Part I, Chapter 3 - May, 1716

After gathering all the crewmen, and after they were a good few nautical miles away from Tulum, Edward held a crew vote for their next destination, "Awright, lads! To where shall we venture next?" The sailors responded with a variety of places, some even requesting to return to Tulum, but Edward mostly heard shouts for "Havana!"

"I'm hearin' Havana. Cry out if you're in agreement!"

A good many crewmen shouted affirmatively.

"To the Spanish town it is, then! Full sail!" Edward was glad to get out of the situation he got himself into just before leaving. He could use a drink from a quality tavern, and Havana was just the place. Putting on a determined smile, the captain began working out the response he would give if anyone questioned their sudden departure from Tulum.


In lively Havana, Edward Kenway and his crew scattered in search of shops and fun. Naturally, anticipating good rum for nearly a day and a half, the captain headed straight for the tavern. Ah, hell. I can't drink here without thinking of Bonnet, he thought as he saw the I wonder how he is as a pirate, as Kidd told me. He winced upon thinking about his last encounter with the bandana-donning boy. Gah, where's the counter? I need a damned drink, pray I don't bump into someone and start a fistfight, don't bloody need one now. That's how I met Kidd- Gah!

A more squiffy captain walked about the docks with a bottle of rum in hand, hoping to find solitude as he tried to distract himself from his plight. It was nighttime once more, and the Jackdaw was void of sailors, save a few guarding the goods under deck.

She appeared as stern and strong as ever while she gently rocked in harmony with the waves. Edward clambered onto the familiar wood, punching the cannons as he staggered to the helm.

"Oi, Jackie," he rested his chin on the wheel, "You're a lass- someone who knows how to cope with these feeeelings, you're one-a trusst, mm?" he drawled, "Damnin' hell. Whuddo I know anymore?" he whispered. While scanning the city and the docks, he spoke to the boat, "Jackie, yaknowwhat? Yer prettier than aaaawll the rest of 'em. I have no use for anyone else, even bloody Kidd!" Edward laughed and took a swig of rum, some spilling onto him, "Ya see that one over there? The schooner? You're twice as fetchin', Miss Jackie. Don't leave me. Ever. Ya hear?" Edward narrowed his eyes at the schooner, trying to get a better glimpse at it. He gave up and used his spyglass, "Jaysus, wouldn'tya knowit? It's Bonnet, the old fellow, in the schooner! I thought I'd sailed that one before! Till next I board, Jackie." The ship creaked in reply as Edward attempted jumped down to the docks and rushed over to his mate with as least staggering as possible.

"'Eyo Bonnet!" he swayed, welcoming the bigger man.

"My word! It's Edward! You seem… rather tipsy, eh?" He pat Edward on the arm to complement his greeting and to provide support for the wobbling man.

"Aye. Suave!"

"You're suave," Bonnet agreed uncertainly.

"Suaave eyepatch ya got there, mate!" Edward announced broadly, pointing into Bonnet's eye.

"Aye, well, if I'm to be a pirate, I might as well look the part! Your observation is appreciated," Bonnet smiled agreeably, "Shall we sit?" He took Edward's bottle from his hand and sat on a familiar bench by the docks.

"Yawouldn't belieeeve, Bonnet," Edwarddrawled, "It was sooo embarrasin'!"

"O-oh dear! Exactly what, friend?" Bonnet asked.

"Let's not gothere, mate. But it was reallyvery horrible and fascinatin'. It mostly started in Great Inagua…"

Bonnet kept Edward's drink while the latter filled him in on happened the past few months, and, as luck would have it, the drunk spared the details concerning Kidd. After several more minutes, the Jackdaw's captain appeared to have a much clearer head, "Oi. Oi, Bonnet. Have ya seen a bottle of rum 'round here? Curse me if I hadn't bought some an hour or so ago," he wearily peered behind him and under the table.

"Ah well, I prefer we talk without the liquor, but, uh, here," Bonnet handed the bottle to his fellow pirate.

Edward sighed, "No, that is more rational."he complied and pushed the bottle to the side, "Now, how is piratin', mate?" He swung his feet onto the table and leaned against a barrel behind him.

"It's quite a business," Bonnet replied, "But I'm making a profit! Slowly but surely" he chuckled and placed his legs on the table as well, but, having nothing to support his back, leaned forward against his legs, stretching them awkwardly. It didn't look comfortable, but the bigger man went on, "It's quite the adventure, the pirating business. I have more stories to tell my kids! They love listening to me- even beg me to take them along at times!"

