The Isle of Tartaruga was the heart of the skyways, a trading post for all of the Spiral to come and sell their wares and services. Everyone from the wharf rats of Skull Island to the dogs of Marleybone to the eagles of Aquila came, drawing in crowds so large the ports had been extended three times over. It was here that two of the most infamous pirates of the Spiral, Boochbeard and Mr. Gandry, found themselves one one fateful day.
"The trading post looks packed to the brim today." Boochbeard, an older human pirate with a white beard and eyepatch remarked, straightening his red coat. "Wonder what all the fuss is today."
"Perhaps it iz because of ze bearz of Grizzleheim returning to ze post." Mr. Gandry, a monkey dressed in blue commodore threads suggested. "Zere vorld iz rather far from zhe post, so zey only come about once in a full moon."
"Makes sense." Boochbeard replied. "Wonder what they be sellin'?"
"Salted fish, yum, weapons, a few furs, the usual." Mr. Gandry listed off.
Boochbeard licked his lips at the first two items on Gandry's list, making the monkey roll his eyes.
"I suppose ye'll be wantin' to take a gander, captain?" Gandry guessed.
Boochbeard was already making his way over to the stall, following the smell of salted fish. Gandry quickly followed after, scampering up Boochbeard's arm so he was perched on his shoulder, giving him a better view of the market. As he looked around, he caught sight of a stall with several shields hanging along the sides. Tapestries depicting great battles decorated the counter, where various weapons and goods were laid out. A group of bears were manning the set-up, one tending to a forge in the back. Boochbeard walked right up to the counter, fishing out a few gold coins and setting them down.
"I'd like three barrels of your finest Yum, and a fourth barrel of Grizzleheim Salmon please." He requested.
The bear nodded as he went over to where their barrels of food were kept. He did a quick count, noticing they were short on Yum barrels.
"Ylva!" The bear called out. "Bring in some Yum barrels from the cart!"
"Ya got it!" a female voice called from behind the stall.
Boochbeard looked over as a back door to the stall opened. From the door came a young human girl dressed in furs carrying a barrel over her shoulder. She had boots that seemed to be made out of the paws of a wildclaw, the unfortunate beast's pelt serving as a head covering and cloak that covered wild black hair. Other overlapping furs were stitched together into a warm outfit, a thick blade hanging off her belt. She held the barrel as if it were nothing, setting it down before facing Boochbeard and Gandry.
"Need a hand bringin' this stuff to yer ship?" She asked, her norse accent incredibly thick. "Fer a few extra gold, I'll haul it no problem."
"Thanks, but it won't be necessary." Boochbeard replied. "We'll manage."
"Suit yerself." she said with a shrug. "I'll be helping Volstagg with the forge if-"
A cry for help suddenly drew her attention, cutting her off mid sentence. She, along with most of the surrounding patrons, turned to see an old woman on the ground, surrounded by the remains of what appeared to be a fruit cart. Soldiers were marching past her, having obviously shoved her and her cart out of the way. The woman was trying to gather the fruit from the ground, only to have it, as well as her fingers, smashed by the soldiers. Everyone quickly parted ranks for the soldiers, unwilling to get in their way. Boochbeard and Gandry both looked at the sight in anger, and they weren't the only ones.
"Hey!" Ylva suddenly called out, trying to get the soldiers' attention.
The soldiers kept marching on, ignoring her as she hopped over the counter. The bear behind the counter tried to stop her, but his claws just caught a handful of her fur as she stepped forward.
"HEY!" she shouted again, this time louder.
Once again, she was ignored. In anger, she took one of the barrels Boochbeard had purchased and chucked it like a ball. It shattered upon impact, knocking down a few soldiers and dousing them in salted fish. The entire platoon of soldiers stopped moving.
"I said HEY!" she yelled at the top of her lungs. "Listen when someone is talking to ye, ye stupid-"
The soldiers turned to face her, revealing plain white masks for faces, no visible eyes. The girl froze in place, her eyes widening in horror and a twinge of fear.
"-clockworks…" she finished quietly. "Maggots…"
"You have attacked officers of the Armada." A clockwork with golden trimming on his mask said. "Surrender and submit for disciplinary action."
The girl looked nervously left, then right, then back at the soldiers. She gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes.
"I'll never surrender to you foul machines." she swore. "Never!"
She then bolted down the crowded street, diving in the crowd and disappearing.
"After her." The clockwork officer ordered.
