Nassau had changed in the years since Pearl had left it. The former Pirate stronghold had been taken over by the Royal Navy. But with the recent defeat of the Armada, the Brethren had joined forces with what remained of King's former fleet to take the port back. With Tortuga recently destroyed by a hurricane, Nassau was the final stronghold of the Caribbean pirates. In these years, new pirates had come, as old ones had died. Among the newcomers, a few were proving themselves to be quite the successful raiders. Benjamin, William, and a rather intimidating and brutal frigate by the name of Queen Anne's Revenge. For Pearl, it was a wonderful time because she had the opportunity to speak with her son, Jackdaw. The last remnant of her life with King. Jackdaw had wound up caught by the Spanish during the Thirty Years War and commissioned as the El Dorado, and was part of the Caribbean Treasure Fleet based out of Havanah. However, the same hurricane that sank Tortuga also sank the Treasure Fleet, Jackdaw surviving by an inkling of luck, where he took his old name and found the port everyone knew was a pirate port. Where he hoped to find Pearl. And his prayers were answered! He rubbed against her, purring loudly. "Oh my beautiful boy." As always, she doted on him! She covered his hull in licks and kisses, admiring his muscles. "My you've grown!" "Jackdaw is her only surviving shipling with Wicked King, her first love." Shadow explained to Dogg and Interceptor. "That explains a lot." Dogg murmured. Interceptor smiled. He was once again black, and blood red, with a new flag to adorn that showcased a skull with a sword and pistol crossed underneath. He had a new captain, and one that was quite interactive with the ships more than other humans. Captain Colin Frazier, the "Crimson Frazier". But he would be forgotten right now. Everyone's attention was on Jackdaw and Pearl. The mother and son due looked exactly the way a mother and son should. "Well I'm off to hunt." Interceptor announced, breaking up their lovely moment, "When you're ready, meet me at Andreas Island." "Will do. I'll let her know as well." Shadow promised. "And Interceptor?" "Aye?" "I'm sorry. She was your grandmother." He sighed, "I never knew her. As sad as it sounds I can't mourn for someone I never knew. I appreciate your apology. But it's not needed. Thank you." "It's my fault you never did. And for that I can never be sorry enough." She sighed. "Go on. Dogg and I can handle things here." She said, nudging the third rate gently. Interceptor smiled and set topsails out of the harbor.

