A/N: In memory of Olivia de Havilland, notable for her role of Arabella Bishop in Captain Blood, which played partial inspiration for this story.
If this becomes popular on its own, I'll consider making chapter sequels in the future.
The Arkos Pirates: The Pirate and the Noble
Pyrrha of House Nikos stood aboard one of her father's galleon ships staring out at the blue sea as the crew moved and worked around her on the main deck. In less than a month, she would be on her home island of Argus where she would be wed to Neptune of House Vasilias, a man she has met but a few times, but understands that their marriage will be beneficial for both their families and the cities their families rule over.
"Lady Nikos, are you well?" asked her caretaker, who always stood near her.
"I'm fine, Henry. Just wanted to get some fresh air. I'm just feeling a bit nervous about my marriage, is all," she informed him.
"You don't object, do you? I know it was sudden of both your father and Lord Vasilias…"
"No, of course not. Neptune is a wonderful man, and I'm happy to be married to such a fine lord as well." She smiled and turned her attention back to the sea, only for her gaze to be caught by a speck in the distance. "Is that a ship?"
"Crow's nest! Starboard side!" Henry called upwards. Up above in the crow's nest, a sailor peered through his spyglass towards the speck and confirmed that it was indeed a ship. "I'm going to go tell the captain." He headed off.
Pyrrha, however, stayed transfixed upon the ship, feeling worried, for she knew that they were in pirate waters, a rash decision made by the captain hoping to save a week's sail going around a longer, but safer path.
Far off, the spotted ship had already noticed the galleon and was making its way towards it with the wind at its back, granting it extra speed. The ship, a clipper, practically sliced its way through the waters as its captain stood near the helm, a young Valian with grey hair dressed in a red and black captain's coat looked on the galleon ahead. "Men, get the cannons ready! We'll hit them with the chase cannons from afar to cripple them! Once we get close enough, we grapple them in place and swing over! Take all their valuables and kill anyone that dares to resist!" he ordered.
"Aye, Captain!" His crew went to work, preparing for battle even while they also pursued the Nikos galleon.
"And to think, I feared I would have to return to my partner empty handed!" the captain mumbled to himself, a smirk spread across his lips.
Back on the Nikos ship, they were suddenly slowed down when the wind changed direction and blew into their sails, sending them to a halt, giving the pirate ship enough time to draw closer. From above in his crow's nest, the lookout sailor confirmed new information: the pirate sail bore a skeleton wearing boots. The sigil of the pirate Mercury Black.
"Milady, it's too dangerous for you to be out here!" Henry warned Pyrrha before taking her by the wrist and taking her into the quarters, where he put her in her private quarters.
Outside, the crew began preparing for an attack, but it was already too late; Captain Black's ship fired two volleys of chain shots unto them, immediately stopping the galleon in place and destroying parts of its hull, killing a few sailors in the process. "GET US OUT OF HERE!" the captain ordered his navigator, who tugged at the wheel, hoping to steer them into the wind to gain speed quickly. Another volley of chain shots, this time killing four men aboard and sendings the hull into splinters.
"READY THE BROADSIDE CANNONS!" Black ordered as his ship came up alongside the Nikos galleon.
"BRACE!" warned the Nikos captain just as several cannons fired cannonballs into the side of the galleon, destroying their own cannons and hull, and killing more sailors.
"ALRIGHT, MEN! GRAPPLE THEM TO US AND CLIMB ABOARD!" Already, Black pirates were throwing their grappling hooks and climbing aboard the Nikos galleon, prompting a fight with the sailors aboard. It proved to be a short fight, as the Black pirates outmatched the Nikos sailors in combat, killing all of them, minus the captain, who was disarmed and taken before Mercury. "What a shame that you ran into us," Mercury laughed. "Men, grab whatever spoils you find!" At once, several Black pirates went below deck and into the cabins, piffling whatever they could find: Lien, jewels, gold, pearls, and more.
Two pirates found Pyrrha's private quarters guarded by Henry wielding a sword. "I won't allow you to harm my lady!" he declared before they drew their own blades. From inside, Pyrrha listened to the clanging of steel outside for a moment before there was a sudden cry and the steel stopped. She locked the door and backed away, fearful of what may come. Finally, the door banged. Another bang. A third bang. Finally, it burst open and the two pirates came in, where they saw her huddled in a corner.
"Oooh, she's pretty!" exclaimed one of them as they grabbed at her and dragged her to her feet. "Since we're in a bedroom, maybe we could…"
"Don't be a fool! The captain will want her unharmed! Look at her, she looks important enough!" barked the other pirate. With a huff, his friend agreed and the two dragged Pyrrha out, despite her protests and thrashing. She only stopped when she saw the still body of Henry outside, a pool of blood underneath him. Out on the deck, the two pirates took Pyrrha before Mercury. "Captain, we found this pretty lady hiding in one of the rooms!" They forced Pyrrha to her knees before him, who smiled at the sight of her.
"Well, well, what do we have here? The heiress to the Nikos family, Pyrrha Nikos!" he exclaimed, earning cheers from his men. "We definitely hit the jackpot today!"
"Don't you dare harm her!" growled the Nikos captain.
"Enough of you!" went Mercury, who delivered a quick roundhouse kick to his head, where his body crumbled over. "Toss him overboard." Two pirates nodded and flung the captain's body over the port side and into the waters.
Iron Foot Mercury of the Black Pirates, as he was named for the iron boots he wore in battle. Mercury Black himself was as cruel as he was violent in battle, having never lost a battle ever, earning him a reputation as one of the most vicious pirates in the Remnant Seas.
"Now, men, what shall we do with the Lady Pyrrha?" he asked his crew.
"Let's have some fun with her!" suggested one that licked at his lips.
"Let's have her dance naked for us on lonely nights!" went another, earning woofs from his pals.
"Better yet, lads, as nice as it would be to violate the great Lord Nikos' beautiful daughter, instead, we shall hold her ransom for a pretty sum! To have his most precious and untouched daughter back safe and sound, Lord Nikos would pay any price, especially with her wedding in a month's time!" Mercury turned to address Pyrrha herself. "It's been in all the papers, must be exciting for you to get married, isn't it, milady? Hopefully your father will pay quick enough to have you in front of the altar in time." He laughed, followed by his crew who joined in. "Now, kill off the rest, grab our spoils, and let us return to the Isle of Patch!"
The surviving Nikos sailors were promptly killed and the loot was carried aboard the Black ship, and the Lady Pyrrha Nikos was escorted aboard by Mercury himself. "You are lucky that you are alive, milady," he notified her. "Had I not had the brilliant idea of holding you for ransom, my men would've spent days and night raping you until you begged for death."
"Well, bravo that you conjured enough brain power to be able to conceive such a dastardly plan!" Pyrrha spat, but Mercury merely laughed.
"The lady has quite the venomous tongue, though, for someone as beautiful as you, it would be worth to draw close towards." Mercury did just that, drawing close to put his hands on her waist. "Perhaps, if you're willing to cooperate, I can let you stay in my quarters, where it is warm, especially if we…huddle together at night…" His hand traced upwards towards her bosom that laid in view in her dress, but before his fingers could touch her skin, Pyrrha head butted him hard, sending him backwards. Mercury groaned in pain and shot an angry frown at her. "Very well, then! Dove, take her to her quarters down in one of our cells!" A pirate by the same name took Pyrrha's hand and lead her below deck, where he locked her in a lonely cell in a corner of the ship, and there, Pyrrha sat on a pile of hale, wondering what her fate would be.
( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )
On the Isle of Patch, a clipper ship was docked offshore and its crew strewn about on her deck and on the beach. Its captain, a tall blond man of Vale, stood at the stern staring through a spyglass. This man was Captain Jaune Arc of the Arc Pirates. He surveyed the seas, looking for a ship. Nearby, his quartermaster, Lie Ren, held his red and black captain's coat. "Sir, perhaps Captain Black simply got caught up," Ren suggested.
"Perhaps, though part of me wishes he got scuttled at sea," Jaune remarked.
"Jaune, was it truly a wise decision to make a partnership with that man?"
Jaune took in a deep breath. Deep down, he knew that making that partnership with probably the most vile of pirates in Remnant was the worst mistake he ever made, even if he was partially drunk at the time. "No it was not, but last thing I'd want is to make Mercury Black my enemy, even if his ideals differ from mine."
"He did agree to sail under your guidelines, sir." Jaune collapsed his spyglass and took his coat back, giving Ren his thanks.
"Aye, he did, though do you expect a man like him to even obey them? On the plus side, we have made plenty of riches thanks to him." The two were about to disembark when their crow's nest, Nora, rang the bell atop the main mast.
