Title: A Fair Wind Blows No Ill
The Houses Competition
Round: 1
House: Ravenclaw
Class: History of Magic
Category: Drabble
Prompts: Pirates of the Caribbean: [AU] Pirate!AU
Hogwarts Assignment: Childcare task 4
Prompt: tag- write about being chased/hunted
Comic Craze: Spiderman, number 7
Prompt: [dialogue] "It can't end like this."
Who Wants to be a Millionaire: number 4
Prompt: I'd rather be infamous- bonus
Writing club: quotations, number 12 or 15; fight club, number 5; nifty & swiftie, number 10; fandom faves, number 2; literary legends, number 6
Prompt: "More is lost by indecision than wrong decision." Or "Oh my god! They killed [name]!"; [action] shouting; [phrase] heart of stone, bonus prompt: brown/browning/browned; [object] gun; [setting] a ship
Gather Your Party: barbarian number 5
Prompt: [setting] at sea
Scamander's Case: wyvern, female
Prompt: [emotion] exhilaration
Word count: 1000
Betas: Dora, Mark, Hadrian, Bea
Warnings/Trigger warnings: Murder
A/N Pirate!AU
Captain Redbeard stood at the helm of his ship; he deeply inhaled the salty sea air as the strong breeze whipped his beard about. The world had no other feeling that matched the exhilaration of sailing the seven seas and the freedom that came with it. The sun sparkled off the clear blue sea, the wind filled the sails and the varnished wood of his ship, that he and his crew had recently commandeered, shone a beautiful golden brown in the morning Caribbean sun. Redbeard was known throughout the Caribbean for his infamous heart of stone. Feared by all, sailors were known to abandon ship when his standard was run up. Captain Redbeard knew for certain that no feeling would ever match the exhilaration he had felt that morning when commandeering his new ship from under the nose of the British Navy.
His old ship, whilst it had served him well, had been in desperate need of repair. Canon damage to the side had him wondering if they would even make it to port, and the battered old sails were full of holes and multiple patches. They had sailed into port, intending to claim being ambushed by pirates who made off with their cargo and barter what trades they could for repairs to his ship, when he realised that the fastest ship of the British Navy, along with several others, were docked at the port.
There was a ceremony of some high-ranking officials taking place, and the ships were guarded by the most minimal guards. It was too good an opportunity to pass up to acquire a brand-new ship. His infamy as the most ruthless pirate ever to sail the seven seas ensured that minimal gunfire was required. His well-practised loyal crew swiftly readied the ship to set sail and transferred their remaining provisions. By the time the fleeing guard had brought news of the attack, and the commanders had assembled their men, Redbeard and his crew were ready to set sail. Redbeard had cackled and saluted the commanders as the ship sailed out of port and he shouted orders to run up his standard.
Of course, the commanders were not about to allow the infamous Redbeard to make off with their finest ship without giving chase. A shout from the crow's nest alerted Redbeard that the British Navy ships had been spotted on the horizon. Redbeard had to admire the speed and proficiency with which they had made ready to give chase; the sailors were well organised and disciplined.
"Orders, Captain?" shouted his First Mate, Scarface.
Redbeard surveyed the approaching vessels through his telescope, taking stock of the situation. He wanted minimal damage to his newly acquired ship.
"Run out the guns!" Redbeard ordered.
"Aye, aye Captain!" Scarface answered, shouting out orders to the men on the decks. "Haul on the mainbrace! Make ready the guns!"
Scarface pulled out his telescope and fixed it on the incoming vessel which the captain was still watching carefully through his own telescope.
"Captain, they're going to luff up on our starboard quarter. They'll rake us without ever presenting a target. It can't end like this."
"Make ready to drop the portside anchor on my orders!" Redbeard shouted.
"You mean to club haul them?"
"Aye, take them by surprise and let them feel the full might of our guns."
"But, Captain–"
"More is lost by indecision than wrong decision," Redbeard said, still watching the approaching ship with his telescope. "Now! Lower the port anchor!"
"Lower the port anchor," Scarface shouted to the men on deck. "Do it now or I'll throw you to Davy Jones' Locker!"
There were shouts from the deck as the men hastened to obey the command but Redbeard kept his telescope trained on the enemy ship. The anchor caught fast on the rocky seabed and the ship gave an almighty lurch as it turned sharply. Redbeard watched in satisfaction as the commander hastily shouted and gestured to his own men, turning their ship so its broadside was now facing Redbeard.
"Fire!" Redbeard yelled to Scarface.
"Fire all!" Scarface relayed the order.
Caught off guard, with their guns not ready, having intended to use their Long Nines, the enemy had no defence as Redbeard broadsided them, blasting large holes in the ship. Whipping out his pistol Redbeard took aim at the commander as the ship sailed past and fired. Not for nothing was Redbeard the most feared and infamous pirate ever to sail the seas; his aim was true and the commander dropped dead.
A shout of, "Oh my God! They killed Commander Nott!" and "Abandon ship!" was heard. Men were leaping into the water as a cannon ball smashed through the mast of the ship, sending it crashing down into the sea. The last couple of canons fired off with a resounding BOOM into the sinking ship. An even louder BOOM sent shockwaves through the air along with flying debris as the powder kegs of naval ship exploded and a plume of dark smoke billowed upwards.
Redbeard's crew were cheering as the smouldering wreck sunk beneath the sea, but Redbeard wasn't about to hang about lest another naval ship was in pursuit of them.
"Weigh anchor," he shouted over the cheers of the men. "Full canvas."
He smiled to himself and looked about his new ship while the crew hastened to follow the new orders.
"What's the heading, Captain?" Scarface asked.
"Make for the Port of the Island of Burrow."
"Aye, aye, Captain!"
The anchor was hoisted and a fair wind filled the sails as the ship began to pick up speed. Redbeard was euphoric as he stood looking to the horizon, his beard whipping every which way in the wind.
BOOM!
Ron startled awake in his bright orange bedroom of the Burrow and looked groggily about. From the camp bed in his room, Harry groaned groggily.
BOOM!
"I'm going to kill Fred and George!" Ron muttered. "I was having the best dream and they've just ruined it!"