Dogg, on the other hand, turned to Shadow and nuzzled along her flank lovingly with a loud purr. The fluyt gave a soft rumble as he did so, indicating her approval. For the first time, she wished she still had her heart. "I want to give you my heart." he murmured, "You're all I find happiness in. I want to truly be yours and Britannia's. Whatever the supernatural world holds, I can take it. Please." he whispered, kissing her. "You'll be cursed if not in this life most certainly in the next. I can't have that on my conscience Dogg. I won't." It was clear she loved him too. Enough to beg him not to do this. She could never refuse if he pushed hard enough. "You know I'm stubborn. I don't care about curses. I want to be your curse. I want to be yours for eternity. The sea holds your heart and your command. I truly want you to have my heart and command." he persisted, resting his head against hers. She leaned into him. "Oh Dogg..." she sighed. She felt another nose press into her flank and she didn't need to turn to know who it was. "Britannia, what do I do?" She whimpered. Dogg looked up to see her. "Britannia." he purred in greeting. She nodded in return. "Your Choice is your own Shadow. You could send me away and I would not argue with that. I just want you to be happy." Shadow wrapped her rigging around them both. "I could never send either of you away." She sobbed. Britannia looked at Dogg. "There you have it." She said. He smiled simply, eyes closing, "I never meant to intrude on your relationship. But now that I'm here I can't agree with her more. I can't picture myself without either of you." he purred. "You're a good kid Dogg. But I'd be remiss if I didn't warn you." Britannia's countenance took on that of a parent who was about to hand her daughter away. "You do right by her mister. Or I'll make Shadow's hell look like paradise!" She growled. "I could never wrong her." he swore, "Not even if it meant to save my soul." "You better not. She's everything to me." She kissed Shadow's cheek, getting a happy purr out of the fluyt. She had both her loves, she couldn't be happier. That was until Dogg sighed, "I still truly want to give her my heart. It would be safest with her. It's who it belongs to." "Dogg, no." Shadow said. "I can't… I won't condemn you to my fate as well." She knew she had only until sunset to spend with them, then she'd have to go. "Our fates are joined, Shadow." he whimpered. "Dogg, no. I love you, but I cannot accept that." She said. She looked to the sky. "We have half a day left. I love you both dearly and if either of you want to consummate now's the time to do it." She kissed both his and Britannia's cheeks. "I want you both." "I just want to make you happy, Shadow. And I want to be yours forever. You and Britannia, you'll always be together. Me...when I'm going I'll just be another chapter to your story. I don't want that. I want to be yours...both of yours...forever." he whispered, nuzzling the flyut. "But I want to make this half a day count. I can do what whatever you wish of me." Shadow hesitated. "I...I want you Dogg. I want you to be mine." "Then please...let me have that burden. I don't care the consequences. Having you makes it all worth it in the end..." "You don't know what you're saying." She rasped. Britannia nuzzled her. "He does know Shadow. And he doesn't care." Shadow sighed. "Very well Dogg." The frigate smiled, standing up straight and purring loudly. "Tell me where to begin..." "You can start with me." Britannia offered herself first, partly to show Shadow there was nothing to fear. Dogg smiled softly as he nodded to Britannia, looking back at Long Shadow. The fluyt backed up and gave a nod of approval, knowing she was next. As they moved in to form the third connection way for Dogg,

Across the harbor, Jackdaw was eager to start his new career as a pirate. Pearl was happy to help teach him but he had a lot to learn. Lending aid would be Benjamin, the legendary vessel of Captain Benjamin Hornigold, and the second most experienced vessel in the harbor behind Pearl herself. The three set sail, exiting Nassau to stalk the heavy merchant traffic lanes. "The most important thing is to be inconspicuous. Let them think you're not a threat. That will allow you to get in close. Avoid a fight unless you absolutely have to. Sometimes the threat of violence is better than actual violence itself." Pearl said. "And if they fight back, only inflict enough damage to incapacitate them. For God's sake don't sink them, it's no fun fishing cargo out of the sea...though it can be done." Benjamin added. Soon enough, a Spanish convoy of three schooners was visible. "Never mind the fact that if the cargo is something perishable like valuable spices then you lose that value." Pearl added. "Well, okay. Look, there's a prize worth taking." Jackdaw replied, gesturing to the schooners ahead. "Good! Get in close, and wait for the right moment to raise the Black." Pearl cautiously approached at an angle that was only slightly off parallel to the unsuspecting merchant's course. She went unnoticed until the last minute. As soon as her flag was raised, that was the signal for Jackdaw to move in. The Spaniards instantly set full sails and attempted to flee, but it was too late as the pirates were broadside. Chain shot was all that was needed to bring them to a halt. There was enough for one each and the pirates quickly offloaded the merchant's cargo.

"Hola amigos!" Benjamin called, "My name is Benjamin, and these are my fleet mates. We're vessels like yourselves, but quite unalike in our purpose, for we intend to take all that you own. Yet no harm shall befall you as long as you remain at ease, is that clear?" Upon the looks on their face, he sighed, "Anyone speak English? English?" "Uhh, little bit!" "Tell your friends we're stealing your goods, and we won't hurt no one as long as they stay as still as a sandbar, you got that?" "Umm...please to repeat?" "Oh for fuck's sake...take it all!" Pearl restrained the merchants as their cargo was taken to ensure there was no resistance.