Kids? Edward briefly recalled Kidd telling him to hide his marriage, before shoving that thought out of his mind, "Ah, the kids. Do they fare well?" He made no mention of Kidd's family advice to the novice pirate.

Bonnet appeared cramped and confused, "Of course I say my goodbyes when I leave." Passersby looked curiously at the way Bonnet sat.

"Jaysus, Bonnet. Get off the table," Edward whispered a bit too forbiddingly.

"Sorry, my apologies," Bonnet nodded and sat upright, "May I have a bit of rum?" He took out a glass from a pouch on his waist and placed it daintily where his feet had been.

Edward narrowed his eyes, "Awright, Bonnet. You're actin' stranger than I do when I'm sloshed. What's troublin' ya?"

"Nothing, of course! I'm a rugged pirate after all!" Bonnet pointed to his eyepatch.

So that's why… Edward snorted and shook his head, "Bonnet, I'll show ya how to be a real pirate."


"Ya see 'em there in yellow?" Edward pointed to several Spanish guards policing a warehouse entrance. He and Bonnet were tucked away in some shrubbery not too far from said entrance.

"Ah, yes. Yes," Bonnet acknowledged the guards.

"You're to distract 'em so I can get in there and snatch our take," Edward instructed, "Like pirates. I acquired the key to the warehouse, and you'll use it for your distraction. Why not simply use the key to unlock the place, you ask? All will be explained. Now, in the meanwhile, I'll be walking down this path along here," he motioned to the populated street just outside their hiding spot, "And while you flee, you'll shove me and hand me back the keys while doing so. I'll take off with the loot while you deal with them. Teamwork, wouldn't you say?"

"Brilliant! Very thrilling," Bonnet grinned.

"Aye, wonderful. Whenever you're ready, Bonnet." Edward waited for the man to do as he said before blending in with the street.

Bonnet waited too, "Ah? Well, h-how do I get their attention?"

Must I spell this out?, Edward sighed, "Do something suspicious- no felonies, of course. Show them the key once they notice you. Perhaps step too close to the warehouse for their liking. Make it seem ya want to get the booty inside. Then run away- fast as ya can- when you've got their attention. Not all of them will be rushing after ya. I'll deal with the ones who stay."

"Ah, quite! I shall do just that."

The bigger man stepped out of the greenery and immediately caught the guards' attention. Damn, Bonnet. Edward got up from his crouch and walked with a passing crowd, blending in seamlessly. Bonnet walked right up to the guards, and was shoved away with warnings in unfriendly Spanish.

Edward looked on anxiously as the other pirate started waddling quickly toward the street, key in hand. The guards seemed convinced of his suspicions, as they also darted in that direction. Just as Edward told him, Bonnet shoved him strongly out of his way, but he tossed the keys in the air, risking their being seen. Edward deftly swiped them as he raised his arms "defensively" and fell down. It was rather effective, as one guard said a hasty "Lo siento, señor" to the fallen man.

We managed. Rather, I managed, he thought as he moved toward the side of the warehouse. He easily silenced the last two Spaniards watching over the door and masterfully unlocked his way to the goods. There was at least 5,000 reales worth of cotton, sugar, rum, and other stock inside.

He motioned to some Jackdaw crew members hiding in numerous places eye's distance away to make off with the loot.


A few minutes later, Bonnet had made a full loop back to the now-empty warehouse, where Edward and his crew were nearly done ransacking the unguarded building. The captain watched his stumbling friend, now sporting a swollen cheek, torn clothing, and a Spanish fanbase. Edward sighed and reached for his cutlasses. He finished the guards off with a few slashes of his swords and a couple stabs with his hidden blades.

Hidden blades… Assassins…

While he looted the guards' pockets, Bonnet huffed and wheezed, "Perhaps. I'm not fit. For the physical aspect. Of pirating," he panted and loosened his cravat, "But, eh, I suppose. This was. Well worth it. Ah. Hah. Whoooo-wee! What did you uncover?"

Edward threw him a pouch containing a little over 1,000 reales, "Your share, Bonnet. 'Twas a success! But your cheek…," he felt his own rough, scarred cheek.

Bonnet regained his breath, "A success in any case! I can't believe it!" he peered into the warehouse while feeling the weight of the pouch and storing it in his belt. Edward noticed how the fine leather with its gold buckle likely cost more than twice the amount in the pouch. It was a rather strange thing to note in the first place, he noted, but something was off about the situation.

