Captain's Legacy

From Bad To Worse

Chapter 12

We managed to make it far away from that fucked up island. But there's isn't another island in sight and Rose is our navigator. She's in no condition to give directions, honestly it scares me. I've never seen her like this, so weak... Each moment that passes could be her last and the thought of never hearing her voice again...I can't even imagine that world. It'd be easier if I had someone to blame, someone to drive a sword through. But those people were sick it wasn't on them, I brought us to that island...I'm to blame. And I'd do anything to make it right.

It's also my fault that Terry's gone, thank God Terra doesn't see if that way. She had a bit of a break down but she came to her senses and has been desperately trying to keep me from feeling guilty. I envy her compassion, her strength. She's still a kid and has managed to prove that she's a strong leader, she's smart, and her heart's in the right spot. Makes me wonder what kind of Captain she could be.

Sitting here at Rose's side has given me plenty of time to think things through and seeing her like this made me realize just how swiftly life can end when you live as a pirate. Funniest part is that I haven't even plundered a single ship. My kindness has kept me from accomplishing my goals. And it's why Rose is sick and Terry's dead. Because I hesitated with those sick fucks on that island. A mistake I won't make again.

If my kindness will get my crew killed, then kindness be damned. "Still blaming yourself?" Theo asks as he enters the room. Staring at him still gives me chills, the only differences between us are his purple eyes, and my scar. He steps into the darker corner of the room and makes himself comfortable. "Nothing else to do, who else is to blame? Huh? Who's fault is it that Terry is dead, Rose is fading, and we're stuck sailing into the vast unknown of the big blue?" I ask.

"We all made the choice to follow you, risks and all. Don't think for a second that you forced us to do anything. Terry put his life on the line because he chose to. Don't deny him that truth by blaming yourself." He explains. There's truth to his words I must say. Yet I still feel responsible... He signals for me to follow him up to the deck. I step out and the moon is the size of the ocean itself... Theo is a man of few words so I've got no clue why I'm out here.

He throws me a sword and gets in a fighting stance. "I'm hardly in the mood for practice Theo." I tell him. "This isn't for you, it's for me." He steps closer. "You're already a better swordsman than me." I get into my stance. He stands with his blade up to his chest and one foot barely touching the ground, it allows him to parry attacks and move faster than his opponent. His specialty is using his opponent's own weight, movement and attacks against them. Mine is very different. Stand with my sword extended and both feet firmly planted in the ground, with my left in front of the rest of my body. It let's me deal deadly blows and makes my defense formidable, my specialty is forcing my opponent into my world, giving me control of the battle.

These things leave this battle up for grabs. We both hesitate to move, but then he begins circling me. I track his movements as if they were my own, reading him and trying to determine his next move. But he's the calmest man I've ever met, his face is emotionless, it's nerve wracking.

Theo POV-

He's planted himself like a tree, I can't find a blind spot with his eyes locked onto me. He extremely difficult to anticipate. His fighting style is a reflection of him. It appears as if his feet are the open spot but he's quicker than his stance would lead you to believe. James may appear to act rash, irresponsible, and primarily off impulse but he's so much smarter than he looks. So many factors, it's honestly nerve wracking.

James's POV-

He moves in with more speed than I've ever seen and with nothing but reflex I find my blade clashing with his. And like a banshee cry our blades slide apart. I force him back so I can regain my control of the battle. I can't shake or I'll fold.

Theo POV-

His defense is nearly unshakable. Pushing multiple attacks at once is risky but if I can overwhelm him then he could lose that iron defense.

James's POV-

He begins striking fiercely and rapidly. It's getting harder and harder to keep up. I feel my foot slipping, I break. He knocks me off balance and goes for the cut right on my face but I allow myself to fall to avoid the blade. I slam against the floor and without hesitation I kick his leg over,making him fall too. We both quickly get up and begin circling the deck. I need to switch tactic, he got through my iron tree defense. So it's time to go on the offensive. I run at him and begins striking with slow and heavy blows, I need him to think I'm being reckless.

Theo POV-

He's striking with enough force to cut a cannon ball. It's reckless, I'm easily dodging it all. Maybe he's dumber than I thought...time to end it. I slide my blade against his as he attacks, allowing me to use his strength against him and get behind him to deliver a blow. As he goes stumbling in front of my I look at his back as I prepare to make the cut. It's over...I swing my blade at his back and with lighting speed he ducks and spins around and like the wind he slices my leg... He...beat me...

James's POV-

Got the bastard! I'm honestly surprised I managed that. I've never moved so fast in my life! "I thought you were the better swordsman? I also thought you were faster than me?" I asked with an unshakable smirk. "It appears I've got a lot more training to do. Either way my goal was accomplished." He tells me. "And what goal was that?" He picks up his other sword and begins walking off. "It allowed me to find weak points I didn't know I had and it got your mind off of all the pressure. A bit of fun never hurts. Or so I've been told." He tells me.

He's right, it did let me clear my head even if only for a moment. Lockjaw comes rushing up to me. "Navy ship Captain. It's too close to outrun and we're in no position for a fight. Prepare to boarded Captain..." I take the spyglasss and take a look through. The ship is old, familiar even...where have I seen it before? "Son of a bitch! Fuck! Shit!" I shout as it hits me. Damn it... "What is it?" Garcia asks as everyone groups up. "Get ready for anything... That Navy ship belongs to the most dangerous general these seas have ever seen...and it's Rose's father...