"Ship spotted to the south! She carries the black flag!" she yelled before she climbed out and scurried down a long rope tied to her nest.
"Men! Gather together! Captain Black has returned!" Jaune called out to everyone on the beach. Soon enough, the Black ship pulled into the bay and laid anchor, where its captain and crew disembarked, but Jaune was shocked to see Pyrrha Nikos with her wrists bound by rope and lead by Mercury's first mate, Dove. His face now showing anger, Jaune stepped forward before Mercury, both of their crews at their backs. "What is the meaning of this?" Jaune demanded, pointing at Pyrrha.
"A spoil of war, Captain Arc!" Mercury proudly declared. "Just as when I thought we would return to you empty-handed, a Mistral galleon crossed our midst and we took it! It was abounded with much Lien and treasures, though none more precious than this beautiful lady, who happens to be the daughter of Lord Nikos of Argus!"
"The Lady Pyrrha Nikos…" Jaune mumbled, stealing a glance at Pyrrha, who showed only a mean stare back at him. A brave lady, to show no fear despite being a prisoner… "Captain Black, you are aware that it is forbidden to take a woman prisoner, correct? It was among the first rules in my articles that you swore to follow as part of our partnership."
"That is a foolish article of yours!" Mercury barked, but Jaune remained stone-faced.
"Foolish, huh? I was not aware you thought of them so."
This is THE Captain Jaune Arc? Pyrrha thought to herself as she marveled upon the aryan pirate before her, dressed in a white shirt with black pants and boots with a red and black jacket––the jacket colors worn by all pirate captains––over himself. On his hip, she spied a slender sword that bore his insignia: two yellow crescent moons. Why would a gentleman pirate be allied with someone like Mercury Black?
Pyrrha herself has heard stories about Captain Jaune Arc, though they have been little more than rumors. Some say he was a former criminal, some say he was wrongfully sold into slavery, some say he sold himself to pay off a debt, but of all the rumors, the ones that were truthful were his disposition as a gentleman pirate, one that would not take a life except when most necessary, one that would not kill innocent travelers, one that would not rob any merchants of their wares and loot, one who provides safe escort for travelers in exchange for payment. Despite that, his persona as a pirate earned him a reputation among Remnant's Navy, whom seek to see him hanged for the many Naval ships he has attacked and robbed, despite the many sailors he has spared in these attacks all in exchange for their materials and money. She has heard of these so-called articles he had made: strict rules that he and his crew follow to preserve their morality and avoid becoming pirates like Mercury Black.
"What does it matter what I think, Captain Arc? With the Lady Nikos, we can hold her ransom for her father, who, without a doubt, will pay a high price, perhaps twenty thousand Lien, to have his daughter returned to her in time for her wedding, and untouched."
"Now, since you covered what is our joint property of war, per our agreement to share whatever spoils we earn, you may have her, providing you're willing to buy her at the same price you proposed, at twenty thousand Lien!" Jaune declared.
"But that ransom is to be paid by Lord Nikos! It is for division when it comes!"
"And what if the Lord Nikos doesn't wish to pay, what then?" Mercury opened his mouth to speak, but Jaune hushed him. "NO! If you're to keep the girl meanwhile, pay the ransom and let it be your risk to collect it."
"That's right! Captain Arc is right! It's in his articles!" piped up a Black pirate, earning agreement from those around him.
"What's in the articles, you fools?" snapped Mercury. "Where do you suppose I have twenty thousand Lien, Captain Arc?"
"Then let someone who'll buy her that has."
"Who?"
"I."
"You?! Ho ho ho!"
"Dove, bring the prisoner forward."Jaune ordered, and Dove obeyed, leading Pyrrha up before the two captains. "Reese! Nora! Fetch enough of our trove to equal twenty thousand, and hurry!" The two women ran off for the ship and within fifteen minutes, came back with a treasure chest full of Lien cards, jewels, and gold. "Now, I bid twenty thousand Lien! Can you improve on that, Black?"
As much as she wanted to be free from Mercury Black, to be bought by another pirate was a despicable thing for Pyrrha to fathom. "I don't wish to be bought by you!" she declared.
"Milady, you are not in any position to have anything to say about it," Jaune warned her.
"You…you want the girl?!" Mercury questioned.
"Why not? I am willing to pay for what I want, but she will not be my slave or prisoner, but a guest aboard my ship, and I shall risk my life and my crew's to escort her home safely." Jaune propped open the chests and Mercury's crew marveled at the contents inside. "That should equal more than twenty thousand Lien, more than enough to satisfy you, Captain Black!" Jaune motioned to Reese and Nora. "Take our new guest aboard our ship, and be sure that the lady is comfortable and fed." The two obeyed, but as soon as they stepped forward, Mercury blocked their path with a sword in hand.
"YOU WILL NOT TAKE HER WHILE I LIVE!" he declared.
"THEN I'LL TAKE HER WHEN YOU'RE DEAD!" Jaune retorted, jumping before his two crew mates. He flung his jacket off and drew his sword while Mercury abandoned his own coat and both crews stepped backwards, understanding that this was a fight between the captains. A wicked grin spread across Mercury's lips as he spun his sword in hand. "That's two breeches in our articles that you violated! You should be marooned! It's what I intended for you in the end, but since you prefer this, I'll humor you!"
With that, Mercury dashed forward with an overhead swing, causing Jaune to sidestep it and the sword burrowed into the sand. Mercury swung horizontally this time, forcing Jaune to duck, but while he was grounded, he grabbed at some sand and flung it into his face, temporary blinding the wicked pirate. Jaune lunged forward with his blade, but Mercury raised his own in time to deflect it, catching the blade against his. Both men pushed against each other before Mercury broke the clash, swinging at Jaune, who jumped out of range, curving his body just in time. He knew he had to wait for an opening to strike his foe; it was the only way! Jaune turned and ran off, prompting Mercury to chase after him, where they stopped upon the rocky shoreline. "Any last words, Captain Arc?" Mercury boasted.
"I'll say some for you!" Jaune retorted, where Mercury dove forward to strike, but Jaune jumped sideways onto a series of rocks, giving him a height advantage. Already, their crews had reached them, all of them eager to see how the fight will play out.
"Jaune's making the right decision, fighting on uneven terrain," Ren said to himself. "But this can be played against him if he's not careful. If he intends to win, he needs to act now."
Both men swung at each other, both of them avoiding their weapons, until Jaune leapt from his spot backwards with his back towards Mercury just as soon as the rocks were struck with a wave of water, who scrambled for the blonde pirate with his sword raised for a deadly stab, but in his rush, he lost his footing on the now-slippery wet rocks in his path and fell forward, his sword leaving his hands. That is when Jaune spun around and caught Mercury in his embrace with his sword pointing forward, which pierced his chest. Mercury let out a deathly gasp before Jaune spun and flung his heavy body onto the rocks, where the waves washed over him, returning to the sea with his blood mixed into the waters. "And that ends a partnership that never should have begun!" Jaune declared to the dead corpse before returning to the two pirate crews, but both of them remained silent. The Black pirates made no attempt to attack Jaune or say anything; nothing else needed to be said. Ren sheathed Jaune's blade for him and handed his coat back. Nora and Reese took Pyrrha Nikos and escorted her to the lifeboats, where she was taken aboard the Arc ship, whose flag bore a skull with two yellow crescent moons behind it. Whether she liked it or not, she was now Captain Jaune Arc's property aboard his ship––even if he referred to her as his guest––bought and paid for with twenty thousand Lien and in blood.
( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )
In the guest room, Pyrrha sat upon the bed staring out at the rolling sea as the ship, Crocea Mors, made its way for her home island of Argus. While she was happy to be out of the grasp of Mercury Black, she still hated to be stuck with pirates to escort her across the sea. Gentlemen pirates or not, pirates are still the ones who attacked her ship, killed her crew and Henry, not to mention hundreds of innocent merchants, travelers, and sailors across Remnant for ages, as she thought of it. They only know of killing innocent people and stealing what doesn't belong to them. How can Jaune Arc call himself a gentleman when he murders pirates to take women for himself? she wondered. Yet, he did save me from Mercury Black, who would've done far worse to me… She let it slide, choosing instead to relish in her new protection.
Later that day, Pyrrha went top side to the main deck, taking care to stay out of the way of the crew hard at work maintaining the boat and sails. At the stern was the navigator Tristan, who stood at the helm spinning the wheel and directing the ship towards its destination: the Island of Argus, her home. "How are you enjoying the trip, Lady Nikos?" came a voice, which happened to be Captain Jaune Arc.
