I own nothing.
Rate T - Occassional swearing (I'm not a fan of swearing, but it's kinda compulsary when writing pirates) and minor mature language.
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Prologue
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"They say when she dances, your hearts are stolen forever, and a simple look into her eyes will freeze your soul" The young tom's eyes sparkled as he spoke, his tan fur ruffled in excitement, the dark lanterns hung around them bouncing shadows across his face, while the other cats around him fed off his every word like it was their last. "And her fur is whiter than innocence and softer than any expensive silk"
"And you saw her?" One tom asked in awe. The tan cat nodded his head furiously.
"Only for a second and she was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Her kindness, her compassion, her soft words and gentle hands, she's practically an angel, a goddess!" The toms whispered at his words with admiring eyes.
"And while she can steal hearts faster than a pirate steals gold, hers can never be stolen" A gruff voice from the back of the group sounded above the chattering talk. All heads turning to the older cat. He leaned against a brown pole; dark fur decorated in golden spots and eyes that glowed dark-yellow in the firelight. He nodded in confirmation as he continued, "While she does have nature of an angel, that nature must be earned."
The deck was silent before one of the younger felines spoke up.
"Have you met her, sir" He asked timidly. The older cat guffawed, his mane shaking as he did.
"Met? I know the queen, and while kind and compassionate she can be, she's not without a feisty streak" the group of cats looked at the golden spotted cat in confusion, the minds struggling to put together their new description of the once perfect image of their attention.
"Can you tell us a bit about her?" The same younger cat asked again. The darker furred tom smiled, and nodded lazily, waving the interested youngsters over.
"Well, the first time I saw her was a few years back and…" The tom continued, capturing his audience quickly as he described his story. The group ooh'd and ahh'd in all the right spots, eyes alight amongst the stars and bright moon as they listened to the famous legend known by all priates.
Far above the collection of cats a pair of golden orbs gazed down, his fur blending into the night as he listened to every word of the leopard spotted cat. He watched the group with hidden interest, ears pricked, and eyes bright. A patch of white fur glowed slightly as he shifted before blending back into the dark night of his hidden corner. Ivory fangs flashed white in the moonlight as he drew his lips back into a secretive grin.
"Diamond of the Night, huh?"
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Chapter 1
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"Pirates, we have pirates!" Victoria glanced over to the messenger, her lips emitting a groan as she rolled her eyes in annoyance.
Couldn't they at least give her a few weeks more before coming to kidnap her again? 'Apparently not' she felt herself thinking, as she calmed down a younger worker near her, who looked like she was about to cry. Her eyes scanned the panicking forms around her as cats rushed to the safety of their own homes or attempted to hide, cowering under the sturdy wooden tables. Her mind however was set on finding a certain, comforting face.
"Vik, we gotta hide!" A familiar voice grabbed her attention and she turned to see the beautiful red, black and white tortoiseshell queen waving at her desperately from the kitchen door.
Jemima her name was. The two of them had met a few months back, their situations very the same and had immediately become friends. Together, the two had managed to escape their never ending situations and dangers, keeping each other company and comfort during both the less and more fortunate times.
Today was one of the less fortunate times.
Victoria gave one glance at her newest boss, who, seeing the question in her eyes nodded back much to her relief, before she sprinted towards her best friend, their hands connecting.
The moment their hands touched a loud SMASH filled the terrified room as the door was roughly forced off its hinges. The two cats stopped, minds frozen as they heard the trampling of footsteps enter the inn and looked at each other in worry and frustration.
They needed somewhere to hide. Or they needed to run. Hiding was the easier option, and tended to work better if done well. Running was a risky move on their behalf but if it came down to that then they were willing to try. However before they could make any move to do either the inn-keepers youngest son appeared behind them, grabbing Jemima's hand and quickly dragged them over to the wine cellar. With quick ease he removed the rug covering the floor, revealing a well hidden trap door.
