14 years later

I groaned as I sat up. My eyes were still heavy from sleep when suddenly I heard a voice.

"Get down she's going to blow!"

The ship started rocking and explosions followed as I heard voices coughing.

"It's one of these prisoners! Check the other cells down there, monkey!"

"I'm on it!"

Did it just say Monkey?

"Is this the prisoner we are looking for?" I heard a French voice say. I opened my eyes, and saw a REAL MONKEY.

"What the hell..?" My voice cracked slightly. I looked around my surroundings trying to remember what had happened in the last couple of days. I looked back at the monkey and saw a fat, old man with a red coat and a long white beard standing behind him.

"Are you, Santa?" I murmured in a daze.

"No! Monkey, are ye sure this is the prisoner?" The man narrowed his eyes and turned to the small monkey.

"I'm sure." The Monkey had a navy blue jacket with gold buttons and a hat.

"Humph. Hard to tell. You there! Yer standing on me blindside. Are ye a boy or a girl?"

"Um, I'm a girl." I replied awkwardly.

"Ahh, and what be your name?"

"(Clever) Brianna Everret."

"See! I told you she is the one!" The monkey cried triumphantly.

"Humph. If ye are who ye say you are, prove it! We both know you're an orphan. How'd ye lose your parents?" The man asked.

I remembered losing my parents, the pain I felt.

"Shipwreck..." I whispered.

"Lost in search of buried treasure! Now there's a tale!"

"Look on the bright side-perhaps they are not dead! They could be trapped in a dungeon somewhere."

"No, there dead…I know they are…" I said softly as I clutched the necklace my mother gave me. The man's expression softened as did the monkeys.

"Uh. So where'd ye grow up, then?" he said changing the subject.

I remember arriving to a city filled with dogs and a uniformed pug standing above me. A German Shepard and a Yorkie Terrier, both in red coats stood next to me. They reported to him that a dog pirate had brought me there in hopes that they would raise me.

We must find someone to take care of her!

-But sir, she's not a dog...

So? We don't leave anyone to die because of their species!

What about cats?

They're the only exception. This girl could become the best Privateer Marleybone has ever seen, Get Officer Rottweiler in here! Now!

I smiled as I replied, "Marleybone."

"Ah! So yer Foster Father was a redcoat, eh?" The man said.

"The dogs of Marleybone are known for their accuracy! You must be a good shot, yes?" The monkey commented.

"Good shot?" I replied confused.

"You know, a Musketeer." The man said.

"…."

"You're not a Musketeer?" the monkey asked.

"N-no. I'm not really good with guns." I said embarrassed.

They exchanged worried looks with each other. Then the man spoke again.

"So, how'd ye end up in this brig? What crime did the Armada arrest ye for?" he asked.

I remembered being on my foster father's ship. We were on our way from Skull Island when we were attacked by the Armada.

"Treason." I grunted

"Taken prisoner in a naval battle, eh?"

"Oh! You must be a Privateer! Privateers excel at inspiring their crews." The monkey replied.

I blushed a little by that remark.

"Now then, since we know who ye are now, let's get ye out of this confounded cell. There's piratin' to be done!" the man said as he unlocked the cell door. "Oh, by the way I'm Mr. Gandry and this is Boochbeard." The monkey said.

"That prisoner over there appears to want to talk to you." The Boochbeard said. I approached the cell across from mine. Inside was a goose with a spear.

"Ahh. I see a hint of destiny in your face, Pirate-I'll come with you, if you'll have me. I am
Egg Shen, a humble monk from MooShu."

"Looks like I just got my first mate." I said as I unlocked the cell door and opened it.

Suddenly a loud blast shook the whole ship.

"That sounds bad! We'd best be out of here, quick! Ye'll be needing these." Boochbeard said as he handed me a sword and a shield. "Quickly, move up the stairs at the end of the hall!" Mr. Gandry said.

We ran up the stairs, and onto the deck. We were met by the Clockwork robots, and standing behind them was Deacon. "The prisoner must not be allowed to escape. Take them!" Then Armada guards came to them. I quickly attacked the first Marine. But then he attacked me with his sword, and I lost my balance. Then a pair of Clockwork musketeers came up.

Egg Shen jumped up into the air and slammed his spear down on one of the musketeers.

"Don't just stand there! Capture them!" Deacon yelled out. More Clockworks came forth.

"Oh no! Reinforcements!" Mr. Gandry cried out as Egg Shen and I then took out the musketeer and marine.

"We're still out numbered! Hmm let me even the odds." He throws bombs at them and they fall down.

"Victory is ours!" Egg Shen cheered.

"Impressive. It seems we underestimated you, young pirate. Your friends will not be around to save you next. Enjoy your freedom, while it lasts." Then he pulled out a spark thrower and shot it at a powder barrel, causing the barrel near Boochbeard to explode.

