I feel so guilty for not posting something sooner! Starfire67, I'm almost done with your request, I promised! As for Epic...I'm working on it...^^' This is a one shot I wrote a looooooooong time ago.
Song: He's A Pirate
The courtyard of the fort was packed with townsfolk and soldiers alike to witness the hanging of the infamous pirate Arthur Kirkland. This terror of the Caribbean had finally been captured by the fort's own Commodore Alfred Jones. The drummers rattled out a harsh beat. The sun reflected sharply off the barrels of the guns and any other metal. Arthur Kirkland stood on the platform with the noose hanging inches from his face. His fair blonde hair looked ironically angelic in the sunlight and his brilliant green eyes flashed mischievously. He smirked back at the people staring at him, well, more like glaring. But that was understandable, seeing as how his latest escapade had been on the island. And what an adventure that had been. In the end, he'd found the girl of his dreams and been the richest pirate this side of the Atlantic Ocean…until the Commodore caught him. Ten minutes after to be exact.
He glanced at the hangman next to him and his smirk faded a little. Three hundred pounds of pure muscle stared back at him. Ah well, you've had a good run Artie, he comforted himself. Even you can't escape this one alone, and at least she's safe. A rather prissy man with black hair and a mole on his chin walked up to the platform and unrolled a piece of paper.
"Arthur Kirkland," he intoned.
Arthur rolled his eyes and muttered, "Captain. Captain." Honestly, was it that hard to remember? The man continued though a stress mark on his forehead told that he had heard the remark.
"Let it be known that you have been charged, tried and convicted of willful crimes against the crown." Several crowns actually, but Arthur didn't think this was the best time to mention that. "Said crimes being numerous in quantity and sinister in nature."
A small figure, their face concealed by a long black cloak, weaved its way through the crowd toward the gallows. People gave the person several sidelong glances but otherwise paid no attention to them. The person glanced upwards just in time to see a blue and green parrot fly over the wall and land on one of the flagpoles. A small smile graced their features and they continued their meandering path until they were right in front of the crowd.
"-The most grievous of these to be stated forthwith." Arthur finally looked up from the crowd and looked straight ahead. Halfway up the steps to the fort, standing ramrod straight, Commodore Jones stared back. He was fairly young, only twenty seven, but in Arthur's humble opinion, he acted far too old for his age. He had dirty blonde hair that was smoothed back except for one unruly cowlick. His sky blue eyes seemed to bore into Arthur's forehead and a smug smile flickered in the corners of his mouth. There were stories about Alfred F. Jones. People said that no man that crossed swords with him could win…not that Arthur would know, the Commodore had captured him by aiming his pistol at his head. Arthur was still sore about that. It was practically cheating, he had done the same himself plenty of times… but he was a pirate. He had expected better from the Commodore.
"Piracy, smuggling, forced escape-" The list went on for about a minute with Arthur vaguely listening as he gazed up at the sky. "-Impersonating an officer of the Spanish royal navy, impersonating a cleric of the Church of England." Arthur grinned and bit back a laugh. That had been fun. "Sailing under false colors, arson, kidnapping-" He bit back a cry of protest. It had been kidnapping in the beginning, but by the end of it she had been quite willing to stay-
"-And general lawlessness. And for these crimes, you have been sentenced to on this day," The man paused for effect and glanced at Arthur. "To be hung by the neck until dead. May God have mercy on your soul." There was a spacious pause as the man rolled up the parchment. Then the drums beat faster.
Ratta-tatta-tatta-tatta-tatta-tatta-tatta
The hangman shoved Arthur forward and secured the noose snugly about his neck. The hooded figured drew a sword from their belt and raised it about their head. People around the stranger screamed and backed away. Soldiers shouted and the Commodore rushed forward through the crowd. Like a bolt of lightning, the sword zipped through the air and pierced the wooden beam under the platform. The hangman, seeing the commotion, quickly pulled the lever and Arthur dropped… only for his feet to land on the sword, sparing his neck.
The hooded figure raced up the stairs, drawing another sword. The hangman grabbed an axe and swung at the cloaked criminal. Instead of striking flesh, the axe sliced through the rope holding Arthur and he fell with a thump to the bricks below. The Commodore and a few soldiers had just reached the platform when a quick shove from the hooded person sent the hangman crashing on top of them. Arthur sprang up and cut his bounds with the sword still stuck in the wood. He pulled it out and turned to face his rescuer who had just jumped from the gallows.
