FedoraChar
06-14-2015, 02:25 AM
Blackwood
An unnatural fog had settled over the waters of the Caribbean, leaving the crew of the Cheerful Alice uneasy. Their captain stared out into the thick curtain of moisture in an attempt conquer his own misgivings. Normally a man above superstitions, Blake Fulton couldn’t deny there was something peculiar about this fog. It had rolled in quickly and on a bright summer’s noon, just as they were nearing their destination. Moments before they had been surrounded by sunlit emerald ocean; now they were wrapped in a thick blanket of white.
The anxious pacing of his companion Pokémon only added to qualms. The yellow-finned creature kept its dark eyes trained on the water, ears erect and alert.
Blake had to remain calm and confident despite it, not just for his men but for the sake of their passengers. Many were aristocrats bound for Port Kingler, among them the daughter of the governor, Mary Tilman. He could see her now, wandering up the length of the bow, eying the white wall with curiosity. Catching his eye, the young woman offered a smile and wandered to his station.
“Evening, Captain,” she greeted with a curtsy. Blake offered a distracted nod in return, keeping his eyes on the mist. “Are we to see rain before we hit landfall?”
Blake sighed inwardly, both at the girl’s naivety and the disturbance. Mindful of her status, he remained cordial, if not a little gruff. “Nay, ma’am. You see him?” He indicated his Pokémon.
She gave it a brief glance, eyes bright with recognition. “Yes—a Vaporeon, if I’m not mistaken? A popular companion for sailors, or so I hear.”
Blake wasn’t sure if he should be impressed or annoyed. Miss Tilman might have been naive, but she seemed to have a spark of intelligence in her. Any other time, he would have delighted to accommodate her curiosity, but as circumstances were, his heart was not in it. Still, he carried on the conversation, if not to divert himself from his worries.
“Yes, and for good reason,” he replied. “Their fins will shake when a rainstorm is approaching, giving us time to prepare or chart a new course. Sailors consider it good luck to have one onboard, through really, it’s just common sense.”
Miss Tilman pursed her lips, narrowing her eyes coyly. “And if having a woman onboard is considered bad luck, what kind of luck does that leave us with, Captain?”
At that, Blake offered a weak chuckle. “I don’t put much stock in any kind of luck, Miss Tilman. A man is subject only to consequence and circumstance.”
The governor’s daughter nodded, a thoughtful frown on her youthful face. Her gaze soon fell back to the pacing Vaporeon, and her eyebrows creased with concern. “He certainly seems… agitated. Is something the matter?”
Blake copied the frown. Rather than answer, he simply stated, “We should be drawing close to port. I would suggest you—”
A harsh screech cut him off, muffled slightly by the fog. Blake and his passenger glanced up to the crow’s nest, spotting a Noctowl flapping its wings while staring out into the fog. The sailor sharing its post shoved the restless bird aside and followed its gaze.
“Light ahead, Captain!” the watch called down. “Off the starboard!”
Mary tilted her head curiously. “Maybe we have already reached port?”
The captain of the Cheerful Alice kept his mouth shut, eyes narrowed as he scanned the fog. As silly as the notion was, he wished she was correct. He would rather ram this ship into the docks than face the nightmares his imagination brewed. Still, all signs suggested otherwise. The Vaporeon had ceased his pacing, his body tense. The Noctowl overhead kept screeching, jumping from foot to foot.
Finally, they could see the light, but it definitely wasn’t what they expected. It illuminated the fog with blue, growing blindingly bright before its source became apparent.
Blake paled. He stood face to face with a Lampent—a devourer of souls, said to appear before the moment of one’s death.
The creature made a desolate moan before lifting its black arms above its head. The flame burning in its head flashed several times, then, as if pulled back by a rope, the fog lifted.
They were surrounded.
Five ships circled the Cheerful Alice, none bearing a flag. Each had a monstrosity chained to the bow—malnourished Gyarados that glared hungrily at their meager ship with reddened eyes. While Blake gaped at the beasts, the Cheerful Alice lurched beneath them.
“Tentacruel!” the watch called from the crow’s nest. “They’ve surrounded the hull!”
That shook Blake from his stupor. The captain cursed himself for not acting sooner; he may be a young captain, but even he should have seen the signs. The fog hadbeen unnatural—likely created by the sea-bird Pokémon flocking around the ships’ masts—and had led them right into a trap. Now, they were at the mercy of this mystery fleet. Spaniards? The French? This was a time of peace, not of war.
The flag ship turned its bow towards the Cheerful Alice, its banner slowly rising up the mast. Blake recognized it before the watch ever lifted his voice.
“Pirates!”
Taking a deep, shuddering breath, the captain said to his passenger, “Miss Tilman, I suggest you head below deck. Please inform the passengers that they are to stay below until further notice.”
The young woman nodded numbly, but didn’t move until Blake repeated the order in a louder tone. After she stumbled back to the passenger quarters, the captain was left alone with his thoughts.
Five ships. What could they do against five ships?