Once it was done, they let the merchants go. Jackdaw eyed his hatches. "It's a shaky feeling sailing around with this much stolen cargo." "Get used to it." Benjamin grunted, "We're headed to an old fishing village where Queen Anne's Revenge is waiting. Anything to add to the lesson so far, Pearl?" "Well we aren't being followed so no, not really." She shrugged. "If we were I would recommend zig zagging. Never going in the same direction for long. Confuse them as to where you are really going. If you can find a storm or some sort of obstacle to lose them in, do so. Never confront pursuers as long as you can outrun them or outsmart them. Even if you could destroy them." "Like you and Interceptor?" Jackdaw asked. "I was chasing him and he has always had a different philosophy. As I recall, turning and fighting didn't end so well for him." She shrugged. "I uhh. Was referring to what you two do nowadays." "If there is more than one ship, that makes deception easier. You can split up. Have a rendezvous point pre-established. Splitting also forces your pursuers to split, making it that much easier for you to either lose them, or destroy them if necessary." "Well what we're doing next is going to be very dangerous, but necessary. That's why we're going to upgrade you a bit." Benjamin said./p
p class="MsoNormal"It took an hour but soon they arrived in Salt Key Bank, where Blackbeard's frigate was waiting. With her help, they sold the stolen cargo off and was able to buy some reinforcements to Jackdaw's hull. "Not a bad take today." "Indeed, I think I could get used to it." "Good. That's what we need is hard workers to keep the dream alive. Here." Benjamin handed him his own unique flag, "We fly no colours out here, but praise the lack of them, so let the Black Flag symbol nothing but your allegiance to man's natural freedoms. This one's yours. Fly it proud." "I will." "There's a good boy. Now...we're going to need guns as well as gold to help our little democracy over here." "That means attacking the Navy." Jackdaw shifted, to which Benjamin shrugged, "So long as they're flying King Phillip's colours we'll not offend our own monarch." Pearl snorted. "Anything that damages King Phillip is a joy to ol' Georgie." She chuckled. "Not that I answer to anyone." "We'll rest up and head out tomorrow. The Navy doesn't conduct many patrols out here so it's best to cause a bit of mischief to lure them out of hiding. If you ever get too exhausted, you can always bribe a government official to get them off your back, but it's a hefty cost." "A diamond or two usually suffices but those are difficult to come by in these parts." Pearl agreed.

The following day saw them attacking merchants and villages alike. Though they did not aim to kill, they did want it to seem like they were a threat. And it worked. The following day, a Spanish brig was spotted scouting the area. "Alright, this is it lad. She won't go down without an honest fight. Are you ready?" "I'm up for taking that brig, aye!" Jackdaw grinned. Pearl had her guns loaded and run out, ready to fire. There would be no reason to hide the Black, and with that, the brig turned and charged in. Outnumbered, she felt she was disciplined enough to deal with what she thought were three drunk and idiotic thieves. Pearl, fast ship that she was, moved in with a quick hit and run strike. She fired a few salvos and her aim was as good as ever, disabling the frigate and allowing the other two to move in while she stood off ready for a kill shot should the brig get rowdy. "Bloody pirates!" she spat in thick accent, "You'll all hang! Spain, England, France, Portugal...at war with each other but united in a common enemy! The walls are closing in on your precious way of life. If you don't change soon, you will die!" "Not today." Pearl grinned. "Take her ammo and stores!" She growled lowly, but didn't put up a fuss when she was offloaded and set adrift.

Once they returned to Salt Key and then Nassau, they'd made a good profit to help their growing Republic, and Jackdaw had gotten himself an extra few cannons to add to his broadsides. Interceptor praised them. "We still need a decent harbor defense. I mean look at this place, it's a death trap. If the enemy gets in…" Pearl shuddered. "I've got an idea for that. Meet me at Andreas Island, three days from today." Queen Anne's Revenge answered as she set out. Jackdaw watched her go and sighed. She was a truly mysterious yet alluring vessel.