Disclaimer: I do not own these characters in any which way. (Although I wish I did!)

(A/N: I made up the names Helronder and Dargrieve; I think they're kind of old-fashioned!)


Ah, that was a fond memory. Ludwig had trained the men in sword mastery and it had gotten them places! People feared them, just like Bella had always dreamed. They even had a name for her; the Belgian Blue Bell they called her. It seemed catchy enough, but some of her crew called her Cap'n Blue. Or just Captain Bella. She didn't mind.

"Che Bastarda. We should be getting to the town of Helronder in a few weeks," One of her crewmates, Lovino, told her. Bella rolled her eyes at the name he donned her. Even though Lovino had a slightly effeminate look to him-what with his chestnut hair and green eyes-he was an excellent marksman. Although the bow and arrow was quite outdated, a few tweaks here and there to the weapon made it perfect.

"I know, Lovino. I know all the moves we make, and when we'll get there." Bella had begun to walk towards her captain's quarters, her boots clacking on the wood.

"And how do you know that, smartass?" Lovino seemed threatened from his captain's words, but never acted on them. He knew he would get his ass handed to him.

"You guys are doin' great," Bella shouted as words of encouragement to her crew. She turned her head towards Lovino and gave him a winning smile. "Because I am the 'Che bastarda', aren't I?"

Bella entered her "office" as she sat in the large, plush chair that always rocked back and for against the waves. After years of riding a ship, she had gotten used to the gentle rocking, or the fierce shoving of the waves. The blonde let her eyes close momentarily, letting her mind shift to the whole layout of the town Helronder. A very old-fashioned name if you asked her, but, whatever.

The door opened and closed, her eyes drifting open as she stared at the ceiling.

"Yes, Ludwig?" Bella began to absent-mindedly twirl one of her pistols. Once in a while, the ship was dull since all she did was commandeer her ship and direct a few instructions. But the fun began when they made it on land, or when an enemy ship began to attack.

"We might stop by Dargrieve before we arrive in Helronder. You know, the guys might need a drink or two before they lose their minds." Ludwig gave a little chuckle as he brushed his messy hair back.

"Yes," Bella replied, pursing her lips. She wanted to ask him a question-had been wanting to for a while-but she wasn't sure how to phrase it. "Ludwig, I've been meaning to ask you..."

"Yes, Captain?" He replied playfully. Ludwig didn't know Bella as the serious type, so he talked to her like so.

"Do you regret coming with me? I mean, abandoning that swanky life you led and becoming a pirate." She leaned her cheek against her upwards-turned palm. Ludwig never talked about it to her. She was sure that he probably told some of the crewmates he trusted, she was sure of that. But not a word about it directed towards her.

Ludwig seemed to ponder it for a moment before he responded. "Well, at first I did. I wasn't used to stealing and fighting to get my way, and I didn't particularly enjoy it. But after a while, I kind of got used to it and now I suppose I don't regret it. Other things seemed to occupy my mind." He gave Bella a small smile before he left the room.

"Well mates, we'll be arriving to Dargrieve in a few days! So I propose a toast," Bella shouted over the cacophony of the men. They were all happy as could be as raised up their glasses.

Bella, Ludwig, and the rest of the crew were at the dining quarters down below the deck, tables arranged. in rows. Some of the men were sitting on stools or on benches; mostly mismatched. Metal plates filled with meat, vegetables-especially lemons-and salt. The main food groups for a pirate.

"A toast to all the riches we've acquired and even more that'll follow! Huzzah!" Bella brought her drink to the air rapidly, causing her ale to spill over.

"Huzzah!" Her crew repeated, toasting and spilling their drinks. They only had that store of ale left until they arrived at Dargrieve.

"Enjoy yourselves! I'll be in my captain's quarters if you need me." She gave them a savage smile before leaving the dining room.

"Oh, the pirate's life is the life for me~" Bella heard her crew chant before she left.