The brash part of him wanted to fight. Angered by his own negligence, it wanted to retaliate against the pirates and wrest vengeance from them. The sensible part, the part he forced himself to listen to, stayed his tongue. The Cheerful Alice had its defenses—Pokémon trained to take out Tentacruel, and a few firearms for the men—but it seemed inadequate against a fleet equipped with tamed Gyarados. Even if he sent out the jelly fighters, the other ships would likely be on them before they could ever get free.
How were the pirates controlling all these Pokémon?
“Orders, Captain?”
Blake broke his staring contest with the approaching vessel to look at his first mate. He hadn’t noticed the older man’s approach, nor the anxious gathering of his crew and their Pokémon around him. Glancing around their faces, he could see fear and defeat. The weight of their despondent stares added to the burden Blake already felt on his shoulders. Their lives, and the lives of the other passengers, depended on him. He had to see them through.
Taking in a deep breath, he said to his first mate, “Clarke, fly the white flag.”
XXXXX
The pirates made quick work of boarding the Cheerful Alice. Most flew in before their ship ever reached them, riding on the backs or talons of Pokémon. Honoring the white flag, they did nothing to harm the crew. Some immediately began scouring the ship, while the rest surrounded Blake and his men. They jeered at them in a cacophonous choir of shouting, shrieking, roaring, and bellowing. Their appearances were just as filthy as their words, dressed in a motley array of fashions from the world over. The Pokémon accompanying them were just as grisly, battle-scared and coated in grime.
As the rest of the boarding party joined, however, Blake began to realize that there were more Pokémon then men.
A shrill scream rose above the noise, announcing the discovery of the passengers. Blake and his crew watched helplessly as their charges were shoved out into the light. First among them was Mary Tilman, who glanced fearfully his way.
When all the occupants of the Cheerful Alice were gathered, a man with a short white beard called out, “Board is secure, Cap’n!”
With that, a hush fell over the pirates. All that could be heard was the calm lull of the waves and the footsteps of a heavy pair of boots. The pirates parted for a single man. Tall in stature, he was dressed lavishly in red, from silken waistcoat to the feather in his cap. That alone would have been impressive, were it not for the long black beard that hung from his face in rope-like braids. All that hair made a disparaging contrast with the fine clothing he donned, as if he were stuck between sophistication and barbarism. As it were, Blake couldn’t tell if the man was grinning or snarling as he glanced over his captives.
Movement near the man’s leg caught Blake’s attention—a flash of green, then a pair of purple eyes peered out from behind the man’s boot. Above them shone a dull red gem.
“Ladies ‘n gen’lemen,” the man with the white beard spoke up again. “Yeh stand in the presence o’ the fierce’m Cap’n Bardolf Blackwood.”
Blake snapped his head up, glancing towards the prow of the pirate’s vessel. Now, he could see the name painted so vibrantly on the hull: The Red Queen—one of the most notorious names in the Spanish Main.
Blackwood either smirked or scowled through his grizzly beard. “A pleasure, I’m sure. Who be the cap’n of this fine vessel?”
The crew of the Cheerful Alice were silent, although their eyes traveled to the back of Blake’s heads. The young captain held his tongue, taking a moment to muster his courage. He would never admit to being the bravest of men; his face was as white as a sheet, and his hands trembled at his sides. What little anger he had before now left him cold. Yet despite the urge to run away, Blake held his ground. He had to keep a level head. For his crew. For his passengers.
Something brushed up his leg. Blake glanced down to see his Vaporeon sitting at his side, his mermaid’s tail wrapped around his boots.
“I am,” he finally responded, hoping Blackwood didn’t hear the slight tremor in his voice. That hope seemed vain, as coarse chuckles rippled through the pirate crew.
The pirate captain turned to him with new interest. “Are yeh now? Yer name?”
“Blake Fulton.”
Blackwood took a few steps closer, bringing with him the foul stench of tobacco and gunpowder. Blake resisted the urge to gag, returning the pirate’s scrutinizing stare.
“Cap’n Fulton,” said Blackwood, adjusting one of the many pistols that hung from his belt, “why dun yeh tell me about yer lil’ vessel here. The Cheerful Alice, was it?” He gave a brief glance to Blake’s crew. “Yeh dun look so cheerful.”
A more earnest round of chuckling rose from the pirates.
“This is a transport vessel,” Blake spoke above them, fighting to keep his tone even. “We are ferrying citizens of Port Kingler and their associates to their home.”
Blackwood frowned, though he looked over Blake’s shoulder at the men and women behind him. Dressed in powdered wigs and finery, it wasn’t difficult to discern their status. Blake thought he could see a spark of interest in Blackwood’s dark eye.
“Is that so…” the captain muttered under his breath.
