"You still have it?" asked Francis as Alice slowly blinked her eyes open. There was a throbbing pain in the side of her head, and she just knew there'd be a lump. She glanced around quickly, frowning in the candlelit cell she lay in. Francis was on the other side of the bars, sitting on a chair.

"What?" muttered Alice, wrists struggling against their binds.

"The token." Francis answered, pointing to Alice's chest. Oh, of course. How could she forget?

It hurt. Her feet ached. Her stomach ached and growled, clawing at her like a beast inside her belly. Alice's cheeks were dirty, her long hair knotted and tatty. The clothes she wore were mere rags. And yet, she had walked all this way, reaching the ocean and ports. She was only young, ten years old at best.

"Why, hello there."

Alice looked up at the man she'd just bumped into. Or perhaps they were a woman. With hair down to the shoulder like that, she couldn't be sure. But, regardless of their looks, the voice was masculine. "Sorry," she mumbled, looking at the ground.

"Where're you going?" the man asked softly, crouching so that his blue eyes were level with Alice's green. "You don't look like one of the children of this town."

"I don't know. I'm not." She answered just as quietly, biting her lip.

"Do you have anywhere you can go?" he sighed, gently extending his hand. "My name is Francis."

"Alice."

"Well, Alice, answer me. Are you a runaway, or something?"

She hesitated, but shook her head. "My mum and dad are dead." Alice mumbled bluntly. "So are my brothers."

"A poor child like you, all alone?" Francis tutted. "Would you like to travel with me, then?" Alice paused, wondering just how wise it would be to go with a man that she just bumped into.

"Do you have food?" she asked meekly, hiding her eyes behind her matted hair.

"Yes."

She let him lead her to the ship.

"I called it the Morsure de Requin," Francis boasted, going across the plank from dock to ship. "It means 'Shark's Bite' in English. I'm French, you see." He cooed, smiling. "I got a lot of money from my parents when they passed away, so I bought a ship. I'm a pirate now." The man chuckled, and helped Alice over the plank.

"A pirate?" she asked, eyes wide. She'd read stories about pirates when she was younger, but never did she imagine meeting one.

"Yes. I am a captain." Francis sang, waltzing about the deck. "We are only docked here for a few days, restocking and whatnot, and then we set out! If you wished, you could travel with us. I am always looking for new recruits." He hummed. "But, I must warn you. It is no easy life."

"Please." Alice mumbled, ungracefully grabbing Francis's sleeve. "I have nowhere else to go."

From that day on, Francis considered Alice part of his crew. He let her join in at the table, and she ate everything she could get her hands on. Once she was well fed and a lot cheerier, Francis decided to try and manage that mop of blonde that seemed to be eating her head and shoulders. It simply refused to participate, and with her consent, cut it short. He even taught her the basics of fighting, promising to teach her more once her hands were big enough to hold a sword properly.

They set off a few days later, with Alice retreating from the deck and hiding inside a cabin. She was naturally seasick, but soon grew used to the rocking of the waves. One day upon the sea, Francis's men had been fishing, and managed to wrangle up a mighty shark. Alice went out to see it with awed eyes.

"Ah, so you've come to look at the catch of the day, mm?" Francis hummed, turning to face his little rapscallion.

"It's so big," marveled Alice, wandering closer and watching a man incapacitate the mighty fish. "Will we eat it?"

"Shark can taste quite nice if cooked properly," shrugged Francis. "Luckily for you, I'm a brilliant cook." Alice nodded with a smile, and wandered around to look at it.

The animal's mouth was open, and she stared in at the rows of teeth that lined it. "I see why you named your ship 'Shark's Bite'." She commented. Francis paused for a moment, wandering over to glance over her shoulder.

"You're a genius," he said suddenly, looking something like an excited puppy. "Thank you, Alice!" He chirped, wrapping his arms around her in an embrace.

"I didn't even do anything," she refuted hotly, swatting his arms away.

That evening, as Alice was about to go to sleep, the cabin door was opened, and Francis stood there holding a collection of something. "Everyone," he hummed, stepping inside with an excited smile. "As you're all official members of my crew, I think it's about time I give you something to show that!" He puffed proudly, lifting up the first necklace from the collection.

It was a shark tooth, with string wound around the top and then looping up to create a necklace. Francis went about and gave the crewmembers one each, ushering them to put it around their necks. He already had one on, Alice noted. He got to Alice, and instead of simply giving it to her– he knew that she would never put it on willingly – he placed it over her head and smiled as it fell at her chest.

"You're one of us now, Alice."

"I only keep it on me in case I have no other weapons." Alice scoffed, glaring up at Francis as he smiled. Arsehole. "Maybe I should stab you with it."

"Now, now, I don't think you're telling me the truth," Francis huffed, opening the cell door and casually walking in. Alice felt like she was being mocked.

