Author's note: READ THIS BEFORE YOU CONTINUE READING! This may look like a different setting but it's not. Arthur just became a pirate under the influence of Niall. If you're wondering what happened to Niall…well you will find out eventually! I won't spoil the story. Also, if you're asking about how Elizabeth I already passed away when America became a British colony…ignore that. Because Alfred is Alfred here, not America.

X

The dark-skinned boy wandered around the woods, trying to find his way back to the city. He cursed at himself for being so stupid. He was already thirteen and yet he still got lost in the woods. He expected another earful from his mother for not staying in the city as if he was a seven-year-old kid.

His name was Antonio Fernandez Carriedo. He lived with his single mother who always had headaches over her delinquent son. Although Antonio was only 13, he was already a delinquent. He had friends who were murderers and rapists. Antonio didn't enjoy going to the woods with his friends Francis and Gilbert to climb cliffs and trees, but if he told them he preferred not to go, he'd be called a woman or a pansy. He was always careful when he went to the woods, making sure his mother would be clueless about it. But now, he couldn't find Francis and Gilbert and he was left all alone in the woods where he was unable to find his way home.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of engines starting. Could it be the bulldozers? He knew the town council planned to tear this forested area down on that exact day, but Francis and Gilbert were insistent on going. Though they were Antonio's worst friends, he still hoped they would be okay. He followed the sound of the bulldozers, hoping he would be able to get help. On his way to the bulldozers, he smelled fire. Wasn't fire usually the sign for help? He led himself to the fire and discovered a small camp surrounding it. Beside the fire, he saw a figure lying beside it. Could it be a person? Or was it a dangerous wild animal? He walked gingerly to the figure and grabbed the fabric that was covering it. It turned out to be just a girl. She looked a few years younger than Antonio. What was a girl doing in the middle of the woods? Soon, the sound of the bulldozers got louder. Antonio quickly picked her up and carried her away bridal-style to get help.

X

"Captain?" asked one of the muscular members of Arthur Kirkland's pirate crew.

"Yes?"

"I heard that Captain Carriedo's crew just found some really rare treasure."

"Is that the result of our missing map?"

"Yes, Captain. Those bastards planted a mole in our ship who walked the plank yesterday."

"Looks like Antonio won't rest until I confront him myself." Arthur said as he smirked. "That coward."

"So what now, Captain?"

"What now? We'll trash his home of course."

The crewmember was a bit fearful of his captain's ruthlessness. "But won't we be killing lots of innocent people?"

"As long as it'll attract that tomato bastard to us, it doesn't matter even if the children die."

The crewmember gulped. Knowing his captain's intentions, he went inform his fellow crewmembers to prepare to sail to Spain. Though the navigator of the crew claimed he was a geography geek, he often made mistakes that no such navigator could make. Sometimes when Arthur wanted to sail to America to visit his younger brother Alfred, he would end up going to Africa instead. Arthur was a cruel, heartless man but the navigator was his old friend's son. Hence, he didn't hold it against him. However, Arthur had to go the correct location no matter what. He was going to start a massacre. If he started it in the wrong country, the country could declare war on his home country, England. He knew that would cause trouble for his people, as well as his wife Queen Elizabeth I.

"Lance?" Arthur said he approached his navigator.

"Oh!" Arthur's voice made the petit man tremble. "Y-yes, Captain?"

"Please be careful with this trip. Remember, failure is not an option."

"Of course, Captain! I will not let you down!"

Arthur nodded and let Lance the navigator get back to work. Although Arthur was the cruelest, most powerful pirate in the world, he was a bit henpecked when it came to his wife. He claims he loves her, but he doesn't. He always felt frightened around her. After all, without her, Arthur would have never become so powerful or drive the Spanish to a dead end. As a result, Arthur always felt a strong need to protect the queen.

X

"Prepare for the death of all your loved ones, Antonio…" Arthur mumbled as his ship was nearing Spain. He has never been to Spain, but he knew it was warm and sunny, unlike the dull climate of England.

"Captain, we're here!" A crewmember said as he barged into Arthur's room.

"Good. Tell the rest to surround the place. I'm sure I'll be able to speak to Antonio personally soon."

The crewmember nodded and went to give instructions to the other members. Arthur knew he would be killing hundreds, or even thousands only to meet one person but he knew someone like Antonio deserved to die. After all, Arthur had spared the annoying Spanish several times. The crewmembers sometimes wondered if he still had a conscience. Soon, Arthur heard the screams of women and crying of children already. Arthur sighed. He was supposed to be pleased with this. I have to accomplish this. For my people and for my queen. Who knows what Antonio will do if I continue keeping quiet.

Arthur got off the ship to join in the attack. Everyone was running around frantically for the lives of themselves and their loved ones too. The place was in a pandemonium. Arthur wanted to make sure the place was Spain, but it wasn't the appropriate time for the attacker to ask such questions. He killed anyone in his way but spared children. The faces of children reminded him of his younger brother. A girl screamed as Arthur sliced her father into half with his sword. Arthur glanced at the girl. She glared at him with hatred and vengeance in her eyes. Regaining her composure, she realized she could easily get killed or raped and ran away.