"Oi, Bonnet."

"Yes? Aye?" His eyes were as wide as they could go, given his injury.

"Why would you want to be a pirate at all? Why? You've already got wealth, health, property, a wife, a fair reputation… What could be missing?"

Bonnet himself looked curious as he felt his swollen cheek, "I would sum it up to be, I don't know, adventure. I already have the things a man of… lesser means would want, as you say," he looked to the ground with a wistful smile, "However, what sets me apart from someone who's made his own money throughout his lifetime is that the other has had a different experience- a more fulfilling one, in my opinion"

Fulfilling? I've been hearing that word far too much, thought Edward.

"I had not had a taste of a poorer man's life, and I was craving a more… exhilarating one. Pirates have that sort of living- a jolly good time to a lavish lifestyle," he looked Edward in the eye, "And here I am, taking away from you that which I desire to have! How inconsiderate."

Edward kept silent. That was what Bonnet was after? Adventure? Wealth was a fabulous adventure in itself! He looked Bonnet up and down, taking in just how prosperous the man was. Was it unfitting to have given him the role of decoy? Ridiculous. Ridiculous, both Bonnet needing a thrill, and thinking it was wrong to make him a decoy. Someone with Bonnet's success would never have a lack of adventure, would they? On the other hand, Edward was teaching the man how to properly plunder and how to survive among the ruthless. Bonnet needed to learn of their ways if he was to call himself one of them. It wasn't wrong to make Bonnet decoy- there was no need for Edward to take responsibility for what he had indirectly done to Bonnet regarding the injury.

"An interesting take, mate," he nodded emptily and suggested, "Keep at itand you'll have your pirate adventure."

"Aye, mate," he gave Edward a soft, simple rise of his lips, and looked back at him, "Now I, uh, must tend to this wound. We shall have our next adventure later, eh?"

Edward raised an arm and gave a slight tilt of the head in acknowledgement of their goodbye, "Till next we meet, Bonnet."

"Farewell, Edward. Despite this injury and all, that was splendid- I wouldn't have it another way," he grinned, and exposed a full set of white teeth that Edward, accustomed to seeing damaged, colored mouths, took notice of. Bonnet continued speaking as he headed for the coast, "I do hope we cross another's paths soon. Farewell!"

Edward gave his sidekick a taut smile and wandered away, pondering how to use up his loot.


January 1717

He sat at the Old Avery Tavern, clutching a worn map, deep in thought about a bandana-donning boy he met there, once. Then two sarcastic voices pulled him out of his reverie…

"So this is the new libertalia, eh? Stinks the same as every other squat I've robbed this past year!" announced a dark-haired pirate with a hoarse voice. Vane. Edward almost didn't recognize his old friend, and Vane didn't seem to recognize him, either. The blonde gazed at the man he was talking to.

The grey-haired stranger detected Edward and spat, "Oi, oi! Why the long face?" Vane's friend wore a shirt that exposed his chest, and he flaunted it, " Ye fallin' in love?"

Edward smirked, "With your blouse." Vane's as critical as ever- who's his trenchant fellow?

He stood up and welcomed the two to Nassau, and was joined by another familiar face. Rather, they were greeted by a dramatic cluster of facial hair that reached well to the man's chest.

"Why fly a black flag when a black beard'll do?", Thatch challenged. Given that he was still set on managing the pirate republic with Hornigold, Edward should have known they would run into each other there in Nassau. Vane revealed that the two were in the area in order to ransack a nearby fort. A nearby fort in which Torres could be found.

"Torres, eh?" Edward thought aloud, "Sounds promising."

"Welcome to Nassau, Cap'n Vane, Mister Rackham," Thatch said as he handed them a mug of rum each. So Thatch already knows of him, Rackham.

"Vane 'n' Rackham"- their names flow together, like a fight move: Vane and rack 'em, mate.

Edward spotted an unimaginably gorgeous redhead sitting at a nearby table staring intently at Rackham, her eyes hooded and her legs crossed. Her dress revealed much of her bosom, but the pirate felt no craving about it, strangely enough. That left him more terrorized than La Dama Negra and El Impoluto would, combined. He sneaked away, set for some fort-conquering to get him back on track.

"Oi, Kenway!" Thatch yelled at the leaving man, "I know yer after that fort, but ye can't leave me with these goonies! 'Ow 'bout we entertain ya?"

"Christ, Thatch," Vane choked and coughed out some rum, "That's bloody Kenway?"