"It is adequate," she answered with a huff.
"Hmm, seems our milady is not entertained enough. Mr. Tristan, guide us towards a rogue wave, if you can!" Pyrrha gave him a puzzled stare. "Just trust me," he answered, taking her by the arm and leading her to the prow.
"Aye, captain!" Tristan called, giving the helm a spin. "Everyone, prepare yourselves!" The ship churned and spun starboard-side, and after a while, a large wave came into view. "There it is, captain!"
"A rogue wave. Despite its name, it's just a large wave and not much harm if you tackle it head on. Like so," Jaune explained as he held her close to himself and one hand secured in the mast's rope. "HERE WE GO!" The Crocea Mors tackled the rogue wave head on, causing the prow and frontside of the ship to suffer an immense splash, which drenched the captain and the Lady Nikos. Jaune Arc hollered with excitement while Pyrrha gasped at the chill feeling of the ocean upon her. "How was that bit of excitement for you, milady?" Her response was to slap him in the face.
"How DARE you take a woman against her will and force her to endure such…such childish games?!" she screamed. Despite her tone, he kept a cheery disposition. "I'm going to go change…" With that, she stormed off for her quarters, lifting the front of her soggy dress, but Jaune remained at the prow with a grin upon his face. After drying off and changing into some shabby clothes from the dresser, Pyrrha sat back upon the bed, her gaze turned upon the rolling seas out her window. I did get a bit of a rush right before that wave hit…it was a little…exciting… she admitted to herself.
( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )
Their journey continued on, this time with Pyrrha standing atop deck, her clothes now resembling the casual clothes the rest of the pirate crew wore. Above her, she watched Nora climb the shrouds and cross the main mast with ease as if she were a monkey. Behind her, she watched Tristan tug and spin the wheel, steering the Crocea Mors through the waters. Near him was Jaune, who stood proud and poised. He flashed Pyrrha a smile, who turned her head with a huff, still remembering the rogue wave.
"Captain, twilight will soon be upon us!" Tristan called from the wheel. "Shall we pull into a cove or continue sailing into the night?"
"Do you see one nearby, Ren? How far are we from the Island of Argus?"
At once, the quartermaster, Ren, rolled out an electronic map of Remnant, where their location glowed with a white arrow somewhere within the Mistral Sea. "Captain, there's a cove with a small island nearby we can dock at for the night, but we still have a little over a week before the Lady Pyrrha's wedding."
"Very well. Mr. Tristan, follow the map and guide us in for a restful night!"
"Aye aye, Captain!" With that, Tristan opened his electronic map pinpointing the cove and spun the wheel starboard-side. "Should be just a while or so, but we'll be there before nightfall!"
"Captain Arc!" called Pyrrha, who stomped towards him. "I require––no, I DEMAND that we continue on into the night! I wish to return home and away from you scoundrels as soon as humanely possible!"
"I'm sorry, milady, but even pirates are prone to exhaustion, and we're the only crew onboard. We're not like a crew owned by a rich family able to work tirelessly, you know," he remarked with a coy grin, making her frown at him instead.
"Very well, but I don't want us to waste any more time than we needed." With a huff, she turned and went back below deck.
"Quite the feisty lass," he mumbled under his breath with that same coy grin.
( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )
Tristan guided the Crocea Mors into an island's cove to dock for the night. Up on deck, Pyrrha watched a few pirates drop the anchor into the water and another few roll out a ramp for everyone to disembark upon. "Milady…" Jaune said to her, extending his hand out to her.
"At least you have some knowledge of how to treat a lady," Pyrrha remarked, taking his hand and allowing him to lead her onto the cove's rocky floors. "What does your crew do on nights like this anyway?"
"We usually rest, eat, sing some songs, have a fun time before we tuck in for the night. What about you, Miss Nikos? What does the rich and powerful do on nights such as this?"
"Well, we usually entertain any guests we may have visiting us, but otherwise, we tend to sit around and just talk to each other about current or personal events."
"Sounds boring. Hopefully you'll enjoy a night with pirates." With that, the rest of the crew disembarked, bringing with them cots, blankets, various instruments, and cooking tools.
"Don't worry, Captain, I'll fix us up some fine grub that'll even please the milady!" called Lie Ren as he began setting up some cooking grates and tools while other pirates began kindling a large contained fire and brought out various meats and vegetables.
Pyrrha gave a disgusted groan as she saw the uncooked meats pass by her. "Not so tasty when you see them before they're cooked, huh?" Jaune smirked.
"I don't ever see them like this."
"I figure as much. Another result of your rich, sheltered lifestyle."
She turned to him with a mean glare. "Why do you feel you must criticize the fact that my family is rich? I'm sorry that you're not rich and that the only way you can ever gain money is by stealing it from others who worked hard for it."
Jaune instead stood up to her, towering over her by only a few inches, but it was enough to make Pyrrha shrink backwards a little. "You make it sound as if life is perfect so long as you have enough wealth to last you a lifetime, but trust me, Pyrrha Nikos, if I was given the choice to become a rich man again, I would give it up to continue this life." With that, he stormed off towards the anchored Crocea Mors, leaving Pyrrha alone with what he said.
A bit later, Ren had cooked up a smorgasbord of cooked meats and vegetables for everyone, while fellow pirate Nora Valkyrie went around giving everyone grog and ale to drink. After a bit more drinking, the violins, the acoustic guitars, and single drums came out and the more musically-inclined pirates took them up and began playing a tune, causing some pirates to jump and start dancing with mugs and sticks of meat in hand. "Round, you monkeys, round! The night is still young, as are we!" Nora hooted, to which many pirates let out a hearty "YAR!" and continued dancing.
Nearby, Pyrrha sat on a ragged rock away from the party chewing on a leg of mutton, which satisfied her greatly, given how she had forgotten earlier how hungry she was. "Having a good time, milady?" asked Jaune, who sat beside her with a mug of grog in hand.
"I am content with sitting by myself rather than consorting with a band of howler monkeys drunk off of disgusting ale, thank you."
"C'mon, surely being alone must get boring sometimes." She mumbled under her breath and looked away. "How about you join us, even for a few minutes? Don't worry, we won't make you dance naked for us or anything." He let out a hearty laugh.
"Um…very well." With that, Jaune lead the milady back to the others, who welcomed her with a hearty roar. She gave them a small wave and a smile before seating herself beside Jaune. She watched the embers of their bonfire flicker as the pirates danced and drank around it, and amidst their roars and laughter, she could hear a pleasant shanty:
"Now we are ready to head for the Horn,
Way, ay, roll an' go!
Our boots an' our clothes boys are all in the pawn,
To be rollickin' randy dandy O!
"Heave a pawl, oh, heave away,
Way, ay, roll an' go!
The anchor's on board an' the cable's all stored,
To be rollickin' randy dandy O!"
"One of our favorites to sing whenever we lay anchor to rest somewhere," Jaune suddenly quipped, making Pyrrha jump in her seat. "I always felt that whenever they sang this song, you could feel the freedom in their voices, like, no matter what trials or troubles come our way, whenever I hear their heartiness in this song, I knew that they are happy to be here with me as pirates."
"I must admit, they sound joyful. To be so happy and carefree even though you all are pirates hunted down by the Remnant Navy and could very well be staring at the Hangman's Noose one day or even tomorrow, that's something I could never experience."
Jaune raised an eyebrow to her. "Why would you say that? You mean to say a noble like yourself could never be hanged like a pirate would?" Obviously Jaune knew the answer to that question, but he wanted to hear Pyrrha's answer.
"Well, yes, but you would have to betray your nation to suffer such a fate, probably, but even at my young age, I've seen nobles and those in power escape dastardly deeds that they have committed with an exchange of Lien or a whisper of words." She turned to him now. "You said earlier that if you were given the choice to be rich, you would give it all up again. What did you mean by that?"
Jaune was silent a moment as he sipped from a mug of grog. "Tell me, what do you know about how I started as a pirate?"
"Not much. The usual rumors, that you were a slave before becoming a pirate, but before that, no one knows." Suddenly, it all clicked in. "Arc…I've heard that name before, but it can't be…"
At that moment, Jaune jumped to his feet. "Men! The Lady Nikos wishes to know the tale of how Jaune Arc became a pirate! What say you that we tell her that tale? Who wants to be the storyteller tonight?" his voice boomed.
"Captain, if you will allow me," piped up Ren, who stood up. Three other pirates began playing a slow beat with a guitar and a drum while Ren took a swig of ale and cleared his throat.
