The Unwilling Queen of Pirates

An Ancient Evil

The bright light was all that she could see. Her memories felt jumbled, but she knew now that the dead man wasn't her father. She wasn't sure why she had the feeling that it was. It was like she stepped into another person's memory.

Sparrow tried to remember who she was, but other memories flooded her mind. A boy lost his entire family in one night by a bandit raid. He was rescued by a Hero and taken to the Hero's Guild. There he trained hard, the loss always present in his mind. Many years passed and he was finally allowed to go out into the world to make his mark. From saving villagers to killing evil creatures, the Hero had made quite a mark on the world. He slowly discovered that not all of his family had been lost that dreadful night. His sister and mother had survived. The bandit attack wasn't by chance. A deeper evil was at work. An evil that was obsessed with their family blood as it was the means to reach extreme power.

The evil had waited patiently to find the sister and the boy all while holding their mother captive. The Hero had fought against this evil relentlessly. In the end, his mother was murdered and the evil gained some of the power he wanted. He gained the sword of Aeons ready to destroy all of Albion. The Hero fought him and in the end, Jack of Blades succumbed to his wounds. He had the choice to kill his sister and gain the most powerful weapon or toss it away from the world. The hero chose to toss it away.

Eventually, he pushed away his hero title and settled down. He married a beautiful wife and had a child. The hero couldn't help but wonder if Jack of Blades would come back to reap his vengeance. If he ever came back, Jack would go after his bloodline again.

The blinding light faded away and left Sparrow standing in the hall of Heroes. The room was well taken care of and had not seen the cruel passing of time. She glanced around in wonder at the murals around the room. They told the story she had just witnessed in those flashes of memories.

"Apologies," a voice rang out startling the confused girl. "But I had to make you see."

She turned to the man and recognized him from the visions she was shown. "Who are you? Why am I here?"

"It is my fault you are here. I failed to dispose of Jack properly and now it is all left to you. My blood runs through your veins. I'm sorry, but we do not have much time. Take this."

A mask appeared in his hand. He held it out to the little bird and she carefully took it. She gave him a curious look cocking her head to one side.

"You can use this to suck out his soul once you defeat him. Then you must destroy it. Do not put it on!"

"I don't understand!" She whined her confusion overwhelming her.

"You will once you wake up."

"Wake up? Is this a dream?"

The old Hero sighed. He waved his hand and an image appeared in the middle of the room. A man was cradling a body surrounded by a blinding red light. They lay in the middle of a large stone circle, a group of people stood around it chanting in a strange language.

It took a moment for her troubled mind to connect the dots. "I died. That's my body... and Reaver. He's going to die too!"

"Not if you save him," The Hero spoke as the image faded away. "I thought I had stopped him, but I was wrong. I'm sorry that you have to fix my mistake. You must destroy him or else he will destroy the world.

"I understand." She spoke slowly. "But how will I do that when I' m already dead?"

"You've defied death more than once. What's one more time?" He gave the young Hero a small smile. "I will give you what is left of me. It should bring you back and restore your will power. I will finally get to rest and join my family. We are out of time. There is one more that would like to speak to you. Goodbye, Sparrow."

The man faded away as well as the hall of heroes. Sparrow appeared in a place she dreaded so terribly. The Spire. A place that had tormented her for so long.

"We meet again, little Sparrow. I see you have talked to my brother."

"Theresa?" The Hero's voice faltered as her eyes met the blind seers. "I'm so confused."

"I know, but there is more I must show you. I never expected you to move so far from your destiny or for the reappearance of Jack of Blades. You must defeat him. The world depends on it."

"But what if I can't. What if I'm not strong enough?"

"You doubted yourself when you were fighting Lucien, but you succeeded."

"That was different," Sparrow argued. "He wasn't an ancient evil. Just a mad man."

"And you will succeed all the same. Now I must show you something before you go. Take my hand, one last time."

Sparrow moved over to her and slowly reached for her outstretched hand. More visions flashed in her mind. She wore regal clothing and was adorned with a crown.

"It is many years from now. A queen feels age weighing her down. And the responsibility of an entire kingdom."

The Hero walked forward in the dark halls. Men stood at attention and saluted her as she passed.

"These are her men. Loyal soldiers who would die for her. Many already have. On battlefields at home and in faraway lands. They would follow her wherever she leads."

She continued to walk until she was surrounded by villagers that cheered for her.

"These are her people. Subjects who worship her. Who trusts her to guide them, protect them and govern them."

Sparrow moved past the people to a grand throne that's height was much more than her own.

"And this is her throne. Albion's seat of power, where she has made countless decisions, delivered justice and led a nation. Yet none of this is of the least importance."

In the corner of the long hall, a light showed. Theresa stood next to a cradle containing an adorable infant.

"This is the real future. Her child, not yet born but destined for greatness. A child on whom the fate of Albion will depend on one day. As will the fate of Aurora."

Sparrow hadn't heard that name before, but she was understanding some of what Theresa was saying. She reached her hand for the baby, but they faded away and she was returned to the Spire.

"These things you will understand in time."

"I think I understand most of it. Can you tell me why the child- my child will be so important?"

"I can only tell you that another great evil will infect Albion and the child will be the only one who can stop it. Take care, little Sparrow. And remember, I am always here, always watching."

"Wait!" The Hero called out, but it was too late.

Her vision filled with white and Theresa was gone. She sucked in a deep breath of air, her lungs on fire. The person holding her jolted in shock. Her eyes moved up to meet his red tear-filled eyes.

"Sparrow! You're alive!" Reaver choked, his surprise quickly turning into joy.