Chapter 40: Fool

April 17, X792 – Early Morning

Madmartigan stood at the front of his ship, holding his hands behind his back as he stared down a barely visible dot in the distance. The dark gray sky and the pouring rain off in the distance made it harder to see what he was staring at, but he knew it was there. He knew the ships that formed what had been the bane of his existence since the start of the hunt were there. He squeezed his hands tightly while his teeth gnashed together upon picturing Cordelia Murdock's smiling face. He let out a low growl when he pictured her waving Blackstroker's map in his face. His mind had become obsessed with taking out Cordelia and her guild. It was no longer just about getting the map back. Now he had to take her down and turn her into a warning for anyone else that thought they could take something from him. The world must have forgotten what he had done to Barracuda, but he would make them remember who he was and what he was capable of. And he would start with that little guild master who forgot her place.

"Sir," Mingo called out.

Madmartigan turned slightly to look at him over his shoulder, seeing the large black eye that the blonde now sported. It was a light punishment compared to what he had given Swabbie. He couldn't have his first mate held up below deck with their healer for days. And it was light in comparison for what he had gotten it for. Daniel had, of course, spilled the beans on what Mingo and Swabbie had done by letting Zinnia go and Madmartigan had been aware of Mingo taking it easy on the guild by sending out Atlas after them. So he had no choice but to make an example out of the two for the rest of his crew.

"What is it?" the captain snapped.

"So you're sending out Roberts and Rika?"

"I am. If you have a problem with that, you can just shut your mouth now. I will not be taking any advice from you for the time being."

"Then why even keep me as your first mate?" Mingo asked, his voice dropping a few octaves, "Why not replace me with Daniel?"

"Because Daniel is an idiot," he said bluntly, "He makes too many rash decisions."

"And you don't?"

Madmartigan turned on his heels and stormed right up on Mingo, his face furious as he stared him down with dark eyes, "It would be in your best interest to keep comments like those to yourself. Remember, you don't have any magic to defend with. Just those little needles you've created."

"I am aware of my own abilities, but I think you put too much confidence in your own," Mingo said, his voice unwavering. The two stared each other down for a long moment before he continued, "And if you're keeping me as your first mate, it must mean you put some stock into my advice, so hear what I have to say, Madmartigan."

The captain stood his ground for a moment longer before he finally took a step back from the blonde, "Speak and then leave me be."

"You should not go to war with Cordelia Murdock."

Madmartigan's stare only seemed to grow in ferocity upon hearing the statement. And for a brief moment, he thought that Mingo was joking, but the serious look on the man's face made it clear that he wasn't. Though, he stayed quiet to let the man finish speaking.

"Things won't go the way you think they will. She'll fight you every step of the way. And when it comes down to a final showdown between you two, I don't know if you can come out as the victor."

"So you're doubting your captain?!"

"I'm just being honest with you. You continue to underestimate her and she's going to take advantage of that. And not to mention that we're not in southern waters. She has the advantage of having Burningham on her side and possibly even Bern Eversaw and his fleet of naval forces for western waters," Mingo explained, seeing a slight realization light up in his captain's eyes, "You know the navy has been after us for years and Burningham hates you. Do you really want three large forces possibly coming after us? Do you really think we'll win against that?"

"I took out Barracuda on my own!"

"That was twenty-five years ago. Things have changed. Powers have shifted. Even in our home waters in the south, we could still be at a disadvantage because you chose to cut yourself off from the Libertatia Pact. Do you really think Maurus would come to our aid?"

Madmartigan let out a growl at the mention of the southern pirate lord, "Spiro would do it since it would be in his best interest as well."

"Maurus Spiro isn't a stupid or rash man and he sure as hell doesn't trust you in the slightest. It's only because I've managed to get into his good graces that he hasn't come after you himself," Mingo said, now glaring at Madmartigan, "And what would he gain out of attacking Storm's Helm? He'd break the pact agreement by coming into western waters to wage war and against an ally of the western pirate lord no less. That'd have Burningham on him in an instant and we all know that Burningham's forces are larger than Spiro's. Then there's also the fact that he'd be attacking a Murdock. And if you'd remember your history correctly, Murdocks used to be pirates too and some still are. Hell, if Dylan Murdock hadn't created Storm's Helm in place of giving up piracy, then a Murdock would be a pirate lord now. If a family member outside of the guild heard that Maurus killed one of their own, what do you think would happen then? All hell would break loose and you'd be at the center of it all. All because you don't know how to leave well enough alone!"

Madmartigan kept quiet after Mingo's explanation, but anger was bubbling just under the surface of the captain.

"It's better for everyone if you stop this ridiculous chase now. Let Cordelia have the map and finish the hunt in peace. Blackstroker has several other maps out there and I know at least one of them is based in southern waters. We can find another one and get that treasure instead."

"The treasure is no longer the point!" Madmartigan finally snapped, "It is the principal of the matter! I can't simply let her go now after all she has done against me! What will that prove to the rest of the crew?!"

"That you know when to step away! When to not get them killed for selfish, petty reasons!"

"I refuse to back down now! I didn't back down against Duke Ramirez twenty-five years ago, and I sure as hell ain't doing it now with Cordelia Murdock! I am waging war with her and that's final!"

The two men were quiet for a long moment as their stare down continued.

"If you go to war," Mingo began, his tone low and angry, "Then you'll be losing more than just an arm from it."

"If I lose another arm or leg or an eye, I don't care! I've made my orders and we are not wavering from them!"

"I'm not talking about body parts. I'm talking about men."

"You're threatening to leave the crew?!"

"You go to war, then I can't guarantee that I'll fight on your side or that a mutiny won't happen after it…if you're still alive, that is."

Madmartigan was taken aback by Mingo's answer, completely unsure of how to respond to him. Anger and fury built up within him, his face turning red because of it. Finally, he let out a roar of, "Leave!" as he turned his back to him, "War is my order!"

Mingo watched the captain for a moment longer, "Fool," was all he mumbled before walking away.

Madmartigan stared back out at the dot in the distance again, his anger and rage still spilling over. He let out another roar of fury and moved his arm back as rain began to pelt down on him. He slammed his arm forward and punched straight through the wood in front of him, chunks of wood flying up and over him. A large hole was left behind while Madmartigan was panting heavily from the outburst. He lifted his head back up, water dripping from his hat and causing his loose hair to stick to his face. His dark eyes were fixed on the guild with a deep glare in them, "I am no fool," he said darkly, "I will kill you, Cordelia Murdock. War is coming."

A/N: And there we are! I hope you enjoyed it!

So while this chapter was short, it definitely had its important parts, especially with the mini history/fact lesson we got from Mingo. Plus, I wanted to show off how well (or not well) Madmartigan was handling things.

Though, because of its shortness, you all will probably be getting another chapter here really soon since I've been in a huge pirate kick lately. And so much inspiration and planning has hit me for this story that I'm really excited to get through the rest of this arc so we can move into the next one. And a bunch of history for the story has worked itself out too! I'm just so excited! So I hope you all are too. So be on the look out for another chapter here very soon! And the action should be starting up again with it! CHA!

Thank you all again for your wonderful reviews! I am always happy to read them! You really are all the best readers! :3

That's it for now! And again, be on the look out for another quick update after this!

Yours Truly,

MyDearWatson