Technically speaking, the rest of this story, along with the sequels, will be written by my sister Kaitlyn, not me. She doesn't have a FanFiction account, or she'd post these herself. So, she gave me permission to post them for her. I was still actively involved since I controlled some characters and ideas and edited the chapters for her. She just wrote it all down. I know you'll enjoy them just as much as the ones I wrote.

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"You're very fortunate to have stowed away on my ship, lad," the captain said with his back turned to Jake. "My cabin boy never showed up; therefore," he turned around to face him, "I need someone to fill his position. You will get no income for the position, since you are a stowaway. You would also be made to sleep in the cargo hold."

"Th-thank you," was all Jake could get out at first. "I-I have always wanted to work on a ship. How long will we be out to sea?"

"About a month or so, I figure."

"That should be plenty long enough for everyone to calm down back at home. I'm sure Becky won't be too mad at me," Jake assured himself. But little did he know that he would be away from home longer than he ever expected.

A week later, the ship was only one more day's journey away from their destination. Jake was dozing off while polishing the captain's shoes below deck. He started awake when he heard commotion erupt above him. People were thumping around, and everybody was shouting. Jake rushed to the deck to see what was going on. Pirates had boarded the ship, and they were taking it over. He sprang into action, trying to fight off the pirates. However, he had hardly any sword fighting experience, and they quickly took him captive.

Once the pirates had taken full control of the ship, their captain waltzed on board and observed the people they were holding hostage. "If any of you want to keep your life, you may join my crew. And if you don't join, well, there's the plank. No takers? Aw, come on, now. We aren't that bad. How about you, lad? You look like a capable pup." The captain walked up to Jake and looked him in the eye.

Jake's mind was barraged with several thoughts. "If I say no, then I'm done for. If I say yes, I learn how to become a bloodthirsty pirate. However, there's a chance I could escape after I join. It would be impossible to find my way back to Becky if I were dead." All that he said aloud was, "Alright, why not?"

"Wonderful!" he chuckled heartily. "Welcome aboard the ship of Captain James Redbeard! Mimosa, get our new recruit a bot'le o' root beer to celebrate!"

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After three years under the command of Captain Redbeard, Jake and Matthew Mimosa, his best friend from the ship, went out on their own with the captain's blessing. As soon as he could, Jake scraped up enough money to buy his own ship, the Viper. He made Matthew Mimosa his first mate and hired a crew soon after.

For two glorious years, Captain Jake Cardinal sailed the Atlantic Ocean raiding ships and searching for long-lost treasure. However, Jake was not as ruthless as most pirates were: he required his crew to only wound people and to kill as a last resort. Some of the crew did not approve of this rule, including his first mate.

Mimosa and one third of Captain Cardinal's crew took over the Viper and abandoned Jake along with the remainder of the crew in a small port on the coast of Portugal. By taking the ship, Mimosa in turn kidnapped a girl Jake had rescued from a cruel pirate captain, and he took all of Jake's treasure that was stowed in the cargo hold.

Jake was furious, and vowed to get him back for his mutiny. He only had a small sum of gold coins on his person, but he went to his secret spot where he had buried treasure and used it to buy another ship. He purchased the Scarlett Ruby, a slightly used galleon. Only a dozen of his men decided to still stay with him aboard his new ship. Scully, his previous second mate, was assigned to be the new first mate. He hired more like-minded men then continued his life of piracy, every now and then running into Mimosa and trying to make his life miserable.

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It was now seven years since Jake ran away from home. He thought about Becky often, wondering if she married or if she ever believed that he was innocent. He always tried to avoid sailing into his hometown since he was still paranoid that someone would turn him in, but today was an exception. The Scarlett Ruby's main sail had a large tear in it, and Jake had to buy a new one before he could continue his journey back to his hideout. Once Jake bought a new sail, he and a group of his crew walked into a bar for a short break before setting sail.

"Six root beers, please," Jake requested to the bartender. He kept his eyes down and prayed that nobody there would recognize him. Then he picked his head up slightly when he overheard a familiar name mentioned by a man behind him.

"I heard that Mr. and Mrs. Goose are beginning to get very excited for their daughter's wedding. After all, it's only two weeks away now."

"Aye," said the fellow who was talking with the first man, "but is Miss Becky getting excited for it yet? I mean, I think my daughter would be happier to marry Captain Nelson than Becky is."

"What?!" Jake thought. "She couldn't possibly marry that prune! I've gotta find out why she's marrying him." After they finished their root beers, Jake stood up and motioned to his crew to leave. "Spaghetti, Pitzel, I need you two to run an errand for me."

"Aye, aye, Captain!" Pitzel piped up. "What'cha need us to do?"

"You see that huge mansion up on that hill? That is the home of the richest merchant in this city. I want the two of you to kidnap his daughter tonight."

"Kidnap?" Spaghetti wondered. "Why would you want to kidnap someone?"

Jake stopped short and quickly responded, "There will certainly be a large reward for her safe return. Now, when you get her, make sure not to harm her in any way. Oh, and, Pitzel, be sure to grab a few personal items from her room: a couple of dresses, combs, brushes, things like that."

"Alright, Captain," Pitzel saluted.

"You got it, Captain! ER- I mean, yes, sir!" Spaghetti complied.

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"Ugh!" Becky groaned as she flumped on her bed. She had just come back from yet another tiring dinner party celebrating the upcoming wedding. She took off her engagement ring and looked at the large, faceted emerald stone. "I don't even like green!" she bemoaned and set the ring on her nightstand. Then Becky pulled her silver locket out of a secret pocket in her dress and put it on. "Oh, Jake, why did you have to leave and not take me with you? In all these seven years, I haven't heard anything from you. I don't even know if you're alive." The rest of Becky's monologue was cut short when she heard clatter on her balcony.