The soldiers quickly followed behind her, shoving the crowds aside to go after her. Seeing her pursuers following, she leapt up onto a nearby stand and started jumping from roof to roof, even sliding down a cart of rugs from Mirage before sliding into a local tavern. The clockworks quickly followed, the sounds of shattering glasses and breaking tables filtering out through the door.
"Ylva… you fool." the bear at the counter cursed. "I know you despise the Armada, but to openly attack them… If they learned who you really are..."
"Who she really iz?" Gandry spoke up, curiosity getting the better of him.
"Aye..." the bear said softly. "Ylva is merely the name our clan gave her when she arrived in our skyway so many years ago."
Both Boochbeard and Gandry were intrigued now, giving the bear their full and undivided attention.
"How long ago was it that she appeared."
"It was almost 15 years ago." the bear answered. "We do not know how she survived alone enough to drift to our shores, but she has the spirit of a wolf inside her, and a strong will to live."
"Do you happen to know her real name?" Gandry inquired.
"Aye." the bear nodded. "It's-"
Suddenly, a clockwork came flying through the window of the tavern, crashing into the stall opposite it. The clockwork was sparking wildly, its head twitching and its mask cracked. Boochbeard peaked inside and saw Ylva fending off clockworks with a sword in one hand and a yum bottle in another. She smashed the bottle on the head of one of the clockworks, weaving to avoid the rapier of a second as she slashed at a third with her cutlass.
"Ya ain't gonna be gettin' me tha' easily ya soulless sons a' grendals!" she swore as she tore into a fourth with the now broken bottle.
Other brave souls gathered at the window, peering inside as the battle continued, surprised that someone was standing up to the clocks, and even more surprised that they appeared to be winning. Unbeknownst to the gathering crowd though, a lone clockwork stood at the rear of the group. He was different then the other foot soldiers, possessing a Bauta style mask for his face and dressing in a black coat with a tricorn hat. He had a cane in his hands, and if he possessed eyes, they would have been scanning the scene with a cold, calculating look.
"So, this is the pirate we seek." he mused. "Finally, we can put an end to this troublesome lot."
He pulled out a pistol from his sleeve, aiming at Ylva and firing. Luckily for her, Ylva turned at the last second, so instead of delivering a fatal blow, the shot grazed along her left eye. She let out a blood curdling scream and fell to the ground, clutching her face as blood poured through her fingers. Everyone gasped, backing away in shock as a few turned towards the source of the shot.
"Deacon..." Boochbeard gasped.
Deacon stowed his gun, marching forward as everyone parted ways for him. He entered the now destroyed tavern as two clockworks pulled Ylva to her feet, divesting her of her weapons. Blood was pouring down the side of her face as she snarled and hissed like a wounded animal, struggling in the grips of her captors. Deacon pulled down the Wildclaw hood she wore, his head cocked slightly as he did.
"You have certainly changed in the 15 years since we last met." Deacon remarked. "Still, I would recognize you anywhere, Evelyn Teach."
There were several gasps in the crowd at the name, more than a few whispering amongst themselves. Gandry and Boochbeard exchanged surprised glances at one another as Ylva, or Evelyn, just struggled harder than ever. Deacon straightened up, tapping his cane on the ground.
"Take her to the brig." He ordered. "She will be delivered to Kane immediately."
Evelyn's struggled ceased for a brief moment, a look of sheer panic in her eyes as the clockworks began dragging her away. Everyone fell into a mournful silence, watching as she was marched off to what might as well be her execution. As they disappeared from view, Gandry and Boochbeard looked at each other thoughtfully. They spoke not a word, but simply nodded and walked off, a plan forming in their heads.
…
Evelyn was tossed unceremoniously into a holding cell of the Erebus, Deacon's flagship. She landed hard on the ground as the door slammed shut with a loud clatter. She slowly sat up, her face throbbing painfully. While the clockworks had taken care of her wounded eye, they had been none too gentle about it, making her entire right side of her face throb painfully. She tentatively touched the bandage, already feeling it soaking once again.
"Damn clocks..." she swore. "How much more can ya take from me?"
She got to her feet, then went to the bars. She pulled on them, trying everything to get them to move or budge in the slightest. Unfortunately, her strength was no match for the expert craftsmanship of the clockworks. She let out an angry yell, slamming her fists on the bars.
"Damn you!" she screamed. "Damn you all ta Elik's Oblivion!"
She banged her fist against the metal walls of the cell a few more times until she wore herself out. She slid onto her knees, breathing heavily as anger, despair, and sadness threatened to overwhelm here.
"Damn you all..." she whispered.