"Quick, hide, before they see you", Victoria opened her mouth to complain but the tom cut her off. "Don't worry. We all know who you are, but we won't let them get to you" With a quick smile at Jemima he opened the lid and pushed the two workers into the musty room, closing the door above them and quickly hurrying away. The two cats stayed frozen on the cold floor, breaths shallow and hearts erratic. Although there was no light the two friends could sense each other's presence and they shuffled closer together, hands still locked in comfort.
Time seemed to slow for the two felines, only a few shouts and mumbles getting through the thick door before a loud crash made the two jump in shock. Desperate yells followed the loud noise only to be met with utter silence. Loud noises she could deal with, noises meant there were people, living people. Silence contained the unknown, and the silence that the dining room emitted right now freaked her out immensely. Victoria bit her lip, worry evident in her posture as she squeezed Jemima's hand before letting go of it to stand up.
"What are you doing?" Jemima's confused whisper seemed louder in the silence and Victoria shushed her before reaching up to feel for the trap door. Fingers meeting metal she pushed the heavy covering open slightly, boots climbing two rungs on the ladder hanging down, and peeked into the kitchen, eyes managing to see into the main room of the inn. Those who were still present in the dining hall seemed to be frozen and were cowering in fear. She leaned out of the crack slightly, desperate to view more of the room before a coarse voice stopped her.
"Well? Is no one going to tell me where she is?" Silence answered him and the gruff voice growled. "Fine, then we'll do this the hard way", a sudden yelp and a few gasps started, followed by a feminine sounding whimper as the deep voice continued. "For every minute you don't tell me where she is, a head rolls, starting with hers".
The rooms silence broke, voices shouting to stop, a young voice crying and threats and curses completing the vocal orchestra. Victoria, desperate to find out what was happening, crawled out of her hiding spot, drawing herself low on her feet and shuffling over to the kitchen door. Peering out she gasped as she saw all the familiar faces she had come to appreciate in her new home captive to a range of swords and daggers alike, their owners clothing distinguishing them immediately.
Pirates.
At the centre of the group, a tall, tiger striped tom stood holding a mottled black and brown queen in his hands. Victoria recognised her immediately as the inn-keepers oldest daughter, and bit her lip in fear.
Selene had always been kind to Jemima and her and seeing her so frightened made her heart fill with guilt. The tom holding her captive was dressed in strong, superior clothing, a large red belt around his waist, black dirty boots upon his feet, legs covered in dark, expensive looking trousers and a black eye-patch to complete the look. When his dark, narrowed eye turned, searching the faces around him, Victoria could see his left ear was gone, only a stump to show where it had once been.
He growled deep in his throat.
"Tell me where she is or…" His coarse voice stopped, as his blade swept across Serene's neck, blooding appearing like beads as he slowly deepened the cut. Serene's eyes were clenched in fear, tears staining her pretty fur and her lip trembled as she bravely attempted to keep her screams to herself. It was all too much for Victoria, seeing those who didn't deserve such a thing suffer because of something she was born with. She did the only thing she could do.
"STOP!" The room froze, turning to face the sudden appearing cat, her arms raised to stop Serene's fate. Victoria held her arms high in submission, sweeping her gaze across the room to land on the pirate captain and she locked steady eyes with his mouldy green pair.
"It's me you want right? Well then I'll come so long as you leave everyone in this town alone" She spoke bravely, her entire body betraying none of the fear she felt as she stepped closer. The pirate captain, stood there, eyes narrowed and quickly appraised the queen before him. Slowly recognition dawned on his marred face and his growl turned into a gleeful sneer. He let go of the young cat in his arms, and she flung herself away from the ocean thief and into her father's arms, sobbing as she did.
Captain Growltiger, leader of the Last Stand observed the sacrificial queen before him as he took in her deal.
"You're willing to not only give yourself up but cooperate for the sake of these miserable people?" His voice showed disdain and curiosity and Victoria nodded in confirmation.