"Why would I bloody lie about something as stupid as this?!" Alice grunted, shuffling forward on her knees to possibly move forward and bite Francis or something.

"Oh, you couldn't possibly miss me, could you?" asked Francis, putting a gentle hand to the top of Alice's head, effectively preventing her from moving much further. "Do you miss being one of my crew?"

"Of course not!" she exclaimed, incredulous that Francis would even ask such a question. "I became my own captain for a reason!"

Years had passed. Alice had grown stronger, and was constantly at the deck, watching the waves. She had found Francis more insufferable the more she stayed with him, and had considered breaking free more than once. Tonight was the night, she had decided.

That evening, she went to Francis's cabin. "I'm leaving."

"Quoi?" Francis said quietly, looking up from his writing and tilting his head. "What was that, mon cher?"

"I'm leaving, Francis," Alice said quietly, narrowing her eyes and looking down at the ground. "I'll fight you if needs be, but I can't be a member of your crew anymore."

"Alice.. What are you talking about?" he asked, voice growing a little more panicky.

"I want my own ship. I don't want to be stuck as First Mate Alice." She explained, husky tones bitter. "If you won't let me go peacefully, I'm willing to fight you." Alice muttered, hand moving to the sword kept in her belt.

"Oh." Francis frowned, brows knitting together. "Are you sure about this? I don't know how I'll cope without my lovely first mate."

"I've thought about it for over a year, Francis." Alice scowled. "I'm sick of not calling the shots."

"I suppose I must let you go, then." He sighed, leaning his cheek in one hand and looking down at his desk. Perhaps he was about to cry, thought Alice. Her will did not falter.

"That's all I want." She grumbled.

"I must warn you, though. If you are to become a captain, we will be instantly put as rivals." Francis mumbled. "I will not hesitate to fire at you, should you come too close or threaten attack. Neither will any other ship. In addition, you could face mutiny from your own crew. It's dangerous, being a captain."

Alice nodded, taking a few steps closer. "Thank you. There is one more thing I need of you, Francis."

"Mm?"

Alice pulled her sword from her belt, and pointed it at the unarmed Francis. Not an ounce of fear showed on her face. "All of the money you have."

"How could I forget my first mutiny?" Francis laughed sadly, sitting in front of Alice, legs crossed basket-style. "It was very cruel of you to take me for everything I had."

"I needed to buy a ship and supplies. I also needed some incentive for people to join my crew." Alice sneered. "I knew exactly how much money you had. Rich bastard."

"And yet, you kept what tied you to me," Francis mused softly, reaching down and touching the shark's tooth that rested at Alice's chest. "I'm surprised at you, Alice."

"Don't touch it-" she muttered before she could think about her words.

"Oh?" Francis raised a brow. "What's this?" Alice stayed silent. He took the tooth in his fingers, running his thumb along its contours. "It's still in brilliant condition." He said quietly.

"Get your dirty fingers off of it," Alice growled, lips curled in a snarl. "Either let go or stab yourself with it."

"Oh my," Francis frowned. "Why so defensive?" He asked, starting to lift the pendant. When the string lifted to about Alice's eye level, she moved frantically.

"Stop it! Stop it right now! Leave it!" She shouted, trying to jerk forward and headbutt Francis. He let go, confused and slightly entertained by Alice's attachment.

Puffing, she turned away so that she would not have to face this man.

"I don't understand, Alice." Francis conceded with a sigh.

"I'd never miss a bastard like you," she spat. "I only wear it still because it serves as a reminder of how I used to be."

"Sweet and curious. You used to be sweet and curious," he answered, running a hand through his hair. "You're still a fine pirate, though."

"What's the deal with this, anyway? You just decide to keep me locked up here? My crew won't just sit and allow this." She spat, changing the subject so that she would not grow any more upset.

"Perhaps I could set your ship alight," murmured Francis, and Alice's eyes widened in fright. Seeing her expression, he shrugged, and laughed softly. "I'm pulling your leg. A pirate's ship is as much of a member of the crew as any man. Then again, we have incapacitated, what, about half your crew thanks to this raid of yours?" She frowned, biting her lip.

"Don't touch her." She spat. "Leave the Unicorn alone."

"I shall, although I cannot make any promises about those who reside within her." Francis shrugged. "I told you many years ago, a pirate rarely goes easy on another just because of old relations." He sighed. "You know that better than most, I suppose." Alice's mind quickly went from memory to Amelia, and she fretted. If Francis knew that a former captive of his was aboard her ship.. Well, surely, his raid would be much more swiftly executed.

"Nothing more to say?" Francis sighed, standing up. "I suppose this is goodnight, then." Alice glanced up to him, creased brows and a scowl. "You've really grown up, Alice." With that, he left.

Amelia awoke from her slumber, yawning and stretching as morning light shone in through the cabin. The bed was still empty? She frowned. Where was Alice? Hadn't she made a promise?

rock on another chapter! the next one will be the last one hehe