At that moment, one of the aristocrats chose to speak up. “Yes, it is, and if you don’t withdraw your wretched lot of sc—”
Blackwood’s arm shot up in an instant, pistol clicking in his hand. Two Pokémon—a Barbaracle and a Toxicroak—stepped up beside him, raising their claws menacingly. Losing his playful façade, Blackwood barked, “Do not speak unless spok’n to! I have this entire port under my control, and unless yeh do as I say, yer vacation from your posh little community will be permanently extended.” Turning to his crew, he continued, “I want this entire ship turned upside down. Take all their fineries ‘n anythin’ of use.”
Fixing his gaze back on the aristocrat who spoke, he pulled back the hammer. “I want ‘is wig.”
With a battlecry, the pirates and their Pokémon surged into action, breaking into every crate in sight. Some attacked the captain’s quarters, while others disappeared below decks. One group stayed to guard the passengers, the quartermaster snatching the wig Blackwood so desired. Blake and his crew could do nothing but watch.
“Now I want all of yeh to state yer name and title,” Blackwood continued, shifting his pistol to aim it at Mary.
Blake felt himself move forward to defend her, but something held him back. He turned to see a grim-faced Clarke, giving him an almost imperceptible shake of the head.
Mary looked as if she were about to be violently ill, but she took a deep breath. “M-mary Tilman.”
Blackwood raised his bushy eyebrows. “Tilman? As in, Gov’ner Tilman?”
“Y-yes… I-I am his daughter.”
Blake exhaled at length, closing his eyes. Blackwood, in contrast, glanced at his crew with mock surprise. Murmurs rippled through their ranks, some giving the woman looks that Blake did not like at all.
Nodding, Blackwood turned back to Mary. “We just got ourselves our first hostage, boys. I believe the dear gov’ner will be more… co-operative, now.”
The pirates chuckled in eager agreement.
“Take her to the Queen,” Blackwood ordered. Before he could stop himself, Blake stepped forward in front of Mary, intercepting the quartermaster. “Blackwood!”
A hush fell over the excited pirates. Their captain glared at Blake with obvious annoyance.
Fighting to keep the courage that had so suddenly seized him, Blake continued, “I challenge you to a duel.”
Another choir of murmurs. Blackwood narrowed his eyes, but remained silent.
Blake swallowed, his mouth as dry as cotton. “One on one. If I win, you let Miss Tilman and my crew go free.”
The pirate captain took several stops forward, his expression neutral as he asked, “And if I win, Captain Fulton?”
“If you win… we’ll do as you say.”
The deck of the Cheerful Alice was silent, save for the quiet whispers of the waves, as Blackwood considered the offer. Beneath his black beard, his frown grew deeper and deeper. At last, it lifted into a smirk.
“If I win,” he said, “you will send one of your men to the good ole gov’ner and demand from ‘im a shipment of medical supplies—drugs, bandages, the like—as well as a cart ‘o capsules and one doz’n water-type critters. If he complies, I may just let ev’ryone walk away with their lives.”
“Including Miss Tilman?” Blake made sure.
Blackwood held a hand above his heart. “The very same. We won’t harm a single ‘air on her precious ‘lil body.”
The pirate captain grinned vilely, leading Blake to doubt his sincerity. Still, Blake had a plan. A terrible one, but the only one he could think of. He glanced down, finding his companion still lingering near his feet. The Vaporeon returned the gaze, its liquid eyes full of determination.
“Agreed,” Blake nodded at Blackwood.
The crowd surrounding them grunted, some in excitement, some in contempt. The Pokémon in their ranks chattered with anticipation. Taking a step backwards, Blackwood held his arms open wide.
“I like yer jib, Fulton, though the odds don’t look like there in yer favor. Tell yeh what—I’ll let you choose your opponent.”
Each of the enemy Pokémon immediately cried out, flexing their muscles and claws, doing anything to look as intimidating as possible. Blake, however, already had his choice.
“That one,” he pointed to the green creature at Blackwood’s feet. Suddenly, the pirates didn’t seem to smug. They exchanged confused looks, but Blackwood continued to smirk, something devilish behind his eyes. Blake’s stomach twisted. Blackwood had expected this.
“Wrong choice,” the bearded man muttered before gesturing to his men. The pirates stepped back, taking their prisoners with them, and cleared a space for the battle. Blake stood alone with his Vaporeon against Blackwood’s might.
One pirate, the assumed first mate, stepped between them briefly, nodding at them before declaring, “Beg’n.”
“Billy,” Blake leapt right into action, “close-range physical, prioritize agility.”
The Vaporeon surged forward, faster than the eye could follow and aiming a tackle at the feline-like opponent. Blackwood’s Pokémon stood its ground. At the last minute, it shifted to the side. Billy sailed past, skidding to a halt with a look of bewilderment.
“You know the strat’gy,” Blackwood called out. Immediately, his Pokémon spun, orb glowing in its forehead. Multi-hued light gathered before its face before launching towards Billy, blasting the Vaporeon into the nearest mast.
Blake winced, but to his relief Billy got on his feet.
“Ranged attacks,” Blake amended his order.
Billy flicked his ears in affirmation, then took a deep breath. He spewed out jets of water from his mouth, one after another. Across the deck, Blackwood’s creature nimbly dodged every volley. Every one. When Billy stopped his barrage to catch his breath, the opponent was unscathed.