"Whut? Ya noticed just now?" Edward asked from the ground below.

Vane went on, "What in hell- so that's how ya look like now?"

What in hell is that supposed to mean? "If ya have a problem, Vane-"

"Ah, Edward Kenway?" Rackham joined in, "Hah! Not as I expected."

They think alike, don't they? Vane and Rackham? "I don't plan on lingering. If you've something to spit out beside rum, do so by all means."

"I've heard ya before," Rackham answered. I suppose he means 'heard of me', Edward supposed."Hang with us and impress us with your stories, would you?" He sniggered.

"Aye, Kenway," Thatch commented, "The gold can wait another hour. It ain't runnin' off!" he chuckled. But Torres will, and I've no wish for hanging just yet, Rackham."We'll show Vane and Rackham what's changed around these parts. I might even help ye withat treasure map ya got! Har har!"


Edward found himself wondering if Kidd was already on Torres's trail as he strolled around Nassau with his mates. Thatch was chattering on about how pirates could live freely as affiliates of the Brethren of the Coast. Vane and Rackham glanced at each other from time to time, pleased at Thatch's ideas but unsure if the other wanted to be part of it. Eventually-

"Thatch! Ain't that Hornigold?!" Vane pointed at a man with sideburns off in the distance in the porch of a house. He was frowning and talking stiffly to a lady.

"Aye! An' stop bein' so surprised at people ya recognize. Don't ye know he's also one o' the founders o' our republic? Course ye'd find him 'round 'ere. Usually manages the area by talkin' to the citizens."

Rackham remembered the name and asked, "Oi, now. As in Benjamin Hornigold? Didn't know he was so serious. Oof!" he shuddered to express his distaste, spilling a bit of rum from his mug.

"Hold that tongue, Jack!" Vane reprimanded, shoving his friend, "So he could loosen up, but he's alright," the four of them watched. The woman raised a hand to her mouth in surprise, while Hornigold rubbed the back of his head. Vane snorted, "Pft! Let's see what he's up tuh."

As the four of them approached the two, the woman briskly walked away from Hornigold and passed by them, a disturbed expression on her face, and her hands clasped together nervously. The four pirates stopped one by one, first turning their heads in her direction then looking back at Hornigold. He leaned an arm and his forehead against the wooden wall, and didn't seem to notice the other pirates nearing him.

"Ya soiled your breeches yet?" Edward spoke. He hadn't seen his friend in well over a year.

Hornigold looked to his side at them, his head still fixed on the wall. He did not appear pleased, "Kenway. Thatch. And Vane, I believe. Don't know you," he glanced at Rackham, "You all heard, I hope not."

"Saw, not heard," Thatch appeared tense, his lips pursed and eyebrows tight. He couldn't hold it in any longer and wheezed laughter, spitting out, "What in all your blasted brilliance was that? Who knew Benjamin Bloody Hornigold could be… this? Hah!"

"Burn in hell. That was what you would call… rejection," Hornigold straightened up and… laughed. The other pirates joined in.

"Another night with your right hand, mate?" Rackham took Hornigold's hand, balled it up into a fist, and made a jerking gesture.

"Shite. Stop rubbing it in!" Hornigold pulled his fist away and gave Rackham as gentle an uppercut as he could with it. He realized the innuendo he himself made and shook his head, chuckling at himself. Rackham, despite his new injury, laughed along while rubbing his chin, "You're awright, Benny Boy."

Hornigold scoffed, still red and smiling, "So who in hell are you and why are ya all here?" He sounded abashed at what happened despite his carefree appearance.

Vane leaned an elbow on Rackham's shoulder and introduced them, "This vigorous slug's Jack Rackham. We've arrived to make a fortune, ain't that a surprise. They say the Cuban gov'nor's fixing to receive a mess of gold in a nearby fort."

Hornigold narrowed his eyes slightly, "Torres?"

"Aye, aye. Now we find ourselves taking a damned tour with Thatch as our escort!"

"Well, I'll join you lot, then," they continued on with Hornigold joining the party, "How's the Ranger, Vane?"

"She still sails strong, of course."

"'Swell to see you take care of my gift."

Rackham intervened, "Oi. What's he goin' on about, Chahlie?"

Thatch commented, "Ya mean ye didn't know-"

A group of loudly giggling children ran past the pirates, washing out Thatch's remark.

