Blackbeard stepped out slowly, sipping a bottle of rum. His face showed that his beard was a matted gray and black. His eyes were covered by wrinkled skin, and his beard was braided with two long strands running down the front. He sighed as he looked at Jack, who lowered his head and stepped off the deck. (Y/n) looked up, unfazed at the man before Jack. The crew loosened Angelica and the officers, as Blackbeard stood overlooking the mayhem that occurred upon deck.
"Gentlemen." He said, shaking his head in disappointment and sipping from the bottle before slamming it in front of Jack's feet. Jack froze, before slowly turning to Blackbeard. "I be placed in a bewilderment. There I were, resting, and upon a sudden, I hear an ungodly row on deck." He placed his hand on the hilt of his abnormally large sword. "Sailors abandon their posts without orders, without leave. Men before the mast, taking the ship for themselves." He slightly moved his sword to the right, not unsheathing it. "What be that, First Mate?" He asked Angelica, who stood near the steps to his level.
"Mutiny, Captain." She said.
"Again?" Blackbeard asked, cupping his hand to his ear.
"Mutiny!" Angelica said, louder and clearer.
"Aye. Mutiny." (Y/n) felt something was off, and his eyes darted around the ship. "And what fate befalls mutineers? Now, we know the answer to that, do we not?" He said as he drew his large sword out. "Mutineers HANG!" He shouted as he held his sword upward at the ship's ropes. The blade glowed a dark purple, and the ship's sails unfurled, boosting its propulsion. The ropes had begun to move and squirm, snatching the crew and ensnaring them up like snakes and a spiderweb. Jack and (Y/n) dangled by the foot and waist respectively.
"Captain, we wish to report a mutiny. I can name fingers, and he can point names." Jack said, playing the innocent bystander card, hoping Blackbeard was dumb enough to fall for the trick.
"No need, Mr. Sparrow and Ghost of Sparta. They are sheep. You, their shepherds." Blackbeard said, gesturing to the crew and Jack and (Y/n) respectively. He sheathed his sword, and the two men fell on the deck, landing on their backs.
"Have I mentioned, sir, what a lovely daughter you have?" Jack said, trying to win over Blackbeard by charm. It didn't work, as he drew his pistol, and aimed it at the two's faces.
"A fitting last sight for doomed souls." He said, resting his finger on the trigger of his pistol.
"Remember, father. We need them." Angelica said, trying to cull her "father's" bloodthirst.
"If I don't kill a man every now and then, they forget who I am." Blackbeard said, not breaking eye contact with the two men on the ground.
"Coward!" Said a voice. (Y/n) stifled a laugh at the buffoon who thought it wise to say that.
"Hmm?" Blackbeard said, looking to where the sound was coming from. The missionary stepped before him, somehow free of the ropes.
"They do not forget. Your crew sees you for the miscreant you are. A coward, no matter how many you slay." He said before the Quartermaster held his blade at the missionary's chest, halting his advances.
"Twice in one day, I find myself in a bewilderment." Blackbeard said, no doubt trying to rekindle a speech.
"You are not bewildered, you are afraid. You dare not walk the path of righteousness, the way of light." The missionary, Phillip he was called, said undaunted.
"No, sir. The truth is it be much simpler than all that. I am a bad man." Blackbeard said before turning away.
"That, too." Phillip said. Blackbeard turned back around.
"Sir, just let it slide." (Y/n) muttered.
"I might have to kill you as well, catechist." Blackbeard said. He raised his pistol before Angelica lowered it.
"No!" She said.
"All Latin blood like her mother." Blackbeard said, looking back down at the two men.
"Father, I beg you." She said, plead in her eyes.
"Ah, there I be again, forgetting why the missionary is here. My daughter, fears for my soul, or what's left of it. You truly wish to save me, my child?" Blackbeard asked, placing a hand on Angelica's shoulder.
"Every soul can be saved." Angelica said, confident.
"Be that true, young cleric?" Blackbeard asked Phillip.
"Yes. Though you I see as a bit of a long shot. Still, I pray for every unfortunate soul on this hell-bound vessel." He said, not showing any emotion other than compassion for the crewmates.
"You disarm me with your faith." Blackbeard said, putting away the pistol. "Eight bells! Which of you unfortunate souls stood watch?" He asked, looking up at the crew, who were all silent and still tied up. Jack and (Y/n) stood to their feet.
"Me! It was me, I stood watch." (Y/n) said. Blackbeard chuckled.
"Gunner?" He asked. The Gunner looked up at a man who was strung up over the edge of the boat's deck, near the calm sea. "You?" He asked. The crew-mate nodded. "Aye. The cook. Perfect. Lower the longboat!" He said, before calling out to his officers.
* * *
The man rowed into the sea, away from the ship. The open torch fires gave the ship a beastly shadow.
"Bring her about!" Blackbeard shouted as the Quartermaster brought the ship's bow to face the longboat's lone passenger. The ship groaned, as it hauntingly moved to face the man.
"Why do you do this?" Angelica asked her father.
"Mutiny. Our laws be clear." Blackbeard said like it was a valid excuse.
"Our laws allow the Captain to show leniency." Angelica brought up.
"I have given this man a chance to determine his fate, a gift not afforded to all." The man was panicking in his small rowboat, as the ship got closer to face his direction. Phillip stood beside Blackbeard to see what was being plotted. "Oh, you now. Chance to show the worth of your prayers. Pray he be delivered from......evil?" The bow of the ship opened up like a monstrous maw ready to drag the man down to a watery grave. "Course made!" Blackbeard raised his arm as he said this.
"Stop. Give that man a chance. Give yourself a...!" Phillip tried to say before Blackbeard brought down his arm, pointing it at the man. A huge wave of hellish fire washed towards the man in the boat, as it coated all on the small vessel. Everyone watched in horror and disapproval as Blackbeard smiled at his handiwork. He turned to Phillip, without taking his eyes off the burning boat.
"You know when I feel closest to our maker? When I see suffering, pain and anguish. That's when the true design of this world is revealed." Blackbeard said. The flames painted his face a deep crimson.
"And I see it when in times of hardship and tragedy, kindness and compassion are shown to those in need." Phillip said, contrasting with Blackbeard's statement.
"Perhaps you should pray for him to be unharmed, yes?" Blackbeard said. (Y/n) and Jack knew what was about to go down.
"Please, there's still hope..." Phillip tried to continue, before Blackbeard raised his arm again.
"AGAIN!" Another wave of fire washed over the flaming boat, surely killing the man aboard. Jack and (Y/n) gazed off at the flaming boat, no doubt disturbed by what had crossed their eyes.
YOU ARE READING
Pirates of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (Kratos Reader)
ActionAfter sailing away from Greece, you met a pirate named Jack Sparrow. Taken by his funky mannerisms, you became his closest companion, and began to sail wherever the wind took you. Until the captain is accused of securing a team for an expedition to...