“Do you know what you’re dealin’ with, Fulton?” Blackwood taunted, arms crossed. “My Annie here is an Espeon—a very special one at that. They say their fur picks up on movement ‘n the air, lettin’ ‘em predict an opponent’s next attack. Unless you come up with somethin’ clever, you can’t touch her.”
In the air, Black echoed. What about…
The green Espeon’s eyes glinted. A light began to shine around Billy’s frame, and he slowly lifted from the ground.
“Oh,” Blackwood added, “and she’s a psychic.”
Billy flew backwards through the air, propelled by the enemy’s powers. Blake realized too late that the Vaporeon was sailing right towards him. The young captain could only brace himself before he was knocked off his feet. Blake felt the air rush out of his lungs when Billy landed on top of him.
Around them, the pirates laughed. Billy quickly climbed off, ears flattened against his head apologetically. Despite the pain, Blake forced himself to sit up on his elbow, patting the creature on the head. Once he caught enough breath to talk, he whispered in his ear.
“Don’t tell me you’ve given up already?” Blackwood taunted. His Espeon, Annie, flicked its forked tail, tilting its chin up haughtily.
Both Billy and Blake shot the duo a glare, the former padding back out onto the battlefield. Blake shakily rose to his feet, then commanded, “Summon wave.”
With a bark, the Vaporeon arched its back. Off the starboard side of the ship, the ocean surged. The Cheerful Alice tilted as the water rose over the rails, but before the pirates could react the wave washed over the deck. The pirates and their captives were swept off their feet, creating mass confusion as Pokémon and people tried to find a hold. Blake clung to the ship’s rails, keeping his footing while so many others floundered. Glancing across the arena, he could see Blackwood still standing, a shimmering wall of light protecting him and his Pokémon.
The pirate captain scowled, “Was that really necessary?”
Blake said nothing—but it was his turn to grin. A good puddle of water remained on the deck—but there was no sign of his Vaporeon. Blackwood and Annie caught on quickly, glancing around in befuddlement. Annie took a cautious step forward—right into one of the puddles.
The puddle exploded into a brilliant display of blue scales and yellow fins. The Espeon could not react before Billy rammed his head into hers, knocking her off her feet. The Vaporeon jumped across a few boards before leaping into another puddle, and disappearing entirely. Dazed, Blackwood’s Pokémon stumbled backwards, eyes darting to and fro for her enemy. She didn’t even see the next attack coming as she stepped into another puddle.
Billy burst up behind her, and flipping forward in the air, he brought his tail down on her. The Espeon collapsed, and did not move.
All eyes stared at the defeated Pokémon. Even Blackwood.
Then, several fierce roars split the air. Blake glanced over his shoulder to see the Gyarados pulling the Red Queen balk. The ferocious serpent turned on its masters, bringing its tail down across the infamous ship’s deck. Around them, the scene repeated itself, with each Gyarados lashing into the nearest ship. On the deck of the Cheerful Alice, other Pokémon started rebelling, and complete chaos unfolded.
Blackwood shouted, waiving his pistols in the air and firing them off at disobedient creatures, while the few men he had in his crew tried desperately to regain control. Blake watched in a stunned stupor. He had been right… Blackwood could have never controlled that many Pokémon.
He had had a psychic helping him.
“Captain!”
Blake snapped out of his wonderment, seeing Mary calling him from across the deck. Clarke hovered near her, ordering his Poliwrath about in her defense.
“Clarke—” Blake began, but the ship beneath them groaned. The Cheerful Alice was moving again, freed from the Tentacruel. The pirates’ planks split in half as she drifted away from the Red Queen.
They could escape.
Blake glanced over at Blackwood, who currently grappled with an errant Scyther. The young captain saw his chance. “Billy!”
The Vaporeon understood. Summoning all the water on deck, he directed it all to Blackwood. The jet caught him in the back, and launched him overboard. Blake never even saw his face before he disappeared over the side of the ship.
Some pirates immediately took note.
"Captain!"
"Blackwood's overboard!"
A moment of confusion infected their ranks, which Blake quickly took advantage of. Two more met the same fate as their captain.
Feeling a rush of victory, Blake shouted in return, “Men, to me! Fight back!”
The crew of the Cheerful Alice gave a rallying battle cry. From there, the odds turned in their favor. Many of the rebelling Pokémon soon fled after meeting resistance, taking either to the sky or to the water. When remaining human pirates found their numbers dwindling, they either jumped overboard, or surrendered.
In the end, Blake found himself standing on the quarterdeck, staring over a mass of cheering faces. Some were bloodied, some as pale as a sheet, but all were there. Somehow, alive. In the distance Blake could see the mast of the Red Queen sink into the ocean, a set of Gyarados fins slipping into the depths beside it, taking with it a man of legendary infamy.
"Captain," Clarke's voice called him back to his own ship. Blake turned, but started at his first mate.