"IF…" She paused, letting the word sink into the pirate's brain, "you leave them alone".
The captain stood there, thinking for a moment before snapping his fingers.
"Deal. Lock her down below, and make sure she doesn't escape." Rough hands grabbed her protesting arms and dragged her outside and towards her newest prison.
They neared the dock and Victoria raised her head to take in the foreign ship before her. It stood there battle scarred and filthy, Last Stand engraved on the edge and a beautiful, wooden mer-queen rising from its bow. She gazed at it in wonder and hidden amusement.
The ship was big, but it wasn't massive, and it certainly wasn't the most fortified ship she had ever boarded. As she was hauled on board re adjusted her posture, keeping sure her head was held high and eyes were narrowed, glaring at the lecherous grins and cat-calls aimed at her as she passed the remaining crew that had been left on the ship.
It wasn't long until she found her arms and legs tied and the door to her prison cell closed, the lock sounding in the quiet room as the pirates walked off, closing the door to her room behind them. She sighed and glanced around the dingy, smelly room. Water dripped from above, pooling onto the floor, leaving her skirt feeling damp and cold. Despite her fear she knew, deep down, that she was used it. In fact 'use to it' was an understatement. This was her life, ever since that stupid man had created that stupid name for her and stupid 'legend' about her. Her mind travelled to her best friend. It was the first time they had been split up in ages and Victoria was starting to feel the absence of her presence.
"Oh, Jem-" She was cut off as loud shouting and stomping sounded behind the door to her room when it was suddenly flung open, a body being thrown in, closed and locked.
Victoria stared at the form on the floor.
"Jemmie?" The familiar face of her friend glanced up. Seeing the other feline she squealed and hopped up, rushing to Victoria's prison and latching onto he bars that separated them, while Victoria managed to worm herself as close as she could get.
"Vicky! I'm so glad I found you"
"What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you! Let me tell you, persuading those jerks to take me with them wasn't easy"
Victoria stared at the young queen like she was crazy. "Are you an idiot? What on earth did you do that for?"
Jemima smiled brightly, completely missing Victoria's anger. "You're my best friend Vik, where you go, I go. We've been together this long and I don't plan on changing that anytime soon" Victoria watched her friend with wide eyes before beaming into a smile.
"You're crazy. And I wouldn't have you any other way"
Jemima gave a very un-Jemima-like snort and shook her head, laughing. "Yeah, except I'm pretty sure you're the crazy one here" Victoria pouted slightly but eventually grinned before motioning to her restrictions.
"You mind?" Jemima smiled, reaching through the bars to Victoria's offered hands, loosening the ropes slightly and doing the same for her legs, letting the tied cat sigh in content at her now comfortable limbs.
The boats rocking shifted slightly and the two queens paused for a second.
The boat was on the move. They would have to wait till they docked before any attempt of escape.
"So now we wait"
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This idea came to me literally only a week ago. Pirates are such a popular genre and I couldn't help but think of the fun and possibilities I could do with such a theme. So here we are.
I tried straying away from the classic, overly gentle Victoria and the overly shy Mistoffelees simply because I wanted to try a different personality that I think would suit them.
I'm still sticking to the basics; Victoria is, deep down, the caring and gentle cat we know she is, I just wanted to add a little spice to her, and thus a feisty personality, mainly caused by her hard past.
Mistoffelees is the same. Basically I'll explain their slightly different personalities in the story later on.
Umm… Also, Victoria's bad personality is supposed to level out her… 'perfect looks' and stuff… if that makes sense. Gives her more flaws I guess. I'm also going for a slightly, not darker, jsut more serious story feel.
And yeah… I'm hoping you guys will want to continuing reading because quite frankly I'm excited simply planning and writing it out.
Also Cross My Heart shall not be forgotten, making sure I'm several chapters ahead when posting so that I always have chapters to spare when extremely busy….
And that was really long so, yeah. Reviews are muchly appreciated.
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A.S