"The smokes clearing!" I heard Mr. Gandry say.

"The Armada leader-he's gone!" Egg Shen yelled. Boochbeard started coughing. "That blast nearly did me in! I can barely see, young pirate, you'll have to navigate us out here. Head for our ship!" we walked across the planks to their ship while Mr. Gandry helped Boochebeard.

"Head to Skull Island and find Captain Avery, he's an old friend of mine. Always hiring pirates for a scheme or other." Boochebeard cough. I climbed the stairs and took the wheel, heading to Skull Island.

We arrived at Skull Island, and I docked the ship and we got off.

"How you feeling Boochbeard?" I asked.

"I'll be alright." He replied smiling. "It was good fighting with ye, young pirate. I can see you're going to do great things."

"Well we be best be off." Mr. Gandry said

"Aye. Good Luck and good hunting!" Boochbeard said as they both got back onto the ship.

"Thanks for your help!" I called out to them. They waved to us and we waved back as they sailed off.

"We best be off too." Egg Shen said.

"Right. Let's go find Avery."

We arrived at a mansion, and went inside. At a deck stood a man dressed in a green pirate outfit and had a black pirate hat on. He had brown curly hair and a white beard and mustache and on his arm was a white bird.

"Um, excuse me. Are you Captain Avery?" I asked rather nervously. I always get nervous around new people.

"That I am. What is it you want?" he replied.

"You see, we kinda just escaped from the Armada and we're going to need a place to stay." I said.

"On the run from the Armada, are you? Well, this is a pirate haven I run here, not a charity. If you want me to hide you, you'll have to work for it." Avery replied.

"What do you want us to do?" Egg Shen asked.

"One of my more willful crewmen, a Buccaneer named Fin, stole a Jade Amulet from me. I need it back! Fin fled to Skull Mountain and roused the Troggies - now they're bombarding us! Get my Amulet back. Report to Chief Rigby at the West Bastion." We started walking out the door when he spoke again. "Wait. Say, if you're going to be a Pirate, you're going to need a ship. I'll tell you what. Do this right and I'll give you one. You have my word of honor. Do we have an accord?"

"I guess so. Thank you for your time. We'll get your Amulet back." I said. With that, Egg Shen and I headed outside.

"Hmm."

"Something troubling you Shen?"

"The whole ship thing…"

"What about it?"

"Well; he didn't look like he was telling us the truth." Egg Shen replied.

"What makes you say that?"

"I do not know, he just doesn't look that trust worthy."

We arrived at the West Bastion were we found a man. As we approached him, Egg Shen suddenly yelled out, "Look out!" as barrel flew over our heads followed by blasts.

"Ahoy, there! Keep yer head down unless ye're lookin' to get blown up!"

"Are you Chief Rigby?" I yelled over then noise.

"Aye! That be me. Blasted Troggies, they've gone mad, they have!"

"We've come to help!" Egg Shen yelled out.

"You want to help? We need to stop this bombardment. Go find Bonnie Anne. She went across the bridge to teach the savages a lesson. You'll do more good there." Chief Rigby ordered. There was a bridge to the left of him. Egg Shen and I crossed the bridge to a jungle-like area, were we found a red fox holding a large, brown wood gun.

"Are you Bonnie Anne?" I asked.

The fox looked at me. "Yeah. So who're you then?" The fox asked snobbishly. She put one hand on her hip, and the over the gun on her shoulder.

"Hmm….Someone's got an attitude…" Egg Shen whispered into my ear.

"Aye, what you say about me? If you know what good for ya, you'll shut it. Don't make me use this baby I got hanging on me shoulder." The fox threatened.

"Hey! No fighting you two." I said, getting between Bonnie and Egg Shen.

"Look, my name is Brianna Everret and this is Egg Shen. Captain Avery set us to help and to get his Amulet back that this Fin stole."

"Avery sent you?" she said as she backed off. I nodded.

"Good – ye've come just in time! That Fin, he's a wily one. He riled up the Troggies till they're mad as badgers! The slimy devils raided us last night – took half our powder stores. Now they're flingin' it back at the town! We're trying to fight back, but there's too many of them! Go soften 'em up a bit, and I'll help ye find Fin."

"How many Troggies should we take out?" Egg Shen asked.

"Hmm, four should be enough. Report to Lieutenant Smollet after." So, we found a few Troggies, picked a fight or too then reported to Lieutenant Smollet, just like they were asked to do.

"Smartly done, Pirate! Now we'll show these croaking fiends the error of their ways!" Lieutenant Smollet exclaimed.

"Well done indeed – ye're good to have around in a fight. I said I'd help ye find Fin, an' I'm a girl o' my word. Have room for another on your crew, Cap'n?"