Beside him, Mary Tilman held the unconscious form of a green Espeon.
An unnatural fog had settled over the waters of the Caribbean, leaving the crew of the Cheerful Alice uneasy. Their captain stared out into the thick curtain of moisture in an attempt conquer his own misgivings. Normally a man above superstitions, Blake Fulton couldn’t deny there was something peculiar about this fog. It had rolled in quickly and on a bright summer’s noon, just as they were nearing their destination. Moments before they had been surrounded by sunlit emerald ocean; now they were wrapped in a thick blanket of white.
The anxious pacing of his companion Pokémon only added to qualms. The yellow-finned creature kept its dark eyes trained on the water, ears erect and alert.
Blake had to remain calm and confident despite it, not just for his men but for the sake of their passengers. Many were aristocrats bound for Port Kingler, among them the daughter of the governor, Mary Tilman. He could see her now, wandering up the length of the bow, eying the white wall with curiosity. Catching his eye, the young woman offered a smile and wandered to his station.
“Evening, Captain,” she greeted with a curtsy. Blake offered a distracted nod in return, keeping his eyes on the mist. “Are we to see rain before we hit landfall?”
Blake sighed inwardly, both at the girl’s naivety and the disturbance. Mindful of her status, he remained cordial, if not a little gruff. “Nay, ma’am. You see him?” He indicated his Pokémon.
She gave it a brief glance, eyes bright with recognition. “Yes—a Vaporeon, if I’m not mistaken? A popular companion for sailors, or so I hear.”
Blake wasn’t sure if he should be impressed or annoyed. Miss Tilman might have been naive, but she seemed to have a spark of intelligence in her. Any other time, he would have delighted to accommodate her curiosity, but as circumstances were, his heart was not in it. Still, he carried on the conversation, if not to divert himself from his worries.
“Yes, and for good reason,” he replied. “Their fins will shake when a rainstorm is approaching, giving us time to prepare or chart a new course. Sailors consider it good luck to have one onboard, through really, it’s just common sense.”
Miss Tilman pursed her lips, narrowing her eyes coyly. “And if having a woman onboard is considered bad luck, what kind of luck does that leave us with, Captain?”
At that, Blake offered a weak chuckle. “I don’t put much stock in any kind of luck, Miss Tilman. A man is subject only to consequence and circumstance.”
The governor’s daughter nodded, a thoughtful frown on her youthful face. Her gaze soon fell back to the pacing Vaporeon, and her eyebrows creased with concern. “He certainly seems… agitated. Is something the matter?”
Blake copied the frown. Rather than answer, he simply stated, “We should be drawing close to port. I would suggest you—”
A harsh screech cut him off, muffled slightly by the fog. Blake and his passenger glanced up to the crow’s nest, spotting a Noctowl flapping its wings while staring out into the fog. The sailor sharing its post shoved the restless bird aside and followed its gaze.
“Light ahead, Captain!” the watch called down. “Off the starboard!”
Mary tilted her head curiously. “Maybe we have already reached port?”
The captain of the Cheerful Alice kept his mouth shut, eyes narrowed as he scanned the fog. As silly as the notion was, he wished she was correct. He would rather ram this ship into the docks than face the nightmares his imagination brewed. Still, all signs suggested otherwise. The Vaporeon had ceased his pacing, his body tense. The Noctowl overhead kept screeching, jumping from foot to foot.
Finally, they could see the light, but it definitely wasn’t what they expected. It illuminated the fog with blue, growing blindingly bright before its source became apparent.
Blake paled. He stood face to face with a Lampent—a devourer of souls, said to appear before the moment of one’s death.
The creature made a desolate moan before lifting its black arms above its head. The flame burning in its head flashed several times, then, as if pulled back by a rope, the fog lifted.
They were surrounded.
Five ships circled the Cheerful Alice, none bearing a flag. Each had a monstrosity chained to the bow—malnourished Gyarados that glared hungrily at their meager ship with reddened eyes. While Blake gaped at the beasts, the Cheerful Alice lurched beneath them.
“Tentacruel!” the watch called from the crow’s nest. “They’ve surrounded the hull!”
That shook Blake from his stupor. The captain cursed himself for not acting sooner; he may be a young captain, but even he should have seen the signs. The fog hadbeen unnatural—likely created by the sea-bird Pokémon flocking around the ships’ masts—and had led them right into a trap. Now, they were at the mercy of this mystery fleet. Spaniards? The French? This was a time of peace, not of war.
The flag ship turned its bow towards the Cheerful Alice, its banner slowly rising up the mast. Blake recognized it before the watch ever lifted his voice.
“Pirates!”
Taking a deep, shuddering breath, the captain said to his passenger, “Miss Tilman, I suggest you head below deck. Please inform the passengers that they are to stay below until further notice.”
The young woman nodded numbly, but didn’t move until Blake repeated the order in a louder tone. After she stumbled back to the passenger quarters, the captain was left alone with his thoughts.
Five ships. What could they do against five ships?