With no other options, and seemingly no hope of escape, Evelyn curled up on the floor of her cell and waited.
...
Despite her circumstances, sleep eventually came to Evelyn. As it happened every night, she dreamt of the fateful day, the day that Evelyn's entire world turned upside down.
Evelyn was a very young child, no older than four or five. Her parents, famous pirates who were leaders of the resistance against the Clockwork Armada, were sailing via stormgate in search of a famous treasure. Evelyn was just learning how to sail and her mother had promised to let her steer once they exited the stormgate into the next land. Evelyn was excited, happily declaring that when she got big, she was going to be just like her parents. They all laughed and held one another...
And then, everything changed.
A huge armada ship, one that easily dwarfed their small schooner, was waiting for them inside the stormgate. Cannonfire was everywhere, her parent's ship getting decimated in the onslaught. Desperate to save her, Evelyn's parents quickly lowered one of the dinghies, putting her in it as they did. Evelyn cried out for her parents, begging them to get in with her. They just cried and told her to live, cutting the ropes and sending the small craft adrift.
With no way of returning to the ship, and too small to do anything to stop it, Evelyn watched in helpless horror as her parent's ship was blown to bits, killing everyone on board.
...
The explosion in Evelyn's dream had her waking up in a cold sweat, gasping for breath as she sat up. She rubbed her face, her ears still ringing from the dream. It wasn't until she heard the sound of whizzing cannonballs that she realized that the explosion hadn't been part of her dream.
"What in the name of-?" She let out before another explosion shook the entire ship.
This secondary explosion was followed by what sounded like gunfire and loud footsteps aboard the upper deck, more frantic and random than a clockwork's.
"Someone's boarding an Armada vessel?" Evelyn questioned. "Who would be so brash and stupid to do something like that?"
Suddenly, she hears a strange hissing sound coming from the door down to the brig.
"Get down!" the voice of Boochbeard shouted.. "She's gonna blow!"
There was one more loud explosion that shook the entire ship, knocking Evelyn back off her feet. She heard those same erratic footsteps approaching her.
"It's one of these prisoners!" Boochbeard declared. "Check the ones down there, monkey!"
"I am on it." Mr. Gandry's thick polarian accented voice replied.
"Ahoy!" Evelyn called out, sticking her arm out of the cell to try and flag the two pirates down. "Ahoy there!"
Mr. Gandry was the first to see her, brightening as he did.
"Boochbeard!" he called. "I found her!"
Boochbeard rounded the corner at Mr. Gandry's call, approaching the cell while panting slightly.
"Its you two, the ones from Tartaruga." Evelyn recalled. "What are ya doin' here? Doncha know it's suicide ta go against the armada?"
"We're here to free you!" Mr. Gandry answered.
"Besides, yer the one who fought them first Miss Teach." Boochbeard countered.
"Whatever." Evelyn dismissed. "Though why are you going through all this trouble fer someone ya don't even know?"
"Cause we been lookin' fer ye for a long time now." Boochbeard explained. "Glad we finally managed to catch wind of ya."
There was the sound of cannonfire, one that shook the entire ship and had all three of them flinching violently as they covered their heads on instinct.
"Can ve get out of here first, zen exchange pleasantries?" Mr. Gandry asked.
"Right." Boochbeard said. "Let's get ye out of this confounded cell. There's piratin' to be done."
He went over and pulled the lever to open her cell. However, it opened only a crack, then stopped. Evelyn went over and tried to pull the door open manually as Boochbeard tried to help. However, it wouldn't budge even the slightest bit.
"She's- err… Jammed." Evelyn said with a grunt, releasing to door.
"The bulkhead's bent!" Boochbeard shouted in frustration, punching the door angrily.
"Vell now vat are we supposed to do?" Mr. Gandry groaned.
At that moment, an explosion behind Evelyn made all three of them jump. She turned around, surprised to see the wall of her cell was now gone, providing her with a way out of her cell.
"That works!" she said. "I'll run around and meet back up to you."
She took off through the hole, finding herself in a rear hallway of the brig. The cooridor to the right was up in flames, leaving her with no choice but to go left. As she turned the corner, Evelyn caught sight of another prisoner. This one was an anthropomorphic bull, one wearing a blue yukata. Fire has consumed the right side of his cell, and it was clear the bull would soon be turned into well done steaks. Remembering the lever Boochbeard had used to try and open her own cell, Evelyn began looking around for a lever to open the bull's cell. Once located, Evelyn ran over and yanked it back, opening the door. The sound drew the attention of the bull as he looked over, seeing the now open door.
