Interceptor glided slowly through the warm waters off the east coast of Brazil. He was set to half-sail, with obviously half of his sails furled, as he led Pearl, Catcher and Prince to their new home. The latter's large size compromised speed, hence the pirate squadron's casual pace. Pearl sailed alongside her eldest son. She was growing tired from the long journey. "We'll take a break before we run Cape Horn. It's going to be a hell of a ride around the point." Interceptor sighed as he looked back at his family, "I promise you this long voyage will be worth it in the end." "I believe you." Pearl smiled as she leaned against Prince. "I'm trying." Prince rasped, "I've even run out my studding sails." "You're doing fine, Prince. You'll want to save your strength." Interceptor murmured. "We're not that far from Montevideo. There's a cove a few miles south of there that's well hidden from the shipping traffic." Pearl said. Years spent avoiding the Royal Navy had made her well versed in hiding places. "Your knowledge of this area is second to none. If you would like to, you can take up lead, my dear." the smaller male brig smiled over to her. Pearl set a slower pace and kept her topsails furled, diminishing her profile for any naval ship that might be on the horizon. It was slow going but she knew shortcuts and was able to guide them into the cove without any problem. The crews of the pirate ships took the fleet's longboats ashore to resupply while the vessels themselves anchored out in the middle of the secluded cove. It would have been quite the sight. The silhouettes of the awe-inspiring tall ships contrasted against the glowing sky at sunset and seen through the parted leaves of a few jungle trees. Interceptor sighed contently. It was warm and humid but not enough to be uncomfortable for him. Pearl rested on her side, snuggled to the much larger bulk of Prince while Catcher rested on her other side, sandwiching her. Interceptor slept closer to the mouth of the cove, heavy eyes never once leaving the open ocean outside of it. He was determined to be the one an enemy fired at first in the unlikely event they were found and attacked. Pearl had picked her hiding places well and although there were many ships, naval and otherwise, that traversed the channel just offshore, no one spotted them due to the sheltered nature of the cove. They could enjoy their respite in peace. Prince woke up along with his mother early three next morning. Catcher was still soundly asleep while Interceptor snored and shivered, obviously having stayed up late as their guard. He'd only fell asleep when his eyes couldn't stay open any longer and it had been so late at night, exposed to the wind and without much to cover him, that he was very cold. Both explaining his heavy snoring and shaking form. They would be here a few hours still while he slept. Pearl had Prince move up beside him to warm him while she remained with Catcher. When both were awake, they moved out and resumed their course south. Prince and Catcher were in the middle today as Pearl continued on the lead, with Interceptor bringing up the rear. Said brig eyed his mate worriedly, his thoughts clearly on something. But he held his tongue, especially as they drew further south. The waters and wind grew colder and gradually more wicked while the sky above turned from clear blue, to cloudy, to dark. "I'll wager we're closing in on Cape Horn?" Prince asked. "Aye. This will be a fun ride. I lost my top sails on my first run around the Horn." Interceptor piped up. "Hopefully the weather will be a bit more cooperative this time." Pearl murmured. "Prince, don't strain yourself through here. We'll sacrifice speed if need be to stay together." "I'm going to be the most stable through any storm. Truthfully it's Catcher and Interceptor I'm worried about with their light tonnage." "Shelter them as best you can. But the sooner we can get through here, the happier I'll be." She murmured. "Agreed." Interceptor sighed as soft rain droplets began to fall. Very soon it turned into a heavy downpour and mixed with hail, pelting the four ships unrelentingly. The falling water, both of the frozen and liquid variety, was so heavy one could barely see ahead. The winds turned to powerful gales that threatened to rip sails from booms and masts from ships. The colliding Atlantic and Pacific oceans in combination with the drastic and sharp increases in shallowness off the Horn led to the creation of such choppy seas that the waves were borderline rogue. And on the topic of rogue water, icebergs drifting from the Atlantic on the Drake passage made for dangerous obstacles in an already dangerous storm. The combination of it all was enough to make even the most stoic of mariners piss themselves. Pearl was not the typical mariner and she forged ahead bravely.