The brash part of him wanted to fight. Angered by his own negligence, it wanted to retaliate against the pirates and wrest vengeance from them. The sensible part, the part he forced himself to listen to, stayed his tongue. The Cheerful Alice had its defenses—Pokémon trained to take out Tentacruel, and a few firearms for the men—but it seemed inadequate against a fleet equipped with tamed Gyarados. Even if he sent out the jelly fighters, the other ships would likely be on them before they could ever get free.
How were the pirates controlling all these Pokémon?
“Orders, Captain?”
Blake broke his staring contest with the approaching vessel to look at his first mate. He hadn’t noticed the older man’s approach, nor the anxious gathering of his crew and their Pokémon around him. Glancing around their faces, he could see fear and defeat. The weight of their despondent stares added to the burden Blake already felt on his shoulders. Their lives, and the lives of the other passengers, depended on him. He had to see them through.
Taking in a deep breath, he said to his first mate, “Clarke, fly the white flag.”
XXXXX
The pirates made quick work of boarding the Cheerful Alice. Most flew in before their ship ever reached them, riding on the backs or talons of Pokémon. Honoring the white flag, they did nothing to harm the crew. Some immediately began scouring the ship, while the rest surrounded Blake and his men. They jeered at them in a cacophonous choir of shouting, shrieking, roaring, and bellowing. Their appearances were just as filthy as their words, dressed in a motley array of fashions from the world over. The Pokémon accompanying them were just as grisly, battle-scared and coated in grime.
As the rest of the boarding party joined, however, Blake began to realize that there were more Pokémon then men.
A shrill scream rose above the noise, announcing the discovery of the passengers. Blake and his crew watched helplessly as their charges were shoved out into the light. First among them was Mary Tilman, who glanced fearfully his way.
When all the occupants of the Cheerful Alice were gathered, a man with a short white beard called out, “Board is secure, Cap’n!”
With that, a hush fell over the pirates. All that could be heard was the calm lull of the waves and the footsteps of a heavy pair of boots. The pirates parted for a single man. Tall in stature, he was dressed lavishly in red, from silken waistcoat to the feather in his cap. That alone would have been impressive, were it not for the long black beard that hung from his face in rope-like braids. All that hair made a disparaging contrast with the fine clothing he donned, as if he were stuck between sophistication and barbarism. As it were, Blake couldn’t tell if the man was grinning or snarling as he glanced over his captives.
Movement near the man’s leg caught Blake’s attention—a flash of green, then a pair of purple eyes peered out from behind the man’s boot. Above them shone a dull red gem.
“Ladies ‘n gen’lemen,” the man with the white beard spoke up again. “Yeh stand in the presence o’ the fierce’m Cap’n Bardolf Blackwood.”
Blake snapped his head up, glancing towards the prow of the pirate’s vessel. Now, he could see the name painted so vibrantly on the hull: The Red Queen—one of the most notorious names in the Spanish Main.
Blackwood either smirked or scowled through his grizzly beard. “A pleasure, I’m sure. Who be the cap’n of this fine vessel?”
The crew of the Cheerful Alice were silent, although their eyes traveled to the back of Blake’s heads. The young captain held his tongue, taking a moment to muster his courage. He would never admit to being the bravest of men; his face was as white as a sheet, and his hands trembled at his sides. What little anger he had before now left him cold. Yet despite the urge to run away, Blake held his ground. He had to keep a level head. For his crew. For his passengers.
Something brushed up his leg. Blake glanced down to see his Vaporeon sitting at his side, his mermaid’s tail wrapped around his boots.
“I am,” he finally responded, hoping Blackwood didn’t hear the slight tremor in his voice. That hope seemed vain, as coarse chuckles rippled through the pirate crew.
The pirate captain turned to him with new interest. “Are yeh now? Yer name?”
“Blake Fulton.”
Blackwood took a few steps closer, bringing with him the foul stench of tobacco and gunpowder. Blake resisted the urge to gag, returning the pirate’s scrutinizing stare.
“Cap’n Fulton,” said Blackwood, adjusting one of the many pistols that hung from his belt, “why dun yeh tell me about yer lil’ vessel here. The Cheerful Alice, was it?” He gave a brief glance to Blake’s crew. “Yeh dun look so cheerful.”
A more earnest round of chuckling rose from the pirates.
“This is a transport vessel,” Blake spoke above them, fighting to keep his tone even. “We are ferrying citizens of Port Kingler and their associates to their home.”
Blackwood frowned, though he looked over Blake’s shoulder at the men and women behind him. Dressed in powdered wigs and finery, it wasn’t difficult to discern their status. Blake thought he could see a spark of interest in Blackwood’s dark eye.
“Is that so…” the captain muttered under his breath.
At that moment, one of the aristocrats chose to speak up. “Yes, it is, and if you don’t withdraw your wretched lot of sc—”
Blackwood’s arm shot up in an instant, pistol clicking in his hand. Two Pokémon—a Barbaracle and a Toxicroak—stepped up beside him, raising their claws menacingly. Losing his playful façade, Blackwood barked, “Do not speak unless spok’n to! I have this entire port under my control, and unless yeh do as I say, yer vacation from your posh little community will be permanently extended.” Turning to his crew, he continued, “I want this entire ship turned upside down. Take all their fineries ‘n anythin’ of use.”