Suddenly, Arthur felt someone kick the back of his neck. He lost his balance and fell. A woman with auburn hair stood in front of him. She looked very familiar and was dressed like a pirate. However, Arthur could not remember meeting a female pirate.

"WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?" She screamed. "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING TO MY PEOPLE?"

"I-I'm Arthur Kirkland…" The anger in the woman's eyes disappeared. She looked like she was in deep thought. Arthur took advantage of this opportunity and kicked the woman's feet, causing her to fall. Arthur quickly got on his feet and knocked the woman out before she could do anything. She yelped before falling unconscious. Arthur picked her up and went to gather his crew. He ordered them to stop the attack and to retreat immediately. The remaining crewmembers alive didn't question their captain's order and retreated as fast as possible.

X

Rio Juarez Carriedo woke up with a heavy head. She found herself lying on a bed in a spacious room. Where was she? She remembered her country Portugal being attacked by a group of pirates but couldn't recall getting knocked out. She quickly got off the bed and tried to find a way out. Wherever she was, she needed to go back home immediately. Irmao won't be too pleased. She thought. As she was about to open the door to exit the room, a familiar blonde pirate came in.

"It's you!" She yelled.

"So, I see you've woken up." Arthur said, closing the door.

"I know you're a pirate. Pirates steal. But there's no need to cause a massacre in my country!"

"You're Spanish?"

"No! I'm Portuguese! Why did you take me here anyway?"

Portuguese? Arthur face-palmed. "I'm very, very sorry. My navigator, he's a bit…well we were supposed to attack Spain.

"Why?"

"I'm sorry but I can't tell you."

"You're the enemy of the pirate Antonio Fernandez Carriedo right?"

"How'd you know?"

Rio paused. She knew if she told the pirate she was Antonio's sister, he would not hesitate to hold her hostage or even kill her. She didn't want to cause her brother trouble and neither did she want to die in the hands of such a cruel pirate. It wasn't the time to die, she still had to go back to her country to attend to the losses.

"Well, I just know he's a Spanish pirate."

"I see. By the way, what's your name?"

"Rio."

Rio? Arthur found this name, as well as its owner very familiar. He then remembered it belonged to his childhood friend. The one who died in the stampede. Was this Rio the same as his Rio? It can't be…how was she able to escape in such a short amount of time?

"Is there something wrong?" She asked, noticing Arthur was looking at her from head to toe.

"N-nothing…it's just that I feel that I've met you before."

"Well your name is quite familiar too, but I'm sure we've never met before."

"You used to live alone in the forested area of England right?"

"What are you talking about?" She looked at Arthur as if he was on crack. How could she possibly grow up in a forest? "I grew up in the urban parts of Lisbon!"

"Don't you remember me? I'm Arthur! And my older brother Niall who tried to kill you! We were best friends but I…I left you alone in the woods before it got torn down by a bunch of bulldozers."

"I think you've got the wrong person."

"But it can't be too much of a coincidence! Your name, your looks. They're all the same!" Tears started to fall from Arthur eyes. He didn't care that he was crying in front of a woman, especially one who he hoped was his childhood friend. "It's all my fault that she died…"

The pirate who was supposed to have no tears and no heart was crying. Not over lost treasure, but a girl he met when he was a child. Rio empathized with him and she felt a bit bad over the fact that she reminded him of his childhood friend.

"I'm sorry…but I really don't recall anything." Rio said, patting his shoulder.

Arthur quickly wiped away his tears. "Whatever. It doesn't really bother me nowadays."

"Wait, aren't you going to take me home?" Rio said as Arthur was about to leave the room.

"What? So you could get us all arrested on the spot? You're staying with us, Rio."

"WAIT! WHA-" Arthur left the room, locking the door. Now how was Rio able to get home? There were a few small windows in the room, but they were too small for her to fit through. She just hoped her brother could quickly find out what happened and rescue her. She couldn't afford to stay on the ship for too long, especially with so many pirates she didn't know. Although Rio's impression on pirates wasn't so good, Antonio's crew was an exception. They all treated her like a buddy although she was a woman and the Captain's sister.

X

There was blood everywhere. Dead bodies and human insides scattered the ground. Antonio wasn't angry, but anxious and worried. He knew Arthur Kirkland had came and taken his sister. Antonio couldn't imagine what would happen to Rio on Arthur's ship. Knowing Arthur's personality, she would probably get raped and abused by not only him, but his crewmembers too. Antonio prayed for his sister's safety. He just wants me to appear.

"Captain, what are we going to do with Arthur Kirkland and Rio?" a crewmember asked.

"Since that asshole wants me to appear, I'll appear. I won't take this lying down. Tell the crew to prepare for battle!"