By the time they emerged from it, she was on her last legs. She'd lost her foretopmast to a rogue wave that had also given her a black eye and knocked out several teeth leaving her bleeding from the mouth. Catcher had no injuries thanks to Prince's shielding, the Ship-of-the-Line's bulk allowing him to escape with minimal damage, simply some snapped rigging and missing cannon port covers. Interceptor had grown overconfident as this was his third voyage around Cape Horn, the second heading westward. As such he received the most punishment, though Pearl certainly wasn't far off. In addition to miles of broken rigging and gunport covers, his stern cabin was completely smashed, his foremast was missing from the course up, his starboard eye was swollen enough to remain forced shut, a few of his teeth were gone with some only just hanging in and just waiting to come out all the way, he'd bitten his tongue hard and drew much blood, and he was listing. Being smaller and without shielding the waves washed over his decks and filled his holds quickly. The bilge pumps were working doubly quick to drain the water from him. It was a miracle he made it in somewhat sailing condition, let alone all of them. Prince grimaced at the sight of both his mother and step father. "We need to make an immediate stop for rest and repairs. You two need it, badly." Pearl nodded, panting. "Help Interceptor, Prince. I can still make 3 knots." "Pearl, we both need help and you know it." Interceptor growled, "I can still sail, too. Let's just make for the nearest land we can get to it and drop anchor there. Prince, you take Catcher and scout ahead. Pearl and I will keep this heading so it'll be easy for you to find us again." The black ship growled but submitted to her mate.

Once Prince and Catcher found a suitable place to shelter the pair limped in and joined them. Nearly two weeks it took to repair them. Interceptor needed a new mast entirely which took the longest time. In that same period, tired of waiting, Interceptor had his crew repaint him. His faded extremely dark grey hull was painted to an almost pure black, and the blood-red stripes along his quarter deck and that defined the side of his hull became a brilliant white. Such a colour combination made him go from intimidating...to quite handsome and sleek. Like a proper warship. Pearl's eyes were still a shade darker than they should've been but she was healing up fine. "Let's go." She said. "I want to see this paradise." With a glance at Prince she added. "I want to see it for Passie." He nodded to her sadly while raising anchor. "I only hope it's as good as its being made out to be." "I promise you, it is." Interceptor murmured. They had to dodge the British fleet's whalers as they went along and the warships that patrolled these waters far from home to protect the valuable oil they carried.

Approaching the Hawaiian chain they were intercepted by a massive warship. She was even larger than Prince, with enough punches in her hull to carry 150 guns. She flew no flags and her eyes were ablaze with fire. She seemed to know Interceptor though and greeted him warmly with an affectionate nuzzle. He was quick to explain so as to not upset Pearl. "This is Mauna Loa! One of the protectors I told you about. She's a friend. She'll escort us home...Pearl Harbor." he smiled warmly, looking to the volcanic first rate. "Mauna Loa, this is the female you've heard so much about. This is Black Pearl." Mauna Loa hid her jealousy expertly. She looked at Pearl with a gaze that was friendly but displayed her power as if to say "Look at my strength, mortal." Happily, she led them all into the harbor where Kohala was waiting. "Interceptor, my friend. Welcome." "Kohala," he dipped his head and flogged out his sails, "I have returned with the few I spoke of. This one here, is my mate, and the namesake for this harbor." "Aloha, Black Pearl. Ua hauʻoli loa ʻoe." Kohala had been leaning against a makeshift pier but she straightened in front of her guests and bowed low. Prince looked around with eyes wide." This place is...the Garden of Eden...The Empires of the Old World cannot know of this place. They will rape and pillage it's beauty." "We know." Kohala nodded. "They will come, one day. But we are so isolated here that they have not yet discovered these lands." She looked at him, fascinated. "You have a hidden strength to you. One I have not sensed for centuries." "Hidden Strength? I'm not sure I follow. I'm strong indeed, I'm a Ship-of-the-Line." "It's a strength in your soul. Most of my kind would ignore it but I've been around so long I've learned to detect it." She said. She looked at Pearl. "Your progeny have a destiny about them." She said. "Na makani o ke kai." "They're very mystical here." Interceptor said from her side, "I was lucky to be an outsider they considered important enough to not be made into a drink." Kohala chuckled. "You wouldn't have become a mai tai if that's what you're worried about." She purred. "But I see your point. We can be a bit, confusing at times. I only know your language because I keep in contact with my sisters in Asia." "Good, that makes communication easier." Prince laughed. As they settled in, Kohala pulled Interceptor aside. "I have news that your old fleet is sending ships this way for 'exploration purposes'. I do not know if they will seek shelter here or not." The brig nodded, "With the upgrades, hopefully they won't recognize me. I can drive off their exploration ships all they think are over here are raiders. Maybe with some skulls, some thrown on mud and dirt, and the natives of this place, they'll think it's full of bloodthirsty savages. Taking a European vessel for their own and killing the crew aboard. They do stay far from hostile islands." "That will hold them for a time but then they will see the value these islands hold and will come with the intent to destroy every person here. I will not risk the lives of my people." Kohala replied. "No, we lay low and pray they do not find us." "That's unlikely. Not unless something diverts their attention." "They'll have plenty of distractions from the mainland. That I can assure you." Kohala's eyes twinkled as though she had some dirty inside secret which she probably did. "I'd ask how you are so confident but you have your ways." Kohala smiled. "You think you are done fighting the world? You are wrong. There will be more to come." She warned.