Fixing his gaze back on the aristocrat who spoke, he pulled back the hammer. “I want ‘is wig.”
With a battlecry, the pirates and their Pokémon surged into action, breaking into every crate in sight. Some attacked the captain’s quarters, while others disappeared below decks. One group stayed to guard the passengers, the quartermaster snatching the wig Blackwood so desired. Blake and his crew could do nothing but watch.
“Now I want all of yeh to state yer name and title,” Blackwood continued, shifting his pistol to aim it at Mary.
Blake felt himself move forward to defend her, but something held him back. He turned to see a grim-faced Clarke, giving him an almost imperceptible shake of the head.
Mary looked as if she were about to be violently ill, but she took a deep breath. “M-mary Tilman.”
Blackwood raised his bushy eyebrows. “Tilman? As in, Gov’ner Tilman?”
“Y-yes… I-I am his daughter.”
Blake exhaled at length, closing his eyes. Blackwood, in contrast, glanced at his crew with mock surprise. Murmurs rippled through their ranks, some giving the woman looks that Blake did not like at all.
Nodding, Blackwood turned back to Mary. “We just got ourselves our first hostage, boys. I believe the dear gov’ner will be more… co-operative, now.”
The pirates chuckled in eager agreement.
“Take her to the Queen,” Blackwood ordered. Before he could stop himself, Blake stepped forward in front of Mary, intercepting the quartermaster. “Blackwood!”
A hush fell over the excited pirates. Their captain glared at Blake with obvious annoyance.
Fighting to keep the courage that had so suddenly seized him, Blake continued, “I challenge you to a duel.”
Another choir of murmurs. Blackwood narrowed his eyes, but remained silent.
Blake swallowed, his mouth as dry as cotton. “One on one. If I win, you let Miss Tilman and my crew go free.”
The pirate captain took several stops forward, his expression neutral as he asked, “And if I win, Captain Fulton?”
“If you win… we’ll do as you say.”
The deck of the Cheerful Alice was silent, save for the quiet whispers of the waves, as Blackwood considered the offer. Beneath his black beard, his frown grew deeper and deeper. At last, it lifted into a smirk.
“If I win,” he said, “you will send one of your men to the good ole gov’ner and demand from ‘im a shipment of medical supplies—drugs, bandages, the like—as well as a cart ‘o capsules and one doz’n water-type critters. If he complies, I may just let ev’ryone walk away with their lives.”
“Including Miss Tilman?” Blake made sure.
Blackwood held a hand above his heart. “The very same. We won’t harm a single ‘air on her precious ‘lil body.”
The pirate captain grinned vilely, leading Blake to doubt his sincerity. Still, Blake had a plan. A terrible one, but the only one he could think of. He glanced down, finding his companion still lingering near his feet. The Vaporeon returned the gaze, its liquid eyes full of determination.
“Agreed,” Blake nodded at Blackwood.
The crowd surrounding them grunted, some in excitement, some in contempt. The Pokémon in their ranks chattered with anticipation. Taking a step backwards, Blackwood held his arms open wide.
“I like yer jib, Fulton, though the odds don’t look like there in yer favor. Tell yeh what—I’ll let you choose your opponent.”
Each of the enemy Pokémon immediately cried out, flexing their muscles and claws, doing anything to look as intimidating as possible. Blake, however, already had his choice.
“That one,” he pointed to the green creature at Blackwood’s feet. Suddenly, the pirates didn’t seem to smug. They exchanged confused looks, but Blackwood continued to smirk, something devilish behind his eyes. Blake’s stomach twisted. Blackwood had expected this.
“Wrong choice,” the bearded man muttered before gesturing to his men. The pirates stepped back, taking their prisoners with them, and cleared a space for the battle. Blake stood alone with his Vaporeon against Blackwood’s might.
One pirate, the assumed first mate, stepped between them briefly, nodding at them before declaring, “Beg’n.”
“Billy,” Blake leapt right into action, “close-range physical, prioritize agility.”
The Vaporeon surged forward, faster than the eye could follow and aiming a tackle at the feline-like opponent. Blackwood’s Pokémon stood its ground. At the last minute, it shifted to the side. Billy sailed past, skidding to a halt with a look of bewilderment.
“You know the strat’gy,” Blackwood called out. Immediately, his Pokémon spun, orb glowing in its forehead. Multi-hued light gathered before its face before launching towards Billy, blasting the Vaporeon into the nearest mast.
Blake winced, but to his relief Billy got on his feet.
“Ranged attacks,” Blake amended his order.
Billy flicked his ears in affirmation, then took a deep breath. He spewed out jets of water from his mouth, one after another. Across the deck, Blackwood’s creature nimbly dodged every volley. Every one. When Billy stopped his barrage to catch his breath, the opponent was unscathed.