"Ouch!" Out of the blue, a girl no older than 10 years old bumped straight into Vane- of all of them, the unfortunate thing. She backed off hastily, but neither this nor her trembling and terror-filled eyes stopped Vane from raising his voice and stretching out his arms in anger, "YA WANNA GET BLOODY KILLED, NINNY?!"

Vane's leg was cold-bloodedly poised to kick dirt on the girl when Thatch quite literally stepped in his way. The sparkling wicks on his hat were lit as he shoved Vane back and spoke in an inhuman voice, "Don't ye know that if a li'l girl runs into a pirate, they turn her into a stone mermaid and stick 'er on the front of their ship?"

She screamed while scurrying away from the armed men, heading where the other children stood many meters away, wide-eyed and motionless.

"Damn, Thatch. What wa-," Vane demanded from the ground after the girl rejoined her friends. He sounded rather awed, despite the other man stealing his thunder.

"Yer the blasted ninny, Vane!" Thatched yelled, abandoning his devil persona. He took off the hat, wicks still aglow and whacked the man with it, "Learn to control yerself or ye'll be meetin' a fate far worse than that o' a girl that gets in the way o' a pirate."

"Aye, Aye," Vane said dismissively, "But that… that guise o' yours!" his face lit up, "Terrifying and bloody brilliant! 'ow can I do-"

"Ye can ne'er handle Blackbeard, Vane," Thatch rebuked, putting out the wicks, "First, ya lack that eerie aura 'bout ye. An', Christ, ye'd be usin' him in the most devil may care manner."

"But Blackbeard is the devil himself manifested, ain't he, Thatch? What cares would he give?" challenged Vane. The other three pirates watched, curious at their exchange.

Thatch shook his head and responded, "Someone o' the likes o' ye couldn't make sense o' that, even. Let's get a move on. I'll finish showin' ya Nassau."


Not a week later, the Jackdaw rested at the docks of the fort Vane and Rackham tipped to Edward. Breaking down the pile of cobblestones was child's play. Soon enough, the pirate captain confronted the Cuban governor as the Spaniard sat comfortably in the commander's quarters, and he managed to extract long-awaited information on the Sage. Edward gathered that a slaver from Kingston, a Mr. Laurens Prins, was holding Roberts captive and was expecting a ransom from the Templars. Hence, the gold decorating the table Edward rested his bum on.

Laurens Prins? I've heard that name before, Edward thought over. It was the perfect opportunity to take the sage for himself and get to the observatory. He successfully involved himself in the matter, "We like this story, Torres. And we want to help you finish it," he gentlemanly poured himself a cup of tea, "But we're going to do it our way. Using you, and your gold." He got up from leaning on the large table Torres sat at, and motioned to Adewalé and the rest of his crew to evacuate their newly-claimed fort.

To Kingston, then.


On Thatch- I tried keeping Stephen King's three types of fear in mind: gross-out, horror, and terror. VSauce has a great YouTube video on this: "Why Are Things Creepy?" It's likely some of you have watched it already. I wanted Thatch's Blackbeard persona to give off a terrific (not the good kind) kind of feeling. A supernatural creepiness, in contrast to a "reality kind of fear" ("like bats and knives" as Junpei from Persona 3 put it). Thatch mentions that he prefers to scare his enemies over ending their lives. (In 'Proper Defenses', "We'll save the clashing of cutlasses for the military and them that get in our way.") I tried to implement this with the girl- scare her off so that she doesn't come near and can't get hurt by his unruly pirate mates.

Casual fact: the phrase "devil may care" is suspected to have originated in the Golden Age of Piracy. I quote from Idiomation: "Idiomation believes the expression reaches at least back… to the 1720s. This is based on Idiomation's suspicions that the spirit of the idiom is a result of the Golden Age of Piracy (1715 – 1725) where on the High Seas pirates recklessly went about their business with no worry or concern as to any consequences resulting from their actions. The only being that might care about their actions would be, of course, the Devil: hence the expression."

P.S. I apologize (apologise, if you want to keep it British) to the real Stede Bonnet, Charles Vane, "Calico" Jack Rackham, Edward Thatch, Mary Read, and the rest of the actual cast for my (probably heavily) inaccurate portrayals of you all. I mean- I doubt Stede Bonnet was actually some naive noob-pirate. I'm basing these characters off the game (who, in turn, are loosely based on that one iffy pirate book A General History of the Pyrates, which is, finally, based on the real people), but all the while, I can't help but feel bad.

Tell me if my humor doesn't make sense- sometimes I make it so abstract it turns out confusing and possibly awkward.

One last update: I will now update monthly.