"This way!" Evelyn shouted, giving him frantic 'move it' gestures. "Hurry!"
The bull wasted no time, diving out of the cell seconds before another explosion caused it to erupt into flames. He fell forward as Evelyn came over to help him up, quickly looking him over for any wounds. Thankfully, he appeared unhurt as he looked at the burning wreckage of his cell. He then glanced over at his savior, surprise evident on his face.
"Thank you." He said breathlessly.
"Any enemy of the Armada is a friend of mine." She brushed off. "I'm Evelyn."
"I am Kobe Yojimbo, a Samoorai warrior of Mooshu." He introduced as he got onto one knee. "I owe you my life, Evelyn. Take me with you, and I will serve you with honor."
"Gladly." Evelyn nodded, pulling Kobe to his feet. "However, perhaps ya should save tha' honor talk for afta' we git offa this blasted ship."
As if to affirm the need for haste, a distant explosion shook the ship, prompting Kobe to get to his feet. The two then ran down the hallway towards Boochbeard and Mr. Gandry. They saw the young pirate, and sighed in relief.
"What took ye so long?!" Boochbeard yelled. "Let's get off this ship before we get blown to bits!"
The four bolted up the stairs and out onto the deck of the burning Erebus, the stairs to the brig collapsing behind them as they did. However, before they could get away, they ran afoul with Deacon. The clockwork fiend was standing on the docks, glaring down at the four escapees.
"You!" Evelyn shouted. "You're the scrap heap who took my eye!"
"His name is Deacon." Boochbeard explained to her.
"Deacon?" Evelyn repeated.
"The Spymaster of the Armada." Mr. Gandry added.
"We're in trouble aren't we?" She said nervously.
"Mechanical fiend!" Kobe shouted. "You shall rue the day you put me in chains!"
"I think not." Deacon said. "The prisoner must not be allowed to escape! Take them!"
Deacon raised his arm, then pointed at the four. Suddenly, three clockworks jumped down from the crows nest and landed in front of the group. They appeared to be female in figure with large wings bright red coats bearing the symbol of the Armada.
"Battle Angels!" Mr. Gandry shouted. "The Armada's elite warriors!"
"Indeed." Deacon remarked, his tone surprisingly smug for a robot. "It is high time you buffoons learned who it is you are trifling with."
"Trifle with this!" Evelyn snapped
Evelyn jumped forward, getting in close to one of the battle angels. Knowing that she was weaponless, Kobe quickly turned to a small crate that was holding the confiscated weapons of the prisoners. He grabbed a spear from the crate before grabbing his own katana.
"Evelyn!" He shouted, getting her attention. "Catch!"
He tossed the spear and Evelyn caught it. In quick motion, she jabbed the end into the Battle Angel's stomach, then spun it at her head. Finally, she jumped in the air, bringing it down on her head. This move had brought down many enemies before, but they had been of flesh and blood, not clockwork.
"Uh-oh." she let out
The angel flapped her wings and jumped into the air, where she took a pistol from her belt. In quick succession, she shot Evelyn several times. Sparks flew wildly as balls of electricity struck Evelyn across the chest, arms and legs. She cried out in pain as she fell to her knees, gasping for air.
"Damn sparkthrowers." She hissed.
She struggled to her feet, gripping her staff and using it as a support to pull herself up. She took another spin at the wounded angel. With a lucky shot, she managed to knock its head off, but the other two angels were quick to surround her. However, someone quickly came to her rescue.
"Time to even the odds!" Kobe declared.
The Samoorai suddenly leapt into the fray, kicking one of the remaining angels. He knocked it away from her, swinging his sword to block its attempts to attack him. Evelyn smiled, then turned to the third angel.
"Alright." she decided. "Kid gloves are off."
Gripping her spear tightly, she quickly leapt up, sticking her staff right down into the gap between the mask and the body of the angel. With a quick stab and a twist, the angel was down. As her mechanical opponent went down, so did Kobe's. She looked to see its armor sliced through, its innards sparking wildly.
"Nice job, Kobe." She said. "You're full of surprises."
"Thank you, Captain." Kobe replied with a nod.
"Not so fast!" Deacon shouted. "Do you think you can defy the might of the armada?!"
He took his walking stick and tapped a hidden button that was hidden at his feet. A panel opened in the center of the deck as five massive clockworks came out. They were easily twice the size of Deacon, twice as wide as well with each wielding a large cannon like it was a gun. The cannons were aimed straight at the four pirates, their intent crystal clear.
