Pairing: Sao Feng, mention of Elizabeth
Word Count: 430
Prompt: Justice

Eclipse of Life

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The air was stale with the musk of men and mint. The cozen moon, once his only guiding light, shone yellow and stood out amongst blankets of darkening clouds. How appropriate it was that that night would be one of a cosmic eclipse.

Shafts of moonlight allowed specters to dance along the walls of his ship, forgotten ghosts of an age long passed, but why did they choose to dance? Of course, he knew the answer. They were dancing to his symphony now, and soon with her release, everyone would be dancing.

The Pirate Lord stood and watched as his concubines prepared her, dressing her form in jewel encrusted fabrics of the finest quality, while letting his mind to travel beyond his ship, and the ocean, finding himself back in his home. The bathhouse was where many men had died and most were still wounded, yet still they stood, prepared to serve as the last defendants of a fading ideal.

Most of his crewmen had already lost their families, homes, and everything that they held dear. Their wounds were worth nothing in contrast. Time and again, he had seen his men fight with valor and fury as their purpose took a hold of them and turned them to gods among men, and men among boys.

The wind began to hasten, in preparation for the coming storm, and the clouds soon eclipsed the moon. Soon, the only light that was left was from his eyes, but even that light was fading out as nature assailed his spirit with the glorious rumble of cannon fire.

Could he express pain in words? Not just hurt, but a true, deep, stabbing pain? Would he find himself fleeing to a bright light in hopes of release?

Moments passed, and although he could not see his injury, he could hear his men fumbling about the decks above him, hoping that they might yet steal a few winks from Death's brother.

His trespasses upon her were intolerable and unforgivable, so it was by an act of swift justice that he would be brought before the gods to answer to his deeds.

"Forgive me, Calypso," he whispered with great regret.

Soon enough, the clouds exited as swiftly as they had come, and in their dull twilight, he could see that she was ready. To charge, and to die in the name of the Brethren, and thus, he left his final beam of hope with the very last piece of eight.

Beneath his heavy lids, he clambered up at the helm, and stood tall at the pinnacle of his battalions to sail the seas of the afterlife.

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