A/N: Hello there, and welcome to the next fanfic of mine! This is a collab I did with Sapphire_sky on AO3 and it's also being posted there. Anywwavves, enjoy!

Chapter 1: Into the Crusader

EASTERN COAST OF SKAIA, 01:45. May 5.

The morning is still young. That means you still have time before the ship arrives. You quickly dart out of your bedroom, grabbing your palm-sized compass before throwing yourself into the nighttime air. You swore it almost smelled like smo- oh god.

Smoke rose into the air as cannons fired at your hometown. But why were they attacking here? What did they have to gain? "Dirk! Wake up!" You only hear muffled groans. "Wake up! The town's under fire!" With that, your twin was by your side within the minute. "What do they want?"

"I dunno. But they're willing to do anything to get it. C'mon!" The two of you race into the fire, and towards the two massive ships that lay in Port Carne-vale, setting the city ablaze. "You catch up to the Culler and I'll get the Crusader, aight?" Dirk nods to you before sprinting towards the larger of the two ships.

He'd better not hurt himself out there.

You hear cackling behind you, and turn to be face to face with a legend. First mate of the Crusader. Leader in the Prospit plunder of a year or so before. The infamous Terezi Pyrope. The blind prophet.

"Ey, Vris! Look who we've got here! Someone's still alive!" A girl in a captain's hat steps out from behind a structure's corner, her grin revealing a row of teeth filed to points. Vriska Serket. Captain of the Crusader. You're quite overwhelmed, to say the very least.

"Hey, kid. What's your name? And why're you alive when the city clearly shouldn't be?" You're too awestruck to do anything but choke on your own words. Two of the most prominent rulers of the sea, and they're talking to some lowly landweller like you!

That is, you're awestruck until you recall local legends.

The crusader doesn't leave survivors. You swallow a lump in your throat, reaching a hand out to shake. "Strider. Dave strider. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Serket." Surprisingly enough, the captain actually shakes your hand, turning to her first mate. "This one seems like a keeper, aye? Quite willing to take orders, aren't you, boy?" All you can do is nod, keeping the flawless poker face that your family is known for.

"Then welcome to the Crusader's crew, Strider." And with that, the notorious pirate whacked you in the back of the head with the flat of her sword, all as Pyrope cackled.

OFF THE COAST OF CARNE-VALE, 08:14. May 5

You wake up with a throbbing headache, looking around confusedly before you remember the events of earlier in the morning. The room around you was walled with stunning stained wood, parts of it carved to elaborately depict the Crusader's past adventures.

It was breathtaking.

"Good nap?" The ship's captain leaned against the doorway, hat tipped to cover her eyes. "Yeah, I gue-"

"Fantastic. You'll start work after you eat something. Be prepared. Nep'll show you the ropes.." The captain- now your captain, exits the room, leaving you to speak with a short, curly haired girl with the tail of a cat.

"You're Strider, I purrsume?" You take a moment before remembering the cat girl from letters and local news. "Nepeta Leijon? Probably the best fencer in all of the Alternian?"

"You know who I am?" Leijon grinned, seemingly surprised. "But of course. And it's an honour to meet you at last," You smirk and shake Nep's hand, "so you're the one showing me around?"

"Yep! I'm sure you'll like the crew, too!"

"From what I've heard, they're the most badass group of pirates in all the seas."

"You've heard right!" The auburn haired female stood up straighter, grinning.

"Fantastic. So do I get more piratey clothes? Or maybe a sword? A sword would be awesome." You clutch your compass in your hand, its metal warming from your prolonged contact with it.

"Hold your hoofbeasts, landweller. We're actually heading to purrt right now. Equihiss'll get you fixed right up witH one of his masterpieces! We'll be there at sunset, if my timing's correct. But furst, I have to get you used to the ship! As of now, you're an official member of the Crusaders!"

ALTERNIAN OCEAN, 16:13. May 5

You take a whiff of your surroundings, scents painting a picture around you instead of merely seeing things with eyes. The fact that yours had been burnt red since the accident didn't bother you that much. It was your favorite color, after all! Besides, sniffing around and tasting things suited you much better than just plain seeing.

The room you were in had elegantly polished wood with medallions and things on the walls depicting adventures of the Crusader - or, as Vriska liked to call it, the Crus8er. Scenting the one nearest to you, you noted that it was a painting of the ship in a fierce battle with the Culler. Crusader appeared to be winning in the painting, you concluded from the blurry image of it you saw in your mind. And rightfully so, why the fuck would a painting of it losing be in here anyway? Vris wouldn't have allowed that, of course.

Another scent, a familiar one, entered your senses. It was Serket herself, who you were literally just thinking about. How ironic! She got closer and her aroma got heavier until she sat down in the expensive chair next to yours and spoke.

"What do you think so far about the newest addition to the crew, TZ?" The Scorpio asked. You could tell she must be looking you right in the eye, even though you couldn't exactly see.

"I think he really does have potential to be a great pirate." You say, and that was the truth.

"Well, we wouldn't want that potential to be wasted!" she replied, winking. "I know Strider could be a valuable asset in battle. He seems to have the energy, the strength, and the charisma we need."

"Plus, he survived our attack on the town." you quickly add in. She nods.

"So we're going to keep our expectations of him high. We don't admit just anyone into the crew, you know. They've got to have a number of good characteristics for me to even consider it. As for people who turn out to be failures, well… let's just say I'm not afraid to bring out the plank."

FEW HOURS AWAY FROM DERSE'S PORT, 17:09. May 5

You've heard from Kanaya that Serket had taken on a new crew member. She hadn't done so since she decided to be kind enough to admit you and Nepeta to the Crusader.

