Author: Zhampy
Rating:
K+ /PG-13
Disclaimer:
I don't own Golden Sun.
Summery:
Deadbeard has always been the scourge of the seas, but his defeat means a new pirate leader shall rule the open waters. AU

a/n: This is an old fic I fixed up a little. I wrote it years ago before we even had the slightest inkling of Dark Dawn and for all intents and purposes the franchise seemed to be dead, so it's an AU now, I reckon. It's kind of fun because it was going to be Mudshipping but now Valeshipping is canon, if I ever pick this up I'd alter it to Valeship. It's a good thing I like any ship that includes Isaac, haha!

Prince of Pirates
Prologue

"Legend says that Crossbone Isle could be found in the middle of Karagol Sea."

"Ah… Crossbone Isle… Wait, did you say "could"? Is it not there anymore or something?"

"Well, it's still there, but there's no point in going. Someone named Isaac picked it clean."

"What, he took all the treasure?"

"Yeah. And apparently, he even defeated the ancient ghost pirate protecting it…"

"What about the stories that if you beat the ghost pirate, you would become the leader of all pirates?"

"Well, you see, that means that Isaac is our leader now."

"Wow… just like that? I'll bet he's pretty tough."

"No doubt. But you know, he must be a reliable guy, too…"

"You think?"

"You'd have to be to beat that ghost. That's why we're looking for him now, remember?"

"If he's looking for a pirate crew, he can count me in!"

Felix watched the two men as they pushed by him and continued towards the stairs and down to the ground floor of the inn.

Jenna stared at their retreating backs too, with a barley concealed scowl. "Are they pirates? Just what has Isaac been doing to associate with pirates?"

"They haven't met with Isaac" the elderly voice of Kraden said. "Gathering from what we caught of their conversation they are still searching for him."

"Still!" Jenna frowned, "why would they be looking for Isaac? He must have done something…"

Kraden nodded lightly. "Of course. It seems he has defeated the ghost of Crossbone Isle. Folklore tells of the man who fells the ghost shall be the Prince of Pirates… their sworn leader."

"But, but, that's not good" Jenna blustered worriedly.

"I'm sure Isaac didn't know about it," Sheba spoke helpfully. "Right, Kraden?" She looked at the old man for reassurance to her statement.

The scholar nodded again at her. "Exactly my thoughts. The 'Prince of Pirates' is a tale told only in the Eastern seas among the groups of remaining pirates, and perhaps sailors as well. There is a very slim chance Isaac and his companions could have found out." He smiled, "and I'm sure it would not be an occupation our Isaac would willingly choose."

As the group left the inn and walked the streets of Alhafra Jenna sighed and spoke up again. "So, what is this whole 'Prince of Pirates thing exactly?"

"It's an old, old tradition held by all men of the sea." Piers answered after a pause. "The ghost, Deadbeard, was a terrible man when alive…" he trailed off.

Sheba held a concerned expression towards the water adept as the group continued through the streets. The townsfolk were not especially warming at the present time. After loosing their ship the mayor had poisoned many townsfolk's minds to the adepts in a surprisingly short period of time. There were still many who held on to their beliefs that their mayor was a selfish man and held the adepts in high regard for their efforts towards the ship even if it had been taken shortly after. And of course none of the adepts were willing to explain what Briggs had done with it nor were it was currently being stored away.

Eventually the silence had stretched on long enough and Sheba cleared her throat before speaking in a small voice. "You know more of this ghost?" she speculated.

"I know of the tales surrounding him" Piers nodded. "According to folklore Deadbeard was branded the 'Prince of Pirates' because he was the most talented yet fearsome sailor to sail the Eastern seas. Not unlike us he ventured to the further most tips of the sea searching for anything to aid him."

"Aid him? That… sounds suspicious" Jenna hummed thoughtfully.

"He was an adept" Piers continued, "a water adept to be precise."

Jenna snorted indignantly. "That makes sense."

"It seems most people we learn about seem to be adepts," Sheba put in, "or, at least, they seem to possess some psynergy."

"I'm sure it's just a coincidence," Felix sighed.

Kraden tapped a finger to his chin. "Yes, or that adepts just seem to attract more attention to themselves. A lot more than your average man. People with unique abilities will draw another's attention whether they want it or not."

"Deadbeard certainly wanted the attention." Everyone looked towards Piers. "He'd do the most inhumane things to gain people's interest. When his career as a sailor waned and he became just another man of the sea he turned to piracy. Gathering crew members only on nights with a crescent moon he assembled the roughest pirate group of his time… and as far as I know; our time as well."

"Sounds like a desperate attempt to stay in the public eye," Jenna said bitterly.

Piers nodded at her. "But the public hated him for it. They were, after all, his primary targets. But I guess he has accomplished his goals if even now people are still talking about him."

"Ha! But now he's been beaten," Jenna sniggered then frowned at her next thought, "by Isaac."

"If you don't mind me asking," Kraden spoke up seriously, "how do you know this, Piers?"

The Lemurian sighed and frowned slightly. "He pillaged our city once, and stole one of our ships…"

"Seems a lot of people steal your boats," the fire adept laughed but winced as Sheba stomped on her foot.

The wind adept scowled back at her friend then composed herself to look at Piers. "How did he even get in Lemuria?"

"We don't know," the water adept admitted after a short pause. "He just sailed in through the gates and attacked the city taking all he could until our people drove him away. It was very sudden and he was only called 'Prince' by his men, not captain like any other would be. We later discovered his name was Deadbeard from Lunpa when he ventured into Lemuria. Lunpa told us a lot about the outside world."

"I suppose many people have never heard these stories before because Deadbeard never left the Eastern seas?" Kraden suggested.

"Most probably," Piers agreed. "Lunpa said Deadbeard was the Prince of the sea and himself was the Prince of the land. Or something to that effect," the water adept recalled with an amused smile on his face. "Deadbeard was rendered useless on land so I don't see how he really could leave the Eastern sea."

"So that's another group of people Isaac will have to watch out for," Kraden announced then chuckled lightly. "But I can't help thinking what would happen if he did decide to become a pirate."

Jenna waved the old man off as the group passed the gates of Alhafra. "Isaac would never become a pirate."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

a/n: It's been a while since I played the games (to my surprise since I must have played them both together nearly 20 times now), but I think that bit in italics is direct dialogue from the game. I'm too lazy to check, haha.