green feather in it over his head, grinning.

"Ahoy! Sorry about the damages," he yelled. He had an undercut and light hair that was swept up into a short ponytail. His green eyes sat behind round glasses, standing out against his pale, lightly freckled face. His ear was decorated with an array of piercings, and a golden, mechanical mouse sat atop his shoulders. 

He laughed when he saw Varian's expression.

The furious captain grabbed his first mate by the arm. "Nuru, are the canons ready?"

"Aye, Captain."

Glaring at the blond man still waving his hat, he screamed, "FIRE!"

Multiple blasts rung out as the green ship received several debilitating hits. Emerald splinters flew into the air as well as a massive cloud of smoke. As the smoke cleared, a fight erupted and the sound of steel bashing against steel filled the air. 

Emerging out of a grey smoke cloud, the blond captain moved confidently towards Varian, a smug grin on his face. "If it isn't my favorite gloomy, revenge-filled captain. You didn't think you could evade me, did you?"