Prince Emmet has longed to see the world and have an adventure since he was little, but with an arranged marriage looming over his head, it's looking like he'll never get that chance. When pirates raid his home city of Bricksport, he might get that...
The captains watched as Rex and Mayhem boarded with their crew, the latter swaying and stumbling as she attempted to find her sea legs. They held out a hand to steady her, and she took it gratefully. "We're sorry we sprang this on you so suddenly, we know you're not used to being on ships-"
"Hey," she interrupted Cary's rambling, and gave their arm a squeeze. "He's my prince, too. I'm not backing out just because I can't seem to keep my balance. I'll get the hang of this soon enough." He gave her a weak smile in return.
"Thank you, May."
"Now pluck up! We've got a prince to rescue!"
"Yeah, I don't see what you guys are so worried about, we're going to get Emmet back," Rex added. "No question about that."
"It's because it's Metalbeard we're going up against. He and his crew are the only pirates we've encountered that have continually evaded capture, and we have no doubt he's going to do whatever it takes to make sure they keep Prince Emmet until their demands are met."
"You think they're holding him for ransom?"
"What other reason could they possibly have for taking him? Octan has grown so much since Sirius was crowned king, something like this was bound to happen sooner or later. Although we think Sirius was expecting attack from another country, not for his son to be kidnapped by pirates."
"Which wouldn't have happened if the kid hadn't snuck off." Rex rolled his eyes. Mayhem smirked at him.
"As if you didn't do dumb stuff too, when you were his age." She snickered. "You were the king of dumb decisions, if I remember right."
"Indeed," Cary drawled. "Rex. Before we set off, are you absolutely certain you want to do this? You know it would mean having to take orders from us."
"No way I'm letting you three hog all the glory. I said I'm in, and I mean it. Now let's go save the kid." Cary nodded, apparently satisfied with the guard's answer, and gave the order to weigh anchor. It was time to get their rescue underway.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Emmet was staring out of the porthole when he heard the strange gait. Not quite a limp, but every other step was accompanied by the sharp crack of wood against wood. The prince pulled himself away and moved toward the bars, straining to see who was coming down to the brig.
A peg leg explained the strange stomping. Slowly, more and more of his visitor came into view. One dark brown pant leg was tucked into a black boot, the other tied off at the knee, and he could see the bottom of a long red coat. White ruffles at the ends of the coat sleeves, the left hand a hook. Finally the black tricorn came into view, sporting a massive red plume, with a number of smaller red parrot feathers. The man had an eyepatch, a gold tooth, a dark green feather tied into his hair at his right temple, and what looked like thin strips of steel woven into his beard, giving it a metallic sheen.
There was no doubt this was the captain.
Metalbeard stopped in front of his cell, one dark eye giving him an intense stare. "I hear ye be askin' fer me, lad?"
Emmet craned his neck to look up at him. "Wow, I think you might be as tall as my uncles!"
The captain stared at the unexpected statement. "...Aye?"
"Oh, I'm sorry! I did ask for you! I just wanted to meet you, I've heard so many stories about you!"
"Ye. Wanted to meet me." Metalbeard heaved a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. He muttered something under his breath that sounded something like 'thought he were pullin' me leg'. "Lad, I ain't got the time to be makin' acquaintance, I've a ransom to collect and an escape to be plannin', savvy?"
"Oh. Yes, I suppose. It's just... kind of lonely down here."
"'Lonely', he says. Blimey... well ye've run Jonesy off with yer prattle, lad, don't think he'll be wantin' to come back down here anytime soon."
Emmet chewed his lip, gaze falling. "I didn't mean to annoy him so badly."
Metalbeard barked out a laugh at that. "Eh, it don't take much to annoy him anyway, lad." He eyed Emmet up and down. The prince really didn't look like much, but... "No tellin' what ye can do. S'pose I'll be sendin' Skeeter down to keep an eye on ye, can't have ye makin' a break for it."
"But I-" Emmet cut himself off when he realized that meant company. "Well, if you insist." He flashed Metalbeard the brightest smile he could manage.
"Well I'll give ye one thing, lad, ye be the most pleasant prisoner we've ever had."
Emmet watched as Metalbeard stumped his way back up the stairs, thoughts turning to the feather adorning the captain's temple. Many of the others of his crew had various hair decorations- colored threads and cloths, shiny trinkets, maybe a shell or two, but no feathers. Was it possible...?
Some time passed before someone finally made it down to watch over him, but instead of the 'Skeeter' Emmet had been expecting, Benny came down holding a plate of something their cook had thrown together.
"You actually brought me food?" Emmet asked, astonished. Benny rolled his eyes.
"Duh. While I hardly think you're wasting away, we kind of need to keep you in relatively good health if this plan is going to work. Besides," he wiggled the plate in Emmet's direction, "just because we're pirates doesn't mean we have to be cruel."
Emmet eyed the plate curiously. Benny passed it through the bars to him, and he took it, staring at the pirate expectantly. "...Is there no silverware?"
Benny smirked at him. "Your hands look clean enough."
The prince blushed faintly. "Oh." It didn't look too messy, so he picked at the meat, taking a bite. He chewed thoughtfully for a bit.
"Well?"
"There is a certain taste to it. What is it?"
Benny gave him a wide grin. "Shark."
"Shark-!"
"Benny, you better get up here!" someone called down, and Benny sprinted back up onto the deck, leaving a bewildered Emmet behind.
"What's going on?"
"The Diligente is on our aft!"
"Again??"
"Ye think it be what the prince was warnin' us about?"
"Whether that be the case or not, we prepare for a fight!" Metalbeard barked. "This be the last time that scum-sucking bilgerat harasses us! We give no quarter!" A cheer went up at that, accompanied by many brandished blades, and they ran up the red flag as the Diligente approached.