“Do you know what you’re dealin’ with, Fulton?” Blackwood taunted, arms crossed. “My Annie here is an Espeon—a very special one at that. They say their fur picks up on movement ‘n the air, lettin’ ‘em predict an opponent’s next attack. Unless you come up with somethin’ clever, you can’t touch her.”
In the air, Black echoed. What about…
The green Espeon’s eyes glinted. A light began to shine around Billy’s frame, and he slowly lifted from the ground.
“Oh,” Blackwood added, “and she’s a psychic.”
Billy flew backwards through the air, propelled by the enemy’s powers. Blake realized too late that the Vaporeon was sailing right towards him. The young captain could only brace himself before he was knocked off his feet. Blake felt the air rush out of his lungs when Billy landed on top of him.
Around them, the pirates laughed. Billy quickly climbed off, ears flattened against his head apologetically. Despite the pain, Blake forced himself to sit up on his elbow, patting the creature on the head. Once he caught enough breath to talk, he whispered in his ear.
“Don’t tell me you’ve given up already?” Blackwood taunted. His Espeon, Annie, flicked its forked tail, tilting its chin up haughtily.
Both Billy and Blake shot the duo a glare, the former padding back out onto the battlefield. Blake shakily rose to his feet, then commanded, “Summon wave.”
With a bark, the Vaporeon arched its back. Off the starboard side of the ship, the ocean surged. The Cheerful Alice tilted as the water rose over the rails, but before the pirates could react the wave washed over the deck. The pirates and their captives were swept off their feet, creating mass confusion as Pokémon and people tried to find a hold. Blake clung to the ship’s rails, keeping his footing while so many others floundered. Glancing across the arena, he could see Blackwood still standing, a shimmering wall of light protecting him and his Pokémon.
The pirate captain scowled, “Was that really necessary?”
Blake said nothing—but it was his turn to grin. A good puddle of water remained on the deck—but there was no sign of his Vaporeon. Blackwood and Annie caught on quickly, glancing around in befuddlement. Annie took a cautious step forward—right into one of the puddles.
The puddle exploded into a brilliant display of blue scales and yellow fins. The Espeon could not react before Billy rammed his head into hers, knocking her off her feet. The Vaporeon jumped across a few boards before leaping into another puddle, and disappearing entirely. Dazed, Blackwood’s Pokémon stumbled backwards, eyes darting to and fro for her enemy. She didn’t even see the next attack coming as she stepped into another puddle.
Billy burst up behind her, and flipping forward in the air, he brought his tail down on her. The Espeon collapsed, and did not move.
All eyes stared at the defeated Pokémon. Even Blackwood.
Then, several fierce roars split the air. Blake glanced over his shoulder to see the Gyarados pulling the Red Queen balk. The ferocious serpent turned on its masters, bringing its tail down across the infamous ship’s deck. Around them, the scene repeated itself, with each Gyarados lashing into the nearest ship. On the deck of the Cheerful Alice, other Pokémon started rebelling, and complete chaos unfolded.
Blackwood shouted, waiving his pistols in the air and firing them off at disobedient creatures, while the few men he had in his crew tried desperately to regain control. Blake watched in a stunned stupor. He had been right… Blackwood could have never controlled that many Pokémon.
He had had a psychic helping him.
“Captain!”
Blake snapped out of his wonderment, seeing Mary calling him from across the deck. Clarke hovered near her, ordering his Poliwrath about in her defense.
“Clarke—” Blake began, but the ship beneath them groaned. The Cheerful Alice was moving again, freed from the Tentacruel. The pirates’ planks split in half as she drifted away from the Red Queen.
They could escape.
Blake glanced over at Blackwood, who currently grappled with an errant Scyther. The young captain saw his chance. “Billy!”
The Vaporeon understood. Summoning all the water on deck, he directed it all to Blackwood. The jet caught him in the back, and launched him overboard. Blake never even saw his face before he disappeared over the side of the ship.
Some pirates immediately took note.
"Captain!"
"Blackwood's overboard!"
A moment of confusion infected their ranks, which Blake quickly took advantage of. Two more met the same fate as their captain.
Feeling a rush of victory, Blake shouted in return, “Men, to me! Fight back!”
The crew of the Cheerful Alice gave a rallying battle cry. From there, the odds turned in their favor. Many of the rebelling Pokémon soon fled after meeting resistance, taking either to the sky or to the water. When remaining human pirates found their numbers dwindling, they either jumped overboard, or surrendered.
In the end, Blake found himself standing on the quarterdeck, staring over a mass of cheering faces. Some were bloodied, some as pale as a sheet, but all were there. Somehow, alive. In the distance Blake could see the mast of the Red Queen sink into the ocean, a set of Gyarados fins slipping into the depths beside it, taking with it a man of legendary infamy.
"Captain," Clarke's voice called him back to his own ship. Blake turned, but started at his first mate.
Beside him, Mary Tilman held the unconscious form of a green Espeon.