"The Tale of Captain Jaune Arc." Ren began as everyone huddled closer. "Gentleman pirates are few and far between, and Captain Jaune Arc is the best of them, though hated by some of his fellow pirates after he earned the name of the Noble Pirate. His tale began when he was but fourteen and the heir to House Arc. Yes, THOSE Arcs! However, Jaune never cared for the rich life, finding it full of bore and his heart longing for adventures and the high seas. He left during one night and hopped aboard a merchant ship, seeking a new life on the seas as a seafarer and not as a noble.
"His new life was short-lived, however, for only a few months as a merchant, the ship was attacked by pirates, and our captain was taken prisoner with a flintlock to his head and ropes binding his wrists, now a hostage of pirates. For days, Jaune wondered what will become of him, and on the break of dawn a week later, a new path was carved for him: another band of pirates appeared and attacked. They were quick to subdue the ship and board it, taking out of the crew, including its captain. The attacking captain, known only as Oz, found Jaune and offered him a choice. 'Come with me and be a part of my crew. If not, I shall drop you in a town of your choosing with a sack of Lien so you may make your life however you want it to be.'
"Some of us were about Jaune's age at the time when we welcomed him as a fellow crew mate, as Oz recruited young boys and girls to give them a better life than their previous one, and he sought the same for our captain. He made Jaune his protégé, teaching him everything he would need to know. Swordplay, sailing, leadership, tools of the trade, everything, and by the time Jaune was twenty, he inherited the ship Crocea Mors and renamed us as the Arc pirates, and we accepted him, for even though he was born of noble blood, his heart and voice was that of a pirate from then on, though some aspects of his noble heritage lived on through his rebirth as a pirate, earning him the name of the Noble Pirate. And five years later, the adventures of the Noble Pirate continue to this day, with the latest involving him escorting a shrewd noble woman to her wedding." With that, Ren bowed, earning applause and cheers around, then took his seat. Pyrrha, however, blushed slightly at his ending.
The partying continued into the night until sleep overcame the entire crew, forcing them to take shelter in their bed rolls or return to the ship, the latter of whom even included the captain. In the middle of the night, there was a knock at the captain's quarters, and behind the door, Jaune found Pyrrha before him, her head hung low and her fingers twiddling together. "You need something, milady?"
"May I come in for a moment?" Jaune stepped aside and she entered, though she took only but a few steps. "Um, I wish to apologize for how I've behaved towards you all this time. I've been nothing but ungrateful to you after you rescued me from Mercury Black, and I admit, I could've ended up in far worse hands. You've asked for nothing in return, nor do you treat me like one would treat a noblewoman of my stature."
"Does that displease you?"
"No, not at all, really!" She quickly hushed up, now lowering her voice. "Anyway, I'm sorry, and when we reach Argus, I wish to thank you properly. Whatever reward you desire, I'll be sure that my father grants it."
Jaune smiled. "There's nothing I would want from you, milady."
"I must insist! You've done far too much to justify a lack of a reward!"
Jaune reached out and took her hand in his. "The only reward I need is knowing that you'll be safe, both in my hands and when we reach Argus." With that, he lifted her hand and gently kissed it.
Pyrrha swallowed hard. "Then…allow me to give you a fitting reward right now…" She came forward and––with her hands upon his shoulders––leaned in and kissed his lips. She let slip an inaudible gasp when Jaune clasped his hands on her waist and pulled her close. They stayed together for a moment before Pyrrha broke off, slowly pushing herself away from the pirate captain. "Be grateful, Captain Arc, for I just gave you my first kiss." With a curtsey, she took her leave, feeling thankful that the cabin was dark enough that Jaune could not see her beet red face.
The next day, the Crocea Mors resumed its journey towards the island of Argus once more, now on a bright and semi-cloudy morning. "I don't see any dark clouds over the horizon, Captain, so we might have a clear day for sailing!" Tristan called out from the wheel.
"Excellent news, Mr. Tristan! Steer us towards Argus!" At Jaune's side was Pyrrha, now more cheerful about her current escorts. "I hope that pleases you, milady."
"Indeed it does, Captain Arc." She smiled.
The Crocea Mors sliced through the sea with the wind diagonally at their back, boosting it forward, but requiring Tristan to continuously spin the steering wheel to the port side to keep it aligned toward Argus.
It was perhaps only a few hours later when they were joined alongside a small traveler ship bearing a white flag that sent out a signal for them to stop, which they complied, with Tristan steering their ship alongside the traveler one. "Ho, Captain Arc! I thought that was you!" called the traveler, a man named Leo. "Forgive me for stopping you along your journey, but would you be so kind as to help give me safe passage to Tortuga? I have wares to sell, but these are still pirate waters, after all. I will make it worth your while."
"Let me ask my crew and see what they think, my good man," Jaune answered, turning back after receiving a nod from Leo. "Men, what say you?"
"I'd like to relax at Tortuga for a day or so!" went one.
"Tortuga is along the way to Argus. Why not?"
Everyone agreed to the idea, until Pyrrha stepped forward, forcing them all to fall silent. "Miss Nikos, as you are the reason we are on this journey, I believe you should decide for us, but we will understand if you choose to continue on towards Argus."
"I suppose it would be alright. We still have a week until the wedding, and it's not like it can start without me," she answered after a moment, giving the captain a smile.
"Then so be it." Jaune gave his answer to Leo and Tristan changed course for Argus, following after Leo's ship. "Have you ever been to Tortuga, milady?"
"Never, but I've heard its governor has made it a safe haven for pirates. Is that true?"
"That, indeed, but I'd still advise you stay close to me while we are there, if only for my sake."
With that, Pyrrha stepped close to him, just within arm's reach. "Like this?"
His arm reached up and clasped around her shoulder. "That is satisfactory."
They sailed on to Tortuga, reaching it by the afternoon. Before they disembarked, the crew gathered in single file as Captain Arc and Lie Ren brought out a table and papers, containing the lists of the crew members and the ship's treasure trove. One by one, with each name called out, the crew received their monthly payment plus a bonus to those that had suffered serious wounds in battle. Pyrrha stood by Captain Arc's side and watched him hand bags of Lien to each member, offering his most sincere thanks and handshakes to those that had lost arms or even legs. Once all payments had been received, the table and papers were taken away and Captain Arc stood atop a barrel to address the crew.
"Men, thank you all for your loyalty and bravery, you have earned it! Now, we are here at Tortuga, the pirates' haven, and as your Captain, I order you all to have fun! Drink! Sing! Party the night away!" he declared, earning wide cheers from the buccaneers. "Very good, now head off, return to the ship if you wish to rest, and we'll set off in two days!" Everyone filed out, save for the captain and Pyrrha, who remained by his side. "Miss Nikos, though I did suggest for you to stay by my side, those orders apply to you too. This may be a pirates haven, but that does not stop some of them from breaking the law, and if they know that a noblewoman is in their midst…"
"I fully understand, Captain," she interrupted. He handed her a black handkerchief, which she tied around her hair, covering most of her red hair, minus a short ponytail she had made of it. "It's not much, but hopefully this and some more…casual clothing will cease any recognition of me."
With that, Jaune extended his arm to her and she took it, locking herself at his side. "Well, Captain, how about you show a noble girl how pirates party?"
"I promise you that it'll be a night to remember, one that will outshine any of those parties you nobles frequent."
Not even ten minutes later, the two were seated in a packed tavern, one of many in the massive seaside town, both with mugs of ale in hand and surrounded by cheerful and drunk pirates, including some of the Arc pirates. Pyrrha sipped from her mug––making her face recoil in disgust at the foreign taste––as she watched Nora Valkyrie swing from a chandelier with a mug in hand and a tune pouring from her lips as other pirates cheered her on. Pyrrha watched as pirates danced and sang merrily, with nothing and no one able to stop them from celebrating their freedom. The two soon reunited with several other Arc pirates, and they all sat together at table in a corner.
"Milady, I've notice that you haven't drank much." Jaune noted the still-full mug of rum. She placed her open palm over it, attempting to cover it up.
"Sorry, but this grog drink is just disgusting to my tastes. I don't know how you pirates can stand it."
With that, Jaune waved over a nearby bar maid, who took a drink order from him and went off. "Don't worry, we'll get you something more suited for a woman of your stature," he teased, making her smile in return.
"Oi, Captain!" went Nora, who stumbled over towards the two, constantly spilling her drink. "How's the little lady doin'? She havin' fun?"
"I'd say so," he answered. Pyrrha gave the drunk girl a wave.
"Ah, well if it isn't Captain Arc!" cried a voice. From the crowd, a flamboyantly-dressed man with red hair combed over one eye emerged, his arms raised upward in celebration before embracing Jaune in a friendly hug. "How have you been, old chap?"