But that had been months ago. Back in Lion City, off of Skaia's northern coast. When she took control of the place you were born.

This kid must have really been charming in order for Vriska to even consider admitting him. You'd have to have a talk with the lucky bastard later, but, for now, you were stuck watching the waves roll by as you manned the crow's nest. You knew for sure that you wouldn't be seeing any sort of land for a while, but it was important you watched for any passing ships.

Just in case.

You looked down at the deck, struggling to see past the wind whipping hair into your eyes. What you could see was Nep, showing the new kid around the deck. She soon looks up and points to you, saying something you're too far away to hear. You climb out of the nest, sliding down some rope in order to get to the deck.

You're pretty much the only one who can do so without seriously fucking up your hands, and you suppose that's why Serket assigned you best duty.

You land right behind the newbie, and give him a tap on the shoulder. He spins around, not looking surprised. Dammit. Fucking stoic new kid.

"You must be Karkles. I'm Dave. Nice to meet you." He holds out his hand to shake.

Other than the ridiculous nickname, you think you can see what Serket saw in the kid.

Strong. Good worker. Charming. Good for publicity as well as negotiation. And his looks could be compared to those of a siren.

This Dave kid could be really useful, if Serket and Pyrope played their cards right.

So of course you shook his hand. The landweller chuckled, and you tilt your head, confused. "Actually, out of the whole crew, you're the one I least expected to actually shake my hand. "And why the fuck might that be?" You inquire, rolling your eyes to the ocean floor and back.

"That's why."

"Well fuck you too."

"Ehh... Maybe later. If you're nice enough."

"Eugh! You know that's not what I fucking meant!" You feel your face go red in frustration, but you refuse to give the kid that satisfaction, so you just stalk away, before being called back by Nepeta. "Karkitty! I've got to start working on Strider's room. Could you watch him until we get to port? Take him up to the crow's nest or something."

"Ugh. Fine, Nepeta." You turn back to the obviously smug kid, frowning. "Okay, asshole. First things first, no smart remarks or I will throw you off this goddamn ship, got it?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Secondly, you'd better be a good climber or else it'll be pretty hard for you to get up to the nest," you gesture upwards, towards the nest, grabbing onto one of the lower ropes of the web that stretched from the nest to the deck. Once you were about a third of the way up, you looked down to see Dave almost caught up with you on the web.

You mutter under your breath, climbing at top speed until you reached the top, pulling yourself into the crow's nest. About thirty seconds later, Strider was in the nest as well, breathing heavily. You smirk, even though you knew your advantage was unfair. You knew you'd won.

Instead, Strider looks over the edge, seemingly mesmerized by the view of the open water. "You guys get to see this every day?"

"Yeah. Just the ocean. You'll get used to it eventually."

NEAR THE DERSE'S PORT, 18:32. May 5

You stare off the side of the ship, captivated by every little detail. Like how the sinking sun reflected practically every wave. "You guys get to see this every day?" You inquire, turning back to Vantas.

"Yeah. Just the ocean. You'll get used to it eventually." You seriously doubt that, but say nothing on the topic, once again focusing on the epic image before you.

Some massive whale was flipping its tail around, creating a massive wave that spread in all directions.

"Strider, you're fawning over a whale."

"No I'm not," you say, pouting.

"Yes you are. Dork."

"Dork means whale dick."

"Well then you're a fucking whale dick. It doesn't make much of a difference."

You raise an eyebrow, leaning back against the wood of the crow's nest. The Vantas stands up, remarkably keeping his balance. "WE'RE COMING UP ON DERSE! BE PREPARED TO UNBOARD OR WHATEVER!"

Immediately, the ship's crew began moving, securing ropes and lowering sails. Even Nepeta came out to help with preparations. The only one not working was the one at the ship's wheel, keeping the vessel on course. The howling wind made Serket look even more intimidating, whether she realized it or not.

"Don't tell me you're mooning over Vriska, now," Vantas whined, smirking nonetheless. "You know I'm not. Just wondering..."

"Wondering what, exactly?"

"She actually tells all you guys what to do? Like, commands or whatever? Because you seem stubborn as hell."

"Well, she is the captain. And we all listen to her. Except TZ, who I presume dominates in more places than one."

"Oh my fucking god, Karkat."

"What? Just making a point."

"Suuuuure."

"I was!"

You raise an eyebrow, saying nothing.

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"You know what? You win. I'm not gonna argue this anymore."

"Ha."

"Shut up."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Oh my holy fuck. Aren't we getting near the shore, anyways?" You sigh, smirking. Vantas could be amusing to keep around. You follow as he starts to swing himself over the side of the crow's nest.

Climbing down the ropes was definitely easier than going up them. It only took a few seconds- and some rope burn- to reach the deck. Vantas' hands remained quite unburnt. This bothered you, for some reason unbeknownst.

Vriska started yelling a bunch of words you barely understand, but you think you hear "starboard" somewhere in there. You're sure you'd get used to all the pirate talk eventually, but now was not that time. "What'd she just say?" You look at Karkat, confused.

"The fuck am I supposed to know? She talks bullshit when she's driving all the time. No one understands it at all. You'll get used to it." Vantas just shrugs. "Come on, we're docking to the right."

"And how do you that, exactly?"

"Learning to interpret random bullshit...? And it's not actually my first time here-" Vantas was cut off by the ship jerking to a stop. He just mumbled things under his breath.

"We're here?"

"Nooooo, we're still out in the middle of the fucking Alternian." Karkles rolled his eyes, and you show him the best of phalanges before anyone else would care to look.