Vivid violet eyes met green and Arthur grinned in surprised delight. He couldn't see their face under the shadow of the cloak but he didn't need to, the eyes were enough. He tossed them the end of the rope that would have been his death and they charged forward. Moving in sync, they stretched the rope taut and tripped five guards coming their way. The wrapped two more around a stone pillar and then they ran up the stairs to the top of the wall. But waiting for them at the top was Commodore Jones. Arthur leaned against the wall and tried to catch his breath. He didn't need to look to know that soldiers were waiting for them at the bottom. He grinned and said,
"Honestly Commodore, one would think that you had a grudge against me." Alfred grimaced and drew his sword.
"Oh yes, and you would too if a man kidnapped then attempted to seduce your sister."
"'Attempted'? I believe 'attempted' means 'tried to'. I 'did' mate." Arthur shot back. Alfred glowered at him and cast a curious glance at the cloaked brigand.
"No matter, it seems there will be two corpses hanging from the gallows today. You can't escape, no man has ever bested me in combat."
The figure grabbed the edge of their hood and ripped the cloak off, in its place stood a young woman with long, curly blonde hair wearing a man's shirt and breeches. She raised her sword and said, "I am no man."
Alfred stumbled back in shock, "M-Madeline?!" he yelled. She rushed forward up the few remaining stairs and with a flick of her wrist disarmed him. She pressed the edge of the blade to his throat.
"All of you back!" She yelled to the soldiers. They quickly obeyed and Arthur sauntered up the steps and leaned against the stone railing. Below he could see the sea…and their escape.
"How could you Madeline?" Alfred asked in amazement. "How could you side with this-this scoundrel?" Arthur pressed a hand to his chest in mock hurt.
"I'm sorry brother," she said, "I know this is your duty. But I can't let you." She looked at Arthur and he smiled back lovingly. "He's a good man, an honorable one. He's not a scoundrel…he's a pirate. And he's the only one I want." She finished the last part in a whisper, her cheeks turning crimson. Arthur took this as the signal to be off and he jumped onto the stone railing. Looking down at the whole courtyard, he shouted,
"This is the day you will always remember as the day you-" His parting shot was cut off with a yelp as he lost his balance and fell into the ocean below. Madeline rolled her eyes and jumped after him. Alfred rushed to the railing and saw them surface. Coming in to the harbor was a ship with black sails, sporting the skull and crossbones. Madeline and Arthur grinned at each other and began swimming towards the ship.
"What's your plan of action?" One soldier asked. Alfred looked at the two tiny figures. His mind battled between what his duty was and what he knew was right. He had seen how they looked at each other, he remembered all those days Madeline had spent trying to convince him to let the pirate free. And he knew deep inside that they loved each other with more passion than could ever be conveyed through words. He slowly turned around and began walking down the steps. "Sir?" The soldier asked, confused by the lack of response.
"I think we can afford to give them one day's head start." He said, a wry smile on his lips.
One of the crew threw a line out to Arthur as they drew near. He grasped it firmly in one hand and held the other around Madeline's waist. At least ten other crew members grabbed a hold and pulled them up so quickly they shot up halfway to the mast before they landed on the deck. Arthur's first mate, a German named Gilbert, squeezed them both in a tight hug. "Ksesesesese! Zhat vas awesome!"
Arthur glared at him, "I thought I told you to stick to the code." he said.
Gilbert shrugged and answered, "We figured zhey were more actual…guidelines." He handed Arthur his weathered tricorn hat and another member of the crew gave him his coat. "Welcome back Captain Kirkland," Gilbert said, pointing toward the wheel.
Arthur grinned and pulled Madeline along with him. He glanced back at the crew and roared, "On deck you scabrous dogs!" Everyone cheered and ran to their duties. Arthur gazed out at his beloved sea and pulled Madeline closer. She giggled and kissed his cheek. "Let's go meet that horizon," he murmured, pulling out a compass. This was a very special compass, one given to him by the faeries. With it, he could find any treasure. He began to hum out the tune to a half forgotten song. He spoke the last line with his trademark smirk.
"Drink up me hearties. Yo ho!"
The only time I ever like Maple Tea is when it's about pirates. And the characters just fit this and I really love the ending of the first Pirates of the Caribbean so...this came to be. XD
Please review!