The woman sighed, going to the deck of her ship and plopping down onto the wet, wooden floor. It was already nighttime and the stars glinted playfully at her. They seemed of little consolation as she leaned her cheek to her upturned palm. It was a quirk of hers when she got to thinking. First they would get to Dargrieve and then Helronder. Bella actually dreaded going to Helronder since her family was there, Amelia she didn't talk to them since she had run away.

"I thought you were going to your captain's quarters." A voice protruded into the darkness.

"I was, but I decided I needed some fresh air," She replied calmly, knowing that Ludwig was the one who asked. The floorboards next to her creaked and a sigh escaped her companion.

"I've known you for too long to know that you're lying. So what's gotten you all stirred up." The blonde man huffed, his breath mixing with the cool air.

The green-eyed woman chewed on the inside of her mouth, deciding whether or not to voice her thoughts on the trip to Helronder. But her thoughts took her on a route elsewhere as she sighed.

"My crewmates don't need me there, I thought. I'm a bad captain to them." Bella's lips pursed, staring at the sky and thinking how true that statement was.

Ludwig scoffed. "What's gotten into you? You were radiating confidence and cockiness just this afternoon."

"How did you-?"

"It's not that hard to read your face you know." The man rolled his eyes as he kicked his legs over the edge of the ship.

"It's just-I'm really sorry that I'm such a bad captain," Bella confessed, putting a hand to her forehead. "I dunno. I suppose I feel as if I'm not good enough. I don't do as much as I should." She blew away the hair that was obstructing her vision.

Ludwig stared at her for a moment, trying to understand her ludicrous words. "What're you talking about? Of course you're a great captain! You certainly have the ambition." He raised a single blonde brow, causing Bella to emit a small chuckle.

"But you do most of the work! It just doesn't seem fair to me." She gave him a side-long glance, his eyes meeting hers for a second before they fleeted to the skies.

"Well, I do manage them but they're big boys! They can handle themselves." Ludwig nodded into the night, satisfied with his statement.

"Yea, and you've trained them! I think that's more than I've done."

"Don't you mean training them using swords? The art of swords is dying fast in preference of cannons and firearms. No offense." Ludwig raised a palm towards her, twirling it to give it more of an effect.

"None taken." She waved his hand away. "I suppose they fear me more than they respect me since I trained them." Her green eyes rolled as she contemplated her words. Yes, that seemed to be it. Even Lovino seemed to fear her when he was talking to her just a while ago.

"Ah, but fear can turn into respect. This crew doesn't fear you Bella, they're just not sure how to talk to their female captain is all."

"Hmm." Bella gave a fading smile as she swung her legs over the deck.

They stayed silent for a long while, the waves lapping loudly. Both had gotten used to the sound, so it seemed as soft as a child's cooing to their ears. Ludwig was well-accustomed to the silence, but unfortunately Bella was not. She thrived on loudness and noise; the blasts of the canons, the popping sound of her guns. It was all music to her ears. So she couldn't stay quiet for a few minutes-even the waves couldn't make up for it. Maybe now she could tell him.

"You know Ludwig, I've known you for years but I haven't told you about myself. Not to sound narcissistic or anything." The woman turned to face her companion, hoping that she had gotten his attention. Maybe he could hear it first thing. from her. Maybe he could understand.

"Well, I do know that you're peppy and have loads of dreams." He turned to look at her and then back to the ocean before adding, "Oh, and you can outrun one of those fast beasts." He chuckled, happy with his joke.

"Yes, although you don't know much about me." She wanted him to be serious like he was with everyone else. Just for a few minutes.

"But you don't need to tell me-"

"But I WANT to." Bella was just so utterly frustrated. When she tried to be serious, he would make a joke out of it-all the time. And she had to laugh it off so he wouldn't think she was weak. She saw how he was serious with everyone else; even that one Feliciano chap! He was an airy fellow, but Ludwig was even serious with him!