"Captain Scarlet, how long has it been?" Jaune asked his old friend.
"Only but some months, but Gods, it felt longer!" Then Captain Scarlet spotted Pyrrha. "My my, and in the time I was sailing unknown seas, you've found yourself a new lady friend." Pyrrha extended her hand and Captain Scarlet kissed it.
"Not really, she's just a job, a traveller in need of safe passage," Jaune quickly explained.
"Well, it is wonderful to have met you, pretty lady. You couldn't have picked a more kinder, more trusted man than Captain Jaune Arc." With that, Captain Scarlet took a bow and disappeared back into the crowd.
"Scarlet and I go way back, back when I was first starting out as a captain after Oz's retirement. He saved my life a few times, and I've saved his as well," Jaune added.
"He seems quite an interesting pirate."
Only but a while later and Jaune was greeted by two more pirate captains: a pair of twins named Kyler and Keira MacKay, who wore clothes bearing their clan's tartan. "Ahoy, Captain Arc, good to see ya still alive and kickin'!" went Keira, embracing the blond with a hug and kiss.
"I tell you, being a 'Noble Pirate' is too easy of a life for you, Jaune," went Kyler, giving him a slap to the shoulder. "You should consider going back to good ol' pirating. Not like you have to go around burning towns to the ground or raping or anything, but you can still at least give the Remnant Navy a good name to grumble about if you loot their sailing ships."
"I wouldn't unless I have to, Kyler. I am content with exploring and the ways of the gentleman, but you know me, I'm always available to help my fellow pirates," Jaune smirked, raising his mug to clank against the twins'.
"Well, I'll leave you and your lady be, but anytime you need help, know that the MacKay Pirates are always at the ready." They departed with a wave.
"The MacKay twins were originally from a small clan in the Mistral region and turned to piracy to help support their clan family, but found more enjoyment in sailing and plundering, but they're always a joy to have around and can always brighten the mood.
"So they're pirates with a noble cause…" Pyrrha mumbled to herself.
Dusk turned into night, and yet the taverns remained full of singing and drinking pirates and seafarers, but for Pyrrha Nikos, she had grown tired and tipsy, forcing Jaune to steady her on his shoulder. "C'mon, let's get you back to the ship. He lead her outside into the crowded streets, but soon, the sky grew cloudy and rain began to fall. "Whoops, we better move!" With that, he scooped his lady into his arms and hurried onward as the streets began to empty, everyone eager to escape the rain.
They reached the ship quickly, but were still soaking wet regardless. Jaune carried Pyrrha below deck, where he left her in the guest quarters while he returned to his own. The ship was mostly empty, with just about everyone occupying Tortuga for drink, women, and to be merry, but Jaune himself was content to have some peace and quiet to himself. He changed into some dry clothes and admired the pouring rain outside the wide glass window that accompanied his quarters until a knock came at his door, and before him was Pyrrha dressed in new clothes leaning upon the door's frame, but she did not appear to be any more drunk than at the pub.
"Captain Arc, may I speak to you privately for a moment?" Jaune nodded and allowed her to enter, where the two sat down upon his bed together. "I have a confession to make…I do not wish to return to Argus to be married to Neptune Vasilias." He took her hand in his. "I want to love a man that I know, but I know that he cannot be mine nor would my father allow it."
Jaune instantly understood. "Are you not a woman, milady? Are you not free to decide what you wish for your life?"
Pyrrha wiped at her eyes. "I am, but it's not just that. If I were to stay with you and if…when my father finds out, he will send bounty hunters and his own naval fleet after you, even to the ends of the world."
"You really think I'm afraid of your father?" Jaune smiled. now rubbing the top of her hand.
"You should be. He is not one to be crossed with, and he always gets his way."
"I've dealt with plenty of men like that, and none of them have beaten me."
"My father is nothing like the naval officers you've fought!" she shouted as she jumped to her feet to face him directly.
"Why are you so worried about my well-being, milady? You seem to care so much about me, a cutthroat and a thief. Why?"
Pyrrha looked sideways and took in a deep breath, but instead of saying anything, she grabbed at the pirate's cheeks and kissed his lips. "It's you I love, Captain Jaune Arc." With that, the two came together in a passionate embrace, their hands latched tightly onto one another for fear of separation. "Captain…"
Jaune smiled. "As a pirate, it's usually my role to be a thief, and yet it's you who has stolen my heart, Pyrrha Nikos."
Now it was her turn to smile, but that was not all. Pyrrha gave Jaune a push, causing him to stumble and fall upon his bed, and she climbed atop him. "Just for tonight, will you allow me into your bed?" He nodded and, pulling the covers out, allowed her to lie with him before letting the blankets enshroud them both. They kissed while the rain pounded against the ship's outer walls.
( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )
Early morning came, before the crew was set to awake and get ready to sail. In his bed, both Jaune and Pyrrha lied, having been awake for some time. Pyrrha's half-naked body clung close to him. "We best get up, we have lots of water to cover to get away from your father," Jaune remarked. Pyrrha looked confused. "Obviously he's going to send all the ships out to sea to find you when you don't show up at the altar, and when he eventually finds out that you're with me, he's going to send said ships after us." Jaune arose and began to dress until he felt Pyrrha press herself against his back, making him stop. "What is it, Pyrrha?"
"We have to go to Argus. I HAVE to marry Neptune Vasilias, not because I want him, but to protect you, Jaune. This is what I have to do. I'd rather you be safe than to have you be hunted down by my father. Please, take me home to Argus, my love."
"Are you sure about this? Is this what you want?"
"No, but it's what I must do to protect you…"
You're braver than I imagined, Pyrrha… thought Jaune as he unhooked her hands from around him. "Very well. Let us get you home to Argus then."
The remainder of their journey was kept mostly in silence, with Pyrrha staying close to Jaune with her arm wrapped around his and her fingers intertwined with his own, but neither were enjoying the journey today. Lie Ren was among the few to notice the sudden unhappiness seen upon the captain and his lady as well, and it made him curious.
They arrived at Argus shortly after noontime, pulling into the port town that was buzzing with its citizens as the Nikos manor sat upon the hillside at the top of the island. Jaune, dressed still in his usual attire and with his sword at his hip, lead his milady off the ship, but before he could take another step, Ren grabbed his shoulder and lead him away to speak privately. "Captain, you can stay silent all you want, but I can tell that you do not want the milady to leave our company, nor does she seem so eager to be rid of us and go to her wedding anymore," came the words in a hushed whisper. "I saw that she wouldn't let go of your arm during the last leg of our journey to Argus."
Jaune ignored Ren's truthful claim. "This is what Pyrrha believes she must do, Ren. She's doing this to protect me––I mean us––from her father seeking vengeance upon us."
Ren's eyes widened. "She's in love with you, isn't she?" His question was answered by Jaune's cheeks turning a bright red. "If this isn't what she wants, then steal her away from this place."
"I won't endanger your life or the lives of the crew just because of what I––what Pyrrha Nikos wants." With that, Jaune continued on with Pyrrha at his side as they began the trek up the path towards the Nikos manor, but Ren understood exactly what was going on, and it made him question his actions.
"Ren, is something the matter?" asked Nora from the shroud nearest to him, the young woman hanging from the netted holes with only a hand and a foot.
"Something is indeed wrong, gather the crew up on deck, I need to talk to them about something." Nora sped her way down and rang the bell strapped to the central mast, causing the entire crew to freeze in place and look to Ren for orders. The quartermaster went to the forecastle.
"Arc Pirates, as you know, we are here at Argus to deliver the lady Pyrrha Nikos to her family for her upcoming wedding, but some new information has come to my attention!" Ren took a deep breath and gripped the wooden railing. "I believe that our captain has fallen in love with Pyrrha Nikos, and she loves him too." Murmurs echoed among the crew.
"I told you guys! I saw her enter his quarters! I told you, but you didn't believe me!" went one pirate."
"I thought something was up!" piped another.
Nora spoke up as well. "I saw them together in one of the Tortuga taverns, and they were looking very chummy together today."
"Yes, our captain has fallen in love with the milady, and for those of you unaware, Jaune has never been in love with a woman before, and right now he is escorting that lady to her home so she can marry another man that she not only does not love, but a man she has never met, all under the belief that by separating herself from our captain, that she is protecting him. I ask all of you here right now, those of you who have been with Captain Arc since the start of his piracy, those of us who joined this crew long after, and those of who are temporary hires, what do you believe we should do?"
Nora was the first to pipe up. "We should go crash that wedding!" Murmurs echoed around her. "What, are you men suddenly growing cowardly? Has our captain not lead us into adventures and escapades far more dangerous before?"