"Vha… vhat are those?!" Mr. Gandry shrieked, terror obvious in his voice.
"Surrender." Deacon ordered. "Don't make me destroy you."
Evelyn and Kobe slowly backed away, unsure of how they were going to get out of this situation. Mr. Gandry also began backing away nervously, but Boochbeard just chuckled.
"Don't bother." the older pirate insisted as he pulled a pistol off his belt. "Lads! Fire!"
He held his gun high over his head and fired into the air. Almost instantly, Boochbeard's ship fired on the deck holding the five monstrosities, causing it to explode and take out the massive clockworks.
"Nice one!" Evelyn shouted, punching the air.
"It appears I underestimated you, Miss Teach." Deacon said. "You have powerful friends, but not even they can protect you for long."
"Well then, I guess I better get strong enough where I won't need protecting!" She declared.
"How humorous." Deacon deadpanned. "Enjoy your freedom, while you can."
Suddenly, Deacon pulled out his pistol, aiming it directly at a set of crates right in front of Boochbeard. He fired and the crates exploded, sending Boochbeard flying back. The three other escaping pirates rushed to his side as Deacon disappeared into the fire like a ghost. Evelyn and Kobe pulled Boochbeard to his feet, the older pirate unsteady and coughing.
"Damnit…." Boochbeard cursed, leaning heavily on the two as he coughed.. "That blast nearly did me in. I can barely see."
"We need to get him onto the ship." Gandry realized, hopping onto Evelyn's back. "Miss Teach, you'll have to take the helm. I am too small for such a large wheel."
"Yes sir!" she declared.
Kobe aided Evenlyn in leading Boochbeard safely back to the pirate's ship. Once they were safely aboard, the two eased him to the ground, some crew members rushing to help him as Evelyn rushed to the helm.
"Cut the mooring lines!" Mr. Gandry commanded, hopping off Evelyn and perching on the railing. "Ve're casting off!"
The crewmen threw the lines off the rails of the ship, freeing it from the quickly sinking Erebus. The second the last line was free, Evelyn threw the wheel to starboard.
"Open all sails!" Gandry shouted. "Ve need to put as much distance between us and zhose Armada ships as possible!"
The sails dropped and the ship peeled out of frey, leaving the wreckage of the Erebus, as well as its entourage behind. Once they were safe, Evelyn leaned on the wheel, letting out a sigh of relief.
"Now that's what I call a rescue." She declared before turning to Mr. Gandry. "Thanks for the save. I'm almost positive that they would have killed me. I just wish your captain hadn't been hurt in the process."
"Do not mention it." Mr. Gandry said. "The Captain has been in far worse shape than this. Put some yum in him and he'll be as right as rain."
"I still don't understand why you went through all this for me." Evelyn remarked. "You said you'd been looking for me, but why?"
"Your parents saved our lives more times than ve can count." Mr, Gandry explained. "Ve made a promise that should anything happen to them, ve would ensure you vould be safe."
Evelyn's head shot towards her two rescuers as she felt a pang of old sorrow and pain course through her.
"You… you knew my parents?" she asked quietly.
"Of course we did." Boochbeard nodded, sitting up as best he could. "We are part of the resistance, same as yer folks."
Evelyn was shocked.
"The Erebus is not the first Armada vessel we have attacked, nor will it be our last." Boochbeard declared. "Whether the same will be said for you is your choice."
"Ze Armada knows you're alive now, and I fear returning to the bears will only bring them undo trials and tribulations." Gandry added. "If you don't want to put them on the Armada's radar, you'll have to keep moving."
"So I'm to spend the rest of my life running and hiding?" Evelyn snapped.
"Not quite." Boochbeard corrected. "There's always another option: fight back. Show the Armada that the Teach family still lives, and that you are worthy of the name."
Evelyn thought about that, the idea sounding appealing. If she stood up against the Armada, she had a chance to find out more about her parents, to find out the truth behind the Armada's attack. It was everything she'd ever wanted, and she'd be a fool to pass it up. She looked over at Kobe, knowing that her mission was a dangerous one that she could not do alone.
"You said you'd follow me," she recalled, "but I can understand if you don't wish to be a pirate. I won't hold it against you if you want to part ways when we reach port."
Kobe came over and placed his hand on Evelyn's shoulder.
"I said I would follow you anywhere." He reminded her. "I meant it then, and I mean it now."
Evelyn smiled brightly, then turned to Boochbeard.
"Alright." She said. "Now where we start?"