For Pearl, Hawaii was a much welcome place to rest and recover from the long journey. She was exhausted and took to sleeping most of the time. Interceptor was constantly patrolling. Catcher went out fishing, often escorted by said brig. Prince stayed in harbor looking after Pearl and acting as harbor defense. It was a good thing he was there. While not sickly, Pearl was definitely not well and prone to exhaustion if she pushed herself even slightly too hard. "Mom you need to rest. Let your body heal. Please!" he sighed in frustration one day. Pearl must've been weaker than he thought for she offered no argument. She simply limped back to her berth and lay there. He watched her with a heavier sigh. He sighed a lot, he noticed. "Thank you, mother." Pearl was like this for several months as she recovered her strength. Every time Interceptor returned to the harbor, his mate was laying in her berth. Whenever he wasn't out at sea he was at her side. He never left her when he was in that harbor. Most of the time she was resting but sometimes she spoke, voice raspy but steady. "Find anything?" She murmured to him when he joined her one night. "I think I saw a mast earlier this morning. Nothing coming this way." he whispered gently for her, licking her cheek. "Good." She sighed, adjusting her position to look at him better. Age had begun to take its toll on her. Her green eyes were dull and her muzzle was pure silver and beginning to turn white. He didn't envy her. He took care of his appearance and regularly worked out, so despite his age he always looked and acted much younger. Nevertheless he loved her, and he would never voluntarily leave her. Never. And he promised her that. "You better not." She rasped. "I've lost one mate. I cannot lose you." "You won't. As long as I breathe we will never separate. You're my world, my precious Pearl..." "And you are mine." Pearl's eyes closed and she pressed her muzzle to his shoulder, breathing harshly as she drifted off into an uneasy sleep. Back from patrol and with his beloved in the dream world, he decided to follow her lead and join her in sleep.

Pearl was still asleep the next morning. She lay on her side, head resting clear of the water. Her flanks rose and fell harshly. How restful her sleep was, was highly questionable. Despite how exhausted he still felt, he managed to heave himself upright. With a yawn and smack of the lips, his droopy eyes turned to her and he leaned down to lightly rasp his tongue over the galleon's flank. He might have been tired but he was awake now and decided to use that time for her. Pearl shifted under his touch. "Hmm, Interceptor?" She mumbled sleepily. "Aye, love," his own voice was groggy but he did his best to sound awake and soft voiced for her, "Go back to sleep. I can tell you didn't rest well..." "You, sleep." She coughed, shifting to snuggle closer to him. "Nah, I'm awake now, my love. I need to get back out to patrol. If the volcanoes do it and get seen then the British will really want to get over here and see what's going on." he yawned again, giving a loud moan of exhaustion in an attempt to get it out of his system. "They know you too though." She rasped. "Please, stay." She begged. "I've changed enough." he chuckled, then sighed, "I shouldn't...I want to...if only because you care. I just don't want to risk this all..." "They will find us no matter what you do." She rasped. She curled up, huddling against him. He thought for a moment before giving up and submitting to Pearl's wishes. He laid back down, keeping her held to him as he closed his eyes. Pressed against her mate's hull, Pearl finally was able to slip into a fulfilling sleep.

She woke again in the late morning. Interceptor had moved out again on patrol so she was once again alone. Well, not alone, but without her beloved, at least for now. Pearl staggered upright for the first time in several days, leaning heavily against the shore as she waited for her vision to clear. She still felt weak but not as bad as she was. Prince dropped her off a buck great white, smiling softly and dipping his head to her. Pearl touched noses with him in thanks before lowering her head to eat. At that moment Interceptor came in alongside Mauna Loa, a ship between them with his guns closed but their own pointed at him. He looked like Prince in terms of dark appearance and number of guns, a First Rate, yet had the image of Alex baked into his design. Pearl growled low in her throat when she saw him. She was shocked at his appearance and naturally wary. "Prince, don't fire but be ready. Your uncle is rather, unpredictable." It was Dark Shadow.