"Aye, and we came out out of them all the richer for it!" went Mr. Tristan.
"But there's no Lien to gain from this one!" argued one pirate.
"We'd be tangling with the likes of Lord Nikos! He's a naval commander in charge of a dozen ships!" cried another.
"And are we not in league with several other pirates as well?" went Ren. "Do not forget the strength of the MacKay pirates and their invincible fleet." More murmurs echoed about.
"I say we can handle Lord Nikos' pathetic fleet!" yelled another pirate.
"I ask all of you another question!" called Ren, causing silence to befall the crew. "Is Captain Arc not deserving of his own treasure, in the form of the beautiful Pyrrha Nikos?"
Nora was the first to answer. "I say he deserves her!"
"If he truly loves her, then why not?"
"He's a better option than whatever snooty lord she's set to marry!"
More and more similar remarks bellowed out of the Arc pirates before Ren raised his hand to silence them again. "What say you, men! Should we crash Pyrrha Nikos' wedding and deliver her into the arms of our captain?"
"AYE!" they all cheered.
"It'll be a large price to pay, and Captain Arc's reputation as a gentleman pirate will be crushed if we go through with this, and not will he have a bounty put on his head, but we'll have the navy, bounty hunters, and rogues coming after us, but I ask all of thee, for Captain Arc's happiness and love, is that a price you're all willing to pay?"
A moment of silence echoed among them until…
"AYYYEEE!" the entire crew shouted, now with more heart and gusto, making Ren smile.
"Then gather your swords and pistols, men! Once I chart out a strategy, we shall make haste!"
The crew scattered to ready themselves while Ren, Nora, Mr. Tristan, and Reese gathered close to a table with an electronic map of Argus laid before them. Ren made colored pins at their ship's location, at the Nikos manor, and the port town's church. "With how secure the manor is, our best bet would be to wait for everyone to gather at the church before we strike. Less guards, less fortifications, and tight room for us to quickly overpower the guards."
"What about the captain? You think he'll be at the wedding or return to the ship after dropping off the milady?" asked Reese.
"I dunno, but if he returns, we should run into him on the way to the church." Ren blew up the port town to a 3D landscape view. "What we will have to do is create distractions and quick barricades to slow down anyone that gives chase to us. The guests are sure to arrive at the church by carriage, so we can steal their horses, but this means we need to attack the church with a minimal force, probably no bigger than…ten men, enough to protect the captain and milady, rob the guests, and fight off any guards Lord Nikos has on hand…I also don't trust Lord Nikos to not try to have Jaune arrested while he has him so close in his clutches either, so we'll have to prepare for a fight."
"You can leave that to me, Ren!" smiled Nora.
"Good to hear. Now, as I've said, we'll need to create quick barricades to slow down any pursuing guards, just to be safe."
"I can help with that," went Mr. Tristan.
"We'll need you at the helm ready to set sail when we return."
"I figured, but I can get a group of men together for distractions in the time you take your team up to the church and return to the ship before it's time to retreat."
Ren nodded. "Alright, I'm counting on you. Gather as many men as you need." He turned to Reese. "Reese, you pick out at least a dozen men to take with us." Reese nodded and sped off to handpick their small crew.
"Ren, you think this is a good idea?" piped up Nora after everyone dispersed. "If we do this, even if we succeed, will Jaune approve of it? We would have destroyed his reputation that he built up for several years now, all for a woman, regardless of her public status. Do you think he would want this?"
He gave her a silent stare for a moment before taking a deep breath. "Would Jaune do it if it were for one of us? Would he toss aside his reputation to ensure our happiness?"
Nora did not need to answer, for she already knew it, and she has seen the answer many times in their previous adventures. Many times, Jaune Arc has risked his life first before theirs and made them richer for it. He has done everything to avoid the wrath of the Remnant Navy that wants to see him hanged, even despite his good nature, only attacking their ships when they had no choice or when he knew that they could conquer one without any loss of the crew. Even now, he is willing to let go of the first woman he has ever fallen in love with just to protect them all.
At that moment, they all knew what they had to do for their captain.
( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )
"Open the gates! It's the Lady Pyrrha!" shouted the guard at the front gate to the Nikos manor. As the twin iron-bar gates swung open, Jaune lead Pyrrha inside by her hand, where they were greeted by both of her parents, Commander Herc and Lady Thetis Nikos, and a few servants. At once, Thetis came forward and embraced her daughter in a hug while Commander Nikos offered Jaune his sincere thanks and a handshake.
"We had received word a few days ago from one of our traveling ships that the one Pyrrha was aboard was sunken by pirates and, naturally, I feared the worst. Tell me, how did my daughter come to be in your possession, Captain Arc?"
Jaune gave a quick explanation of what transpired with Captain Mercury Black, but omitted all that happened afterwards. "Black, that bastard! We've been hunting him down for weeks, yet he alluded us at every chance. It pleases me to know he is lying dead on a shoreline, thank you once again, Captain Arc. Please, allow me to pay you for your troubles, both for the price you paid for my daughter and for the death of Black, if anything."
Inside, Pyrrha was taken away to prepare her for the wedding while Lord Nikos escorted Captain Arc to his private study. Inside, the Lord of the manor went into a safe built into the wall and collected 30000 Lien, which he gave to the pirate, as well as an invitation to the wedding. "Please, it would be my honor to have the man that saved my daughter present. Let us…put aside our differences as Navy and pirate for this joyous occasion, shall we?" Even through his smile, Jaune could sense hostility in the man's voice.
"Yes, shall we," he answered, but lacking sincerity as well.
( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )
In her chambers, Pyrrha was already outfitted in her wedding dress, the shabby clothes she wore on the Crocea Mors tossed away. Her mother sat nearby in a chair as her daughter admired herself in three mirrors, and what is supposed to be an exciting event instead has Pyrrha feeling the complete opposite. Pyrrha spun her red-floral dress about as she observed herself.
"I can tell something is bothering you, sweetie," her mother remarked, earning the attention of her daughter. "I know that this arranged marriage isn't in your best interests, but I know that's not what is troubling you."
"Mother, I am fine…"
"Don't lie to me, young lady, I can read you like a book." Pyrrha looked away in shame, her hands gripping at her dress. "It's that pirate, Jaune Arc, isn't it?" Pyrrha flinched, and that was all Thetis needed. "To be rescued by him from the clutches of a murderous scoundrel, to have spent weeks at sea with him, especially with how…charismatic a man such as himself can be. I imagine you wished to remain with him, didn't you?"
"Mother…I…"
"I don't need to hear of it." With that, Thetis exited the room, but outside, she remained leaning against the wall, a smile spread across her lips. Just as I had hoped for, but I wonder if Captain Jaune Arc will have it in him to steal my daughter away.
( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )
Everyone had finally gathered at the church, and as Jaune sat in the front pews next to Thetis, he noticed that the four corners of the church each contained three guards from the manor, all of them with swords and flintlocks at their belts and rifles in their grip. A lot of protection for one wedding, he thought as his hand rested upon his sword, but as he did, he felt Thetis' hand upon his.
"This is truly a wondrous occasion, isn't it, Captain Arc?"
"Please, call me Jaune."
Her fingers curled around his. "You're quite the gentleman, Captain. I can see why Pyrrha loves you." Jaune flinched at her words, making her smile grow longer. "You think I wouldn't have noticed? A mother always knows when something is troubling her daughter, and I could tell she was not happy to part ways with you so soon." Thetis took a glance towards her husband, who sat on the other side of the church in a frontal pew speaking with the groom, Neptune, and she inched close to Jaune's ear. "Why not steal my daughter away? Take her away, give her a life where she would be happy and with someone she loves."
Jaune took in a deep breath. "She wanted this…to keep me safe from your husband…"
Thetis let out a quick laugh, catching the attention of the church-goers for a moment. "Just a joke from the captain, everyone," she assured, instantly losing their attention. "Don't tell me you fear my husband, Captain Arc. From the rumors I've heard of your crew, I daresay that my commander of a husband is a match for you."
"And you? Why would you approve of me with your daughter?"
Thetis traced a finger down her cheek as she pondered his question. "I was once in a similar situation as her. I was set to marry Herc Nikos when I was her age, but there was a young man who wanted to sail the seas and build up a legacy to call his own, and he promised me the world if I went with him. As much as I loved him, I knew that I would only be a burden to him, and instead, I begged him to fulfill that legacy he dreamt so much of without me." She turned towards Jaune. "Looking at you now, you remind me of him, but I know you are far greater of a pirate than he was. I know that you'll keep my daughter safe. I could tell while we were in her dressing room that she longed to return to your ship and to the sea."
