Edward Teach Died on a Beach (OFMD)

Part 2: Chapter 3

IT KEEPS DOING IT EVERY TIME I LOG ON HALF THE CHAPTERS SAY THEYRE NOT UPLOADED WTF

Ed woke up to a light knocking on the door. Stede was still lying on top of him. He shook Stede gently, running a hand over Stede's side.

"Captain? Ed?" Lucius said from outside. "Jim said to get ready."

Stede stirred slightly. Ed slowly lifted him up and slipped out from beneath him. Stede was still lying down as Ed shucked off his drawers and pulled on the leather pants that turned him into Blackbeard. Stede yawned quietly, opened his eyes, and then froze, his eyes widening. He watched Ed pull on his black top and vest. Stede scrambled out of bed and pulled a white linen shirt on.

"You should wear something boring," Ed said quietly.

"I figured. Are you..."

Ed was staring at his fingerless gloves. He felt wrong putting them back on again. They were covered in dried blood. He blinked, beginning to put them on. The door opened slowly. Lucius hesitantly leaned in and then let out a sigh of relief.

"Okay, good," Lucius said, staring at Ed with a frown for a moment. "It's a little odd seeing you in that again."

Ed sighed. "Feels weird to be in it."

"You've only got a little while now," Lucius replied.

Stede pulled his breeches over his drawers. Lucius looked over at him and smirked.

"The crew's rearing to go," Lucius said.

"Good. We'll need that energy," Ed replied quietly.

Lucius nodded slightly and backed out of the doorway. Ed glanced at Stede. He watched Stede get dressed for a moment, as if he was trying to memorize the way he looked.

"Did you figure out a name?" Ed asked.

Stede shrugged. "It might be easier to just hide."

Ed chuckled softly. "True."

Stede felt guilty. "But I think I'll be... Captain... Thomas from now on."

Ed looked at him with a small smile. "I love you, Captain Thomas."

"I love you, Edward Teach."

A few hours later. Ed stood in a fake beard, leaning against the wall to the captain's quarters. Stede leaned next to him, reluctantly starting to stand up.

"I should go hide," Stede said.

Ed nodded slightly. "Yeah."

"Break a leg," Stede replied as he went into the captain's quarters.

Ed narrowed his eyes and looked over at Lucius.

"It means good luck," Lucius said.

"Why would-"

"Okay, guys," Jim shouted. "There's a few pretty big British ships on the horizon."

"Right now," Ed said. "Our main goal is to not get hit. We have to at least get up to them."

Jim nodded. "If they do threaten to hit the hull, we can put up the white flag. I don't think they will, though."

Ed heard a boom. He glanced over at Jim. "Be ready to surrender."

"That was just above us," Buttons said.

Ed climbed up to the top of the main mast. He leaned forward, staring at the ship on the horizon. They didn't fire another cannon. As they drew closer to the ship, Ed could see that the ship was definitely a naval ship. Groups of British officers ran around the deck, staring toward the Revenge in fear.

"Remember, keeping yourself alive is top priority."

He was wearing his leather outfit again. It felt strange. It felt like shackles on his body. It felt like a curse. At least it'd protect him a little better than linen.

Ed flinched as he heard another boom. A cannonball hit the mast above him. He ducked down lower, waiting until the ship they were closest to was right up next to them. Ed grabbed the rope that hung from behind him. He pulled backwards and then leapt forward, swinging through the air.

That was the cue. The crew began to flood onto the British ship. Ed landed on the railing of the other ship. He made eye contact with a British captain. He jumped onto the deck and landed with a thud. Jim tossed him a sword.

"Surrender or die!" Ed bellowed.

Ed dodged a blade that had swiped toward his throat. He met the British captain with his sword, blocking every attack. The man was a little taller than him and probably a little stronger, but Ed knew better technique. Still, they seemed to be rather evenly matched.

The crew quickly picked off most of the British, but more had started flooding in. As Ed dodged the blades of two men, he saw Stede out of the corner of his eye. It was enough to throw him off slightly. He felt a sword meet his arm and slash across his skin. He turned back toward the man facing him. He flinched slightly as their blades met. Stede was behind him in a few seconds, fiercely fighting with the man next to Ed.

"You will die in this fight," the Captain growled.

Ed grinned.

Then, one of the sailors that worked under the British captain rushed over, darting between blades. "There's another ship!"

Ed paused. The Captain paused slightly too.

"I don't recognize the flag. It's a French vessel!" The man shouted.

Ed glanced at Stede with wide eyes. Ed heard a scream from the stern. He turned just to watch one of the British men get flung across the deck with a cannonball in his chest. Ed leapt backward. The British Captain backed up slightly, watching his man smack against the mast.

"Return fire to that ship!" He bellowed.

Ed turned abruptly and grabbed Stede by the hand. They darted through the battle, forcing their way across the deck and up the stairs to the stern of the ship. They found Jim facing the sea, looking out with wide eyes. Jim turned around, grasping the railing. Ed heard a loud crack. The ship beneath them rumbled and gurgled. Ed stumbled as the boat shuddered. Stede fell onto his ass. Ed paused to pull him up, nearly falling over as the ship rumbled again. Ed heard water rushing beneath him.

Ed managed to pull Stede up the stairs. In the chaos, Jim had disappeared. Ed saw the bow of a ship burying itself into the back of the vessel they stood on. Ed quickly began to back away with wide eyes. Men began flooding onto the ship. They weren't just men, though; they were pirates. Ed held onto Stede tightly, looking upwards as a figure swung into his vision on a rope.