Jaune stayed silent for a bit until… "May I see your daughter for a moment, milady?"
With a grin on her lips, Thetis grabbed his hand and lead him to an adjacent room guarded by a soldier, and inside, Pyrrha sat at a desk and mirror adjusting her long hair. She turned when her mother and Jaune entered. "Mother? Jau-Captain Arc, what is it?" she asked, dropping no formalities with the man she loves.
"Well, tell her, Captain." Thetis gave Jaune a smack on the butt to inch him closer.
"Pyrrha…I…"
"Pyrrha, it's about time!" came Lord Nikos, suddenly barging in and interrupting. He eyed both his wife and Jaune for a moment. "Sorry if I am interrupting your conversation, but we are about to begin the ceremony." He held out his hand and lead his daughter away, who gave Jaune a sad glance as she passed, followed by Thetis, giving Jaune a wink. Before Jaune had a chance to leave, the soldier at the door entered, closing the door behind him, and Jaune heard a clicking sound as the door was locked.
"Sorry, Captain, but Lord Nikos has instructed me to keep an eye on you." The guard was young, not much younger than Jaune was, and his voice carried a hint of regret. "You're to remain here until the ceremony is over, where we'll have you taken to a Naval prison for your crimes."
Jaune scoffed. "I figured Lord Nikos would take this chance to have me arrested."
"I'm sorry, Captain Arc, really." Jaune could tell his words held truth.
"You seem like a nice fellow, I'd hate to kill you." That made the soldier aim his rifle towards the captain. "Relax, I won't kill you, I promise." The soldier relaxed his grip, and that's when Jaune struck, dashing forward and yanking the rifle from him. With a quick motion, Jaune smacked the butt against the guard's head and making him collapse. "However, I cannot have you follow me or raise the alarm." Jaune grabbed at the soldier's body and laid him in the nearby chair, resting his head upon the desk. "Please understand that I hold you in the highest respect." With that, Jaune took the rifle and pressed his ear to the door, but instead of organ music or the readings of the Bible, he heard yelling, cries, and the sounds of battle. He aimed at the lock and fired, blasting the lock to pieces and giving him access to the chapel once more.
He found the guards engaged in battle with a band of his pirates as nobles took cover in the pews and upon the floor, and towards the altar, he saw Pyrrha being cradled by Neptune, who held his sword out for any pirate to come near, but none did not. Thetis took cover behind the podium at the altar and Lord Nikos was doing battle with Ren, who ducked under his blade and tripped him with a sweep kick.
"Ren, what's going on?!" Jaune called out as he drew his sword and disarmed a nearby guard.
"We're here to crash the wedding, Captain!" he answered as he delivered rapid stabs at another guard. "Go get your bride, Captain!" Jaune gave his mate a smile and made his way to the altar, where he was stopped by Neptune.
"I will not allow you to take my bride, you rogue!" he declared, his thin rapier held outward and ready for battle. Jaune did not even break eye contact with the young noble as he swatted the rapier out of his hand with his own blade, making him instantly freeze up. "I-uh…"
"Pyrrha, I'll ask you again. Do you wish to marry this nobleman or do you desire to be with the man you love?" he asked the frightened bride.
Without a word, Pyrrha shoved Neptune to the floor and flew into Jaune's free arm. Nearby, Jaune saw the priest that was meant to wed Pyrrha and Neptune pressed against the wall with the Bible held up as a makeshift shield. "Father, will you marry us right now?" Jaune called to the frightened holy man.
"DON'T YOU DARE MARRY THEM!" screamed Lord Nikos, who was now restrained by both Ren and Reese, the rest of his guards already killed or having surrender and held at bay by the other Arc pirates.
"Perhaps a donation to the Church of Oum will convince you to do it? Surely the orphans our Lord watches over can use the money?" Jaune handed the priest the pouch of Lien Lord Nikos gave him earlier and the priest's face changed to absolute shock at the amount of money within.
"Please, Father, will you?" begged Pyrrha.
"PYRRHA?!" cried her father, shocked at her sudden compliance.
"W-Well, I would need the blessing of the bride's parent to be able to marry her…"
"I shall give the couple my blessing," called out Thetis, emerging from behind the podium and coming forward.
"THETIS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" her husband screeched.
"Mother?!" Pyrrha was shocked at what her mother was doing. The proud mother stood before the two and interlocked their hands together.
"Make you both live a long and happy life together." She then kissed Jaune on the lips, then kissed her daughter's forehead. "Continue, Father."
"Mind skipping to the end?" asked Ren. Jaune nodded in approval.
"Do you take this woman to be your wife?" the priest asked of Jaune.
"I do."
"Do you, Lady Pyrrha Nikos?"
"More than ever."
"Then by the power of Oum, I pronounce you husband and wife."
"LIKE HELL THEY ARE!" Lord Nikos shouted as he fought against Ren and Reese with no avail, watching as Jaune pulled his daughter close and kissed her lips. "DAMN YOU, ARC! DAMN YOU TO HELL!"
"Hell is a worthy price to pay to be in the company of such a beautiful lady." Jaune hoisted his new bride in his arms and headed down the aisle as his fellow pirates cleared a path for them. "Ren! Reese! Everyone! Let's return to the Crocea Mors!" With that, everyone filed out and ran for the carriages, removing the reins that tied the horses to them and stole away several as they rushed down the road back towards port.
Lord Nikos and several men rushed out, only to find their carriages without horses, except for one. "Whoever can fit in that carriage, get in! We're going to rescue my daughter!" The men stuffed themselves into the carriage while Lord Nikos took the reins and charged down the path towards the port town.
Down in the town, Ren's diversions worked, blocking off the road for Lord Nikos after the Arc Pirates passed through and regrouped with their own. "Ren, is that everyone?" Jaune called out from atop his horse, his bride holding tightly onto him from behind.
"That's all of us, sir!" answered Ren.
"Then let us make haste for the Crocea Mors!" he declared just as Lord Nikos failed to slow down before crashing into a barricade of wooden carts, sending him crashing into the dirt and his men jumbled about in the carriage. "ARC!" screeched the naval commander as he drew his saber from his waist and charged after the horses.
When they reached the ship, everyone rushed aboard to get ready to sail as Jaune carried his bride in his arms. "Welcome aboard to your new home, milady, I hope it is satisfying, compared to the glorious Nikos mansion you were used to."
"More so than the mansion, my love!" Pyrrha answered, kissing his cheek. The captain stepped aboard and gave the order to set sail, but then…
"ARC!" came the voice of Lord Nikos, who stepped aboard onto the main deck, his saber in hand and his fine suit ruffled and nicked with cuts. "YOU WILL UNHAND MY DAUGHTER!"
"Father, stop this!" Pyrrha shouted, but Jaune barred her off as he instead stepped forward.
"Lord Nikos, I meant no ill will towards you in my crew's actions, but I am NEVER giving you you daughter back. I love her with all my heart, and she loves me, and while I was ready to give her up per her wish to protect me, now…" he stole a glance back at Pyrrha, who watched him with worrisome eyes. "…now I'm willing to risk it all to have her at my side till the day I die."
"And today is the day you die!" Lord Nikos declared as he swung his saber, but instead of cutting the pirate, it clashed with Jaune's own sword, the captain already having it drawn.
"After all I have done for you and your daughter, this is how you repay those in kind?" Jaune grinned before the two began clashing their steel together. "Then I'll show you how a pirate repays a traitor!" They continued on, their feet shuffling back and forth across the deck as the Arc pirates watched on, cheering for their captain, but not interfering.
Jaune soon found himself pushed up against one of the cannons as Lord Nikos towered over him, their blades locked together and each fighting for dominance. "I'll see your corpse fed to the sharks!" barked Pyrrha's father. His hand lunged for Jaune's throat, but the pirate delivered a quick punch to the face that drove the commander backwards.
Finally, with a raging yell, Lord Nikos lunged forward with a quick stab, but Jaune spun in place, turning his body parallel with the saber's stab, and as he completed his spin, his free hand grasped at Lord Nikos's shoulder and yanked him forwards, sending him crashing against the cannon and sending his saber falling over the starboard side. Jaune aimed the point of his sword at Lord Nikos' neck, who had lost all his bravado. "You going to kill me, Captain Arc?" he spoke as Jaune lead the man to the center of the main deck.
"You made peace with me in your own home. I rescued your daughter and killed Black, and you repay me by trying to have me arrested," Jaune growled.
"If my superiors knew I had let you go from my midst…"
"You made peace…" Jaune repeated, raising his blade higher onto the Lord's neck. His eyes narrowed into a mean glare as he watched Lord Nikos begin to sweat. "…as did I in turn." Jaune immediately sheathed his blade just as two pirates came forward and held Lord Nikos by his arms. Jaune went to Pyrrha and caressed her cheek. "Don't worry, I wouldn't hurt him, not with you here." He kissed her cheek, making her smile.
"I swear I'll hunt you down like a dog!" Lord Nikos growled, his anger growing as he watched the pirate touch his daughter. "I'll put a price so high on your head that it'll attract every bounty hunter in Remnant! You'll never sleep peacefully again!"
Jaune smirked, giving Pyrrha another caress. "At least I will have my new wife for company during those sleepless nights." His words caused Lord Nikos to struggle and growl again. "Men, what shall we do with the Lord Nikos?" He then whispered to Pyrrha "I made peace with him, but my crew didn't."
"I shall we serve him a rope necktie!" called Nora, earning laughs all around.
"Stretch him over the end of a gun, I'll scatter his innards all over the port!" yelled Reese, earning some ayes.
"You're wasting words, I say. Hang him!" went another. The pirates gathered around, dragging the poor Lord Nikos to a nearby hanging rope, where one of them began tying it into a hangman's noose.
Pyrrha tugged on Jaune's arm, but the captain merely grinned. "Wait, lads, wait! Hanging's too good for him! Can you swim, Lord Nikos? How about we give you a chance to cool off the excessive heat? Over the side with him, men!"
With that, several pirates grabbed at Lord Nikos' arms and legs and guided him to the starboard side away from the port. With three sways, they swung him over the railing and into the waters, hooting and pointing like merry men.
Lord Nikos breached the surface and took in a deep breath, his arms outward to keep himself afloat. He looked up upon the Arc pirates that lined the starboard railing, still roaring and pointing down at him, and in the center of them stood Jaune holding Pyrrha in his arms. "Jaune Arc, I'll make you pay for this, even if I spend the rest of my life doing it!" he declared.
"Goodbye, Herc! Don't forget to write!" called Ren, earning laughter from his mates.
"Mr. Tristan, set sail! Let us leave these waters!" Jaune ordered, earning an "Aye, Captain!" from his navigator. All around him, Jaune saw his crew, all of them wearing smiles and containing high spirits, even knowing that they will be wanted men from here on.
After the Crocea Mors had reached the wide waters, Jaune summoned everyone to the main deck and presented Pyrrha before them, still wearing the wedding gown that made her stick out amongst them. "Arc Pirates, I am most proud of you. Thanks to you, you saved our Lady Pyrrha Nikos from a most horrid fate of marrying that pitiful noble Neptune Vasilias and…" He took her hand in his. "…I have found love in the most unlikely woman I could ever imagine. From here on, Pyrrha Nikos is one of us, and I want you to regard her as such."
"Does that mean we answer to her as we do to you?" asked one pirate, sparking murmurs from the others.
"I would rather not," Pyrrha answered. "I do not know how to lead a crew or command a ship, but I can relay anything you speak or ask to the captain if need be." Agreement rang out.
"Let us welcome our milady with celebration, men!" Mr. Tristan roared.
"Three cheers for our noble captain and his noble wife!"
"AYE!~~~" the Arc Pirates cheered.
While the pirates engaged in drink and merry, back at the Island of Argus, Thetis Nikos watched the Crocea Mors disappear into the horizon from atop the hill. She smiled at the thought of her daughter living amongst pirates and a wicked thought crossed her mind. "A Nikos and an Arc unite to sail the seas together…did this happen because I turned you down? Is my daughter married to a pirate because I didn't go with you, Jaundice? Was this fated to happen?" Thetis smiled with a hum.
A few days later and the newspapers all across Remnant were plastered with the news that noblewoman Pyrrha Nikos ran off with the pirate Jaune Arc. A photographer that was there at the wedding took multiple pictures, which were in the paper, from the kiss, Jaune fighting off Neptune, and a photo of the Arc pirates holding back Lord Nikos, who gave his testimony in the paper.
Within the kingdom of Vale, one of Jaune's sisters, Saphron, rushed through the manor, a newspaper clutched in her hand. She soon found her father sitting in the garden drinking tea and went to his side, showing him the newspaper.
Jaundice Arc opened up the newspaper and skimmed the front page news. A smile spread across his lips and he soon let out a laugh. He said to his daughter "I imagine journalists will be banging at our doors to hear our thoughts on these news, so can you go keep watch and try to fend them off?" Saphron nodded and left.
Jaundice continued reading the article and took notice of the highlighted photo of his son and Pyrrha embraced in a kiss. "Just like an Arc to fall in love with a redhead, and a Nikos too." He let out a sigh. "Like father, like son."
"Jaundice, there's journalists here!" called his wife, Jeanne, who came into the garden. She saw the newspaper and her eyes widen at the front page photo. Her husband held up the paper for her to read. After skimming it, she merely shook her head and smiled. "That boy has been nothing but trouble for this family."
"He takes after me, after all."
"Wrong. He's a far better seafarer and pirate than you even tried to be. I mean, he lasted more than two years before being captured."
Jaundice rolled his eyes, thinking back to how his own father had to pay off the Navy to have him released from prison, under the promise that he would take responsibility and work at the family company. "I may be a man living in wealth and comfort, but Jaune is more of a success than I could ever be." He gazed upon the photo of Jaune carrying Pyrrha Nikos out of the church.
( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )( )
Two months had passed since the wedding of Jaune Arc and Pyrrha Nikos and the once-surprising event that shook Remnant faded into memory. At that moment, a mighty galleon carrying silver, ivory, and spices for trade from Mistral to Atlas was sailing calm waters. Following it was a naval escort, outfitted for combat with the promise to fight off any would-be pirates.
"PIRATES OFF OF STARBOARD!" screamed the crow's nest of the galleon. The sailor peered through a spyglass and recognized the flag: Blazed upon the criss-crossing green and blue colors was a hand clutching a dagger pointing skyward. "IT'S THE MACKAY PIRATES!"
"Damn it all! Why them?!" cursed the captain as he readied his men for battle. The naval ship had already seated itself between the two ships and began their attack, though the MacKay ship Children of Fire had already fired a volley of chain shot, stranding the naval ship dead in the water and at the Children of Fire's mercy as it ran perpendicular to it, allowing for each of the naval cannons to miss its hull while the Children of Fire's front cannons blew its enemy to pieces. "GET US OUT OF HERE, NAVIGATOR!"
The galleon made a harsh turn in a desperate bid to escape the Children of Fire, but another volley of chain shot flew directly over the shattered masts of the naval ship and hit their own, stranding them dead in the water.
At that moment, another ship emerged from around a nearby peninsula, but before the galleon could get their hopes up at the idea of rescue, the crow's nest confirmed the flag she flew: a black flag bearing two golden crescent moons crossed with a red spear and shield. "IT'S THE ARKOS PIRATES!"
The Crocea Mors wasted no time in laying down a volley of cannon fire mixed with hot coals, sending the galleon into splinters and destroying several of their cannons and allowing the Arkos pirates launch their grappling hooks and begin to board. The pirates wasted no time in killing those that resisted as a woman with vibrant red hair swung from a rope upon the Crocea Mors and flew to the shrouds of the galleon, where she made her way up to the flag and cut it down with her saber. Down below, Captain Jaune Arc dueled with the galleon's captain, quickly overpowering him and skewering him upon his blade, causing the rest of the crew to quickly surrender.
As the Arkos and MacKay pirates gathered on the galleon to pillage it of its loot, the former noble Pyrrha Nikos descended from the top of the ship and embraced her husband with a loving kiss as a few of the galleon sailors watched with surprise, the rumors that a noblewoman had run away to marry a pirate confirmed true before their very eyes.
"Jaune, we have done well today!" called Captain Kyler MacKay as he approached the two, causing them to separate. "Thanks to you two, we'll be a little bit richer now!" He gave them both a slap on the shoulders before returning to his crew. His sister Keira observed the gathered loot and had it all split evenly for the two crews.
After dividing the loot and loading them up onto their ships, the Arkos pirates and the MacKay pirates parted ways for the time being, waving each other off as their ships sailed in opposite directions.
"Well done, men! Let us set sail for more bountiful waters!" Pyrrha boomed, earning a round of cheers from the main deck. She turned to her husband, snaking her arms over his shoulders and kissed his lips.
And indeed, the new Arkos Pirates would have many adventures from then on, and both Jaune and Pyrrha Arc would eventually retire the life of piracy for a comfortable and rich life many years from now and with many tales to be passed